Daly Focus Blog
People get married for a lot of reasons.
They want someone to spend time with them. They want to feel appreciated. They want someone to love them. They want someone to serve them … at least occasionally (of course, no one likes to admit this one).
Do you notice what each of those ideas has in common? They’re all about what someone else can do for us.
But what if marriage isn’t primarily about any of those things?
You and your spouse could probably easily count any number of ways in which you’re different from one another.
Maybe they talk too much – or not enough. One of you feels hot while the other is shivering cold. Or maybe one can’t leave early because the other is always running late.
Those sorts of dissimilarities are common. But spiritual preferences are a key area where couples often differ.
Many husbands and wives tend to expect more spiritual compatibility from each other than they should.
Dave and Linda’s story is all too common, one that’s repeated again and again across thousands of marriages.
It works like this: They have a disagreement and erupt into conflict. They think they’re angry with each other about the specific issue they’re fighting about, but they’re not. There’s something much deeper at work.
It’s like the time Dave came home from work thirty minutes late. Linda was furious and gave him an earful the second he stepped inside the front door.
“I’ll never forget the day when I said to God, ‘I’ve done everything I know to do, and it’s not working.’”
You might expect to hear a comment like that from the average husband or wife trying to learn how to build a successful family. But would it surprise you to know that the person who said those words is now one of the most respected family experts in the world and has been married nearly 40 years?
It was while she sat on the beach that Vicki realized her life was crashing down around her.
She watched up and down the coastline as families played together, building sand castles, splashing in the waves, creating memories.
But Vicki sat there alone, sobbing. Her kids were hundreds of miles away with a babysitter. Her husband, Bill, was back in their hotel room, sick, trying to survive withdrawals from his drug addiction.
The weight of her emptiness and loneliness was crushing.
As Valentine’s Day approaches, we’re excited here at Focus on the Family because we’re working with congregations worldwide to exalt marriage this Sunday in an event we’re calling the Honoring Marriage Event.
It’s a time for churches to talk about God’s design for marriage – something we’re doing with special emphasis throughout the month of February here at Focus.
In fact, we think marriage is so important to the health and stability of the culture that we have an entire division of our ministry dedicated to helping husbands and wives strengthen their relationships.
There’s a war waging over your marriage … and a lot of days you probably don’t even recognize it.
The epic war movie “Saving Private Ryan” opens with one of the most riveting battle scenes in film history. It depicts in graphic detail the D-Day invasion of Omaha Beach in Normandy, France, on June 6, 1944. It’s a vivid reminder of the tremendous sacrifice asked of our soldiers and their heroic bravery.
But I think it also illustrates the intensity of the spiritual battle that’s waging for your marriage and mine.
The Beatitudes are a beloved part of Matthew’s Gospel. They’re eight blessings Jesus offered to His audience – and to us – to remind us of the blessings we can enjoy when our lives are committed to God.
On today’s broadcast, you’ll hear a recorded message from popular speaker and pastor Mark Gungor, who used that framework as a catalyst for what he calls the nine “‘Be’ Attitudes” of marriage. These are specific attitudes that can help you and your spouse build a successful relationship.
Do you have plans for Valentine’s Day?
It’s a day for romantic dinners, flowers, chocolate, and clothing the world in red.
But this year Valentine’s Day is on a Sunday, and we have an additional idea in mind.
At Focus on the Family, we believe that weekend offers the perfect opportunity for congregations to unite in conveying one important message – marriage should be honored by all. As Hebrews 13:4 says, “Let marriage be held in honor among all” (ESV).
When was the last time you imagined yourself wearing a coat of chainmail, wielding a sword and shield, and setting out on your noble steed through a dense forest to slay a dragon?
If it’s been awhile, you may want to consider tapping into your imagination and reaching for your trusty blade. According to statistics, a large percentage of American families are at the mercy of a foe as dangerous to their homes as any fire-breathing dragon in folklore.
Jim Daly is a husband, father and President of Focus on the Family and host of its National Radio Hall of Fame broadcast. His blog, Daly Focus, is full of timely commentary and wisdom designed to help you navigate and understand today’s culture. His latest book is Marriage Done Right.
