WEEK 1 — PUTTING GOD AT THE CENTER
Day 1 — A Cord of Three Strands
Scripture — Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 KJV
“Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.
For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.
Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?
And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.”
Devotional Thought
A strong marriage is not simply husband plus wife. The strongest marriages intentionally weave God into the relationship.
You will still experience disagreements, stress, disappointment, financial pressure, exhaustion, and unexpected seasons. Faith does not remove every hardship—but it changes how you face them.
Instead of asking only, “How are we going to fix this?”, begin asking:
“Lord, how do You want us to walk through this together?”
Your marriage was never intended to survive solely on human strength.
Talk Together
What would putting God more intentionally at the center of our marriage look like right now?
Couple’s Challenge
Hold hands and spend five uninterrupted minutes praying together.
Prayer
Lord, thank You for bringing us together. Be the center of our home, our decisions, our conversations, and our future. Teach us to cling to You and to one another. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Day 2 — Choose Love
Scripture — 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 KJV
“Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.”
Devotional Thought
Biblical love is more than an emotion.
Feelings change. Love chooses.
Love chooses patience when irritation would be easier. Love chooses kindness when exhaustion makes us short-tempered. Love chooses humility instead of needing to win.
There will be days when loving your spouse feels effortless and days when love becomes an act of obedience.
Ask yourself:
Am I loving my spouse according to what I feel—or according to how Christ has taught me to love?
Talk Together
Which part of 1 Corinthians 13 do you think our marriage does well? Which part could we strengthen?
Couple’s Challenge
Do one intentional act of kindness for your spouse without expecting anything in return.
Prayer
Father, teach us to love one another with patience, kindness, humility, and grace. Help our love resemble Yours more every day. Amen.
Day 3 — Listen Before You Answer
Scripture — James 1:19 KJV
“Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.”
Devotional Thought
Sometimes the greatest act of love in marriage is simply listening.
It is easy to prepare our response while our spouse is still talking. We become defensive, interrupt, or try to fix the problem before understanding what they are really feeling.
God gives us a better rhythm:
Quick to listen.
Slow to speak.
Slow to anger.
Your spouse does not always need you to solve the problem. Sometimes they simply need to know:
“You hear me. You see me. What I’m feeling matters to you.”
Talk Together
When you are struggling, what helps you feel most heard by me?
Couple’s Challenge
Give each other five uninterrupted minutes to answer: “What has been weighing on your heart lately?”
Prayer
Lord, teach us to listen with patience and compassion. Help us seek to understand one another before trying to be understood. Amen.
Day 4 — Grace for Imperfect People
Scripture — Colossians 3:13 KJV
“Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.”
Devotional Thought
Marriage has a way of revealing everything—the habits, weaknesses, frustrations, and unfinished places.
Neither husband nor wife is a finished product.
God is still working on both of you.
Grace does not mean pretending hurtful things do not matter. It means refusing to turn your spouse’s imperfections into weapons.
Sometimes love sounds like:
“I know you’re still growing, and I am too.”
Talk Together
What is one area where you could use more grace from me right now?
Couple’s Challenge
Tell your spouse one thing you appreciate about the person they are becoming.
Prayer
Lord, thank You for the grace You give us. Help us extend that same grace to one another. Teach us to forgive as You have forgiven us. Amen.
Day 5 — Fight the Problem, Not Each Other
Scripture — Ephesians 4:26-27 KJV
“Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
Neither give place to the devil.”
Devotional Thought
Conflict is inevitable.
Becoming enemies is optional.
Marriage becomes healthier when you stop thinking me versus you and begin thinking us versus the problem.
Your spouse is not your enemy.
Before an argument escalates, remember:
We are on the same team.
Winning an argument while damaging intimacy is not really winning.
Talk Together
What usually causes our disagreements to escalate?
Couple’s Challenge
Choose the phrase “Same team” as your reset phrase during future disagreements.
Prayer
God, protect our marriage during conflict. Help us solve problems without tearing one another down. Amen.
Day 6 — Speak Life
Scripture — Proverbs 18:21 KJV
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.”
Devotional Thought
Your words carry tremendous power in your marriage.
Your spouse already hears enough voices telling them they are not enough.
Let your voice be different.
Tell them what you admire. Tell them you appreciate them. Tell them you are proud of them.
Never assume they already know.
Say it.
Talk Together
What words from me make you feel most loved and encouraged?
Couple’s Challenge
Tell your spouse three specific things you appreciate about them.
Prayer
Lord, let our words bring healing, encouragement, truth, and life into our marriage. Amen.
Day 7 — Pray for Your Spouse
Scripture — Philippians 4:6-7 KJV
“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
Devotional Thought
There is something powerful about hearing your spouse pray your name before God.
Instead of only praying, “God, change my spouse,” pray:
“God, bless my spouse. Strengthen them. Protect them. Draw them closer to You. Show me how to love them well.”
Prayer changes circumstances—but it also changes hearts.
Talk Together
What is one thing you specifically need prayer for right now?
Couple’s Challenge
Pray aloud for one another tonight.
Prayer
Father, cover our marriage and each of us individually. Help us faithfully pray for one another in every season. Amen.
