Instruction Book For Marriage

Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed. (Proverbs 16:3NIV)

Scriptures are such a blessing for believers because it is our instruction to fall back on when we need comfort and encouragement. - That might be once a day or several times a day. Often times when we rely upon our own understanding we may accidentally do the wrong thing for our marriage. It is not that we mean to do the wrong thing, but that is usually what happens. But when we go to the word of God and pray about it, it seems that God gives us His trustworthy guidance almost within hours or days.

A car mechanic has many instructional booklets they must fall back on from time to time. I doubt that they can diagnose and fix every single car problem without going back to their instructional manuals for each particular make of vehicle. A lawyer has instructional manuals and precedents they need to continually fall back on for each new case they take. Without knowing the previous precedents set in a legal case they would literally be stuck and unable to go on defending or prosecuting without that added information about preceding court cases.

Of course, both the mechanic and a lawyer could try and wing it, and go by their own understanding of how to fix that car or defend that person in court, but both would not be very good in their profession if they did not go back to their manuals for guidance. In the same way, we should never ever stop pursuing God's guidance and instruction for our marriage. We cannot get lackadaisical and think we have all the knowledge and understanding we need as Christian's - because we don't.

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you, says the Lord. (Psalm 32:8 NIV)

Wow, not only will God teach us in the way we should go, but he will also counsel and watch over us. So does that mean for the believer they should not go to marriage counseling? It means that when we make God a priority in our marriage, there is no need to go outside of the boundaries of the marriage to seek mainstream counseling from unbelievers or from anyone who is going to sidetrack you off your Christian path.

If you need counseling and encouragement for your marriage the most important thing is to make sure you are talking with someone who also bases their own life upon that of God's will, otherwise you are going to be heading for trouble. You want to talk with someone who is not bias towards you or your spouse, so that would eliminate family members on both sides.

If God is our counselor than He already has all the answers we need in His instruction book for us. Some of those instructions we already know because they are embedded within our heart. Now we just need to put them to the test and apply them into our marriage. When the willingness is there to work on the marriage it can be restored by applying the teachings and philosophy set forth in the bible.

Accept the advice written and commit to Gods word. Don't let pride and stubbornness keep you from doing the Will of God for your marriage. A mechanic can wing it and not do the job right, and the car may break down again. A lawyer can wing it by not referring to past motions and lose the case. A married man or woman can go to the wrong source for their marriage and become frustrated and lose hope.

If we know where to find the instructions for the job to do it right, let's just do it right, and be all that we can be for others (good stewards) in our professions and marriage. It's ok to get additional support and encouragement from those we know and trust because they will always give us the godly answers and needed nudge that leads us back to Christ. And that is what we want.

Where can wisdom be found? Where does understanding dwell? Man does not comprehend its worth; it cannot be found in the land of the living. It cannot be bought with the finest gold, nor can its price be weighed in silver. (Job 28: 13, 15 NIV)

Questions for Couples

1. How often do you refer to your instruction manual (bible) for your marriage?

2. How often do you pray with your spouse?

Once a day - once a week - twice a week - never. Choose one and then write down a plan to pray twice as much as you are now. Pick the day and the time and let your spouse know of those times so they may be ready to read and study the bible with you.

3. Who is God to you? What do you think God can do for your marriage?

4. Are you trusting in God for your marriage, or outside influences?

5. In what ways can you and your spouse begin to trust more in Christ for your marriage?