Good News Florida

MARRIAGE 40 JANUARY 2018 Good News • South Florida Edition Recently, our community experienced the outer bands of Hurricane Irma. Though we did- n’t suffer a direct hit, as ex- pected, we spent the days be- fore the storm preparing for the winds and rain that were threat- ening our homes and families. I began to wonder, “Do we spend the same amount of intentional energy on protecting and safe- guarding our marriages?” Though the news doesn’t cover it, and it is unlikely that we will see hourly visual updates on the projected paths of the storms brewing in our lives, threatening winds and rains threaten our marriages on a daily basis. God promises pro- tection in the storm (Isaiah 4:6). Below is a storm preparation plan for your marriage. Pray together Churches, prayer groups and individuals prayed, and we saw the power of those prayers when Hurricane Irma shifted west, spending much of its time in the ocean rather moving di- rectly up the middle of Florida. Pray together daily. If you pray at meals, make sure you are in- tentional about your prayers. Share what is on your heart, and ask for God’s guidance and presence in your relationship. Short devotionals are also a great way to focus your hearts and minds on God and guide your prayer time. Praying to- gether as a couple is an impor- tant way to continue to ensure that God’s spirit is woven into the fabric of your relationship. Discusses finances The number one reason cited for divorce is finances. Debt creates financial burdens that cause anxiety, anger and stress. Take the time to talk about your financial hopes and dreams, your spending habits, and your expectations and needs. Based on your discus- sion, create a budget. There are numerous programs that can help you create a plan for your finances or deal with debt. I’ve personally benefitted from Dave Ramsey’s Financial Peace program. It is a great way to learn about your individ- ual styles and needs and work together on crafting a budget. If you are already in debt, Crown Financial Ministries and other organizations offer pro- grams and strategies to help couples eliminate debt. Create intimacy Research shows that you need to offer four affirming or positive comments to make up for every disparaging or nega- tive comment. It is human na- ture for us to focus on the negative. Ninety percent of communication is nonverbal, so it’s important to be thoughtful about whether your facial ex- pressions and body language are communicating love and openness or disdain and dis- connection. Be intentional about show- ing kindness and offering af- firming words that encourage your wife or husband. Reach out and hold your husband’s hand as you walk together or sit on the couch. Rub her back or make eye contact and touch his arm in a loving way as you pass by one another in the kitchen. And don’t forget sex. In a recent study of over 30,000 Americans, re- searchers found the relation- ship between weekly sex and marital happiness. More than once a week did not lead to significant increases in happi- ness, but less than once per week correlated with a decline in happiness. Find time weekly for physical intimacy. *1/' 1( 6*' /106* YKVJ RQQN KP 6QYPICVG KP 2GODTQMG 2KPGU %QPVCEV OG HQT &GVCKNU /KEJCGN ( /E&GTOQVV 2# #$4 )4+ 545 OKMGOEFGTOQVV"MG[GU EQO *CXG ;QWT *QOG 'XCNWCVGF (4'' " YYY OKMGOEFGTOQVV MG[GU EQO 8 Ways to Strengthen Your Marriage Terry Morrow Nelson Good News