Wouldn’t it be great if there were keys or biblical marriage principles that you can follow to have a great marriage? Well, I believe that there are, and I’ve managed to find a few of which I’ll share with you in this article.
Ephesians 5:31 “For this cause shall a man leave his father and mother and shall be joined unto his wife, and they two shall be one flesh.”
I read about a bride that was getting married and needed advice on how to deal with her nerves as she approached the altar at the start of her wedding. The pastor suggested that she keep her eyes on the aisle.
Then, upon turning the corner, to focus on the altar. And finally, as she drew near the altar, to focus on the groom. She did exactly that on her wedding day and as she did so, the groom overheard her saying to herself, “Isle, Altar, Him!” “Isle, Altar, Him!” – you’ll get it in a minute.
Most new couples know that marriage is a blessed gift from God.
After the season of being newlyweds, however, many marriages suffer from the doldrums. With the keys to a great marriage, you can unlock your doldrums and get on with being very happily married! If you want a faithful marriage that remains, then there are some important things that should remain in your marriage.
1. Remain in Love with the Lord
God’s greatest commandment is to love Him: “And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might” (Deuteronomy 6:5).
There is nothing more important than the Lord being at the center of your marriage. The Christ-centered marriage is one of the keys to a great marriage. If Jesus is your first love, then out of that relationship, all other relationships will be as healthy as they can be.
When a Christian marriage starts to fall apart, it is because one or both of them have drifted away from the Lord. Once that happens, it is easy for the heart to drift away from your marriage. Your spouse cannot meet the needs that only Jesus can meet!
Read this awesome post on 4 Things Your Wife Wishes You Knew.
2. Remain Committed to a Great Marriage.
Husbands are to take the lead here: “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it” (Ephesians 5:25).
It’s amazing that when a marriage functions as a team, united in the pursuit of a great marriage, they usually reach that goal. When you were dating and pursuing each other, you invested in your relationship. Keep doing that!
Don’t settle for an “OK” marriage!
It’s true, you can make a great marriage, but it’s not going to happen by accident. You can have a great marriage, and you can keep it a great marriage. It starts by remaining committed to that.
It is the husband’s responsibility to make their wives feel loved, accepted, and secure in the marriage relationship. That is what Christ has done, he has forgiven us of our sins, loved us, accepted us, and secured us in an eternal relationship.
That is what the husband is supposed to do for the wife. Marriage takes COMMITMENT.
As someone said, “marriages may be made in heaven, but the maintenance must be done on earth.”
Someone said, “A good marriage is like a casserole, only those that make it, really know what goes in it.”
If you are looking for keys to a great marriage, remember this, for marriages to survive, they require commitment and effort.
Read: The Ultimate List of 7 Duties of a Husband In The Bible
3. Remain Thankful for His Blessings
First Thessalonians 5:18 instructs, “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” Satan tries to point out all the flaws in your spouse, but remember, there are many great things about your husband or wife. Look for those things, and express thankfulness for them.
- Be thankful for all of the memories that you share with each other.
- Be thankful for all of the good times that you’ve had with each other, the kids, the vacations, the holidays, and the fun.
- Be thankful for the hard times, and the pressures that caused you to cling to each other.
- Be thankful that someone loves you enough, to stand by your side, and love you despite all your faults and failures.
- Be thankful that God has blessed you with a spouse.
The following letter appeared in the “Ann Lander’s” newspaper column a few years ago. It is a great image of what marital love is like.
Check out our great post on 7 Clear Complementarianism Bible Truths
“Dear Ann Landers: I’m going to tell you about a love story that I witness every time I go to the nursing home to see my husband who has Alzheimer’s disease. Unfortunately, I know firsthand how this terrible illness affects family members, but I would like the world to know what love really is.
Each time I go, there is another man who, I understand, has spent the last eight years caring for his wife who has Alzheimer’s. They have been married for more than 50 years. He cooks and feeds her every bite of food she eats. He has bathed her and dressed her every day all these years. They have no other family.
She lost a baby at birth and they never had any more children. I cannot describe the tenderness and love that man shows for his wife. She is unable to recognize anyone, including him. The only things she shows any interest in are two baby dolls. They are never out of her hands.
I observed him when I parked my car beside his the other day. He sat in his old pickup truck for a few minutes, then he patted down what little hair he had, straightened the threadbare collar of his shirt, and looked in the mirror for a final check before going in to see his wife.
It was as if he were courting her. They have been partners all these years and have seen each other under all kinds of circumstances, yet he carefully groomed himself before he called on his wife, who wouldn’t even know him. This is an example of the love and commitment the world needs today.“ Remain thankful and grateful, for the blessings of God.
4. Remain Honest in Your Marriage
Spouses should be accountable to each other. Accountability in every area helps you obey the command of Romans 14:16, “Let not then your good be evil spoken of.”
In this world of temptation and super-charged immorality, our marriage should be a place of protection and refuge. You should be able to talk to your spouse, openly and honestly, about anything.
Check out our guide on:
The Ultimate Guide To Surviving a Sexless Marriage Without Cheating and
11 Vital Surviving Infidelity Guidelines For Anyone
Maybe it’s money, or schedule, or household duties, or backsliding. It can be any number of things that need to be talked about.
Sometimes the smallest problem can become a big crisis if it can’t be openly and honestly handled in the marriage.
Read: 5 Leadership Tips for Family Crisis
Once an aircraft has been built and tested and then used in active service, there is no way that it can then be left unchecked and uncared for. Sometimes it might be something small that needs fixing or changing.
It might be something so small that it could almost seem insignificant; but it needs sorting out so that the aircraft continues to work, to fly, to do what it’s been made to do.
Perhaps marriage is a bit like that? When two people enter marriage, there is a lifelong work of loving care, and maintenance, and development ahead.
One of the keys to a great marriage is that it will be honest – so the maintenance in your relationship can keep your marriage running smoothly.
5. Remain Regular at Church
Another of the keys to a great marriage is regular attendance at a biblical location church. God designed the church to give Him glory, and to build up the believers who are part of it. Especially families. But if you aren’t there, you miss all the help and encouragement that God offers.
How many marriages could be helped, if they would find a good church, and attend faithfully? It’s a sad thing when a couple waits until they are on the verge of divorce, and then all of a sudden they want to get God into their marriage.
I think it’s a good idea to get God in on it, but not to wait for the crisis to do it. It’s far better, to get God in on your marriage, and get plugged into a good church from the beginning. That is God’s design for your marriage.
The House of God was always intended by God to be integrated into your marriage and family life. It is a greatly beneficial relationship.
Your marriage and family benefit tremendously from being involved in a good church, and the church benefits greatly when it is full of good strong families.
Keys to a Great Marriage Conclusion:
Marriage is under attack these days. Divorce is as rampant as ever, but your marriage doesn’t have to be that way. You can have a vibrant and healthy lifelong marriage.
I am convinced that the only answer for the family is FAITH – faith in God, faith in God’s word, and faith in God’s way.
Keys to a Great Marriage:
- Remain in Love with the Lord.
- Remain Committed to a Great Marriage.
- Remain Thankful for His Blessings.
- Remain Honest in Your Marriage
- Remain Regular at Church.