Purposed By Design Devotion

Posted: February 10, 2025

Week 1: Foundations of a Strong Marriage

Day 1: Communication (Colossians 4:6)

Theme: Communication

Bible Verse: " Your speech must always be [a]with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person." - Colossians 4:6 (NASB)

Reflection: How does our communication reflect God's grace? Are there areas where we can be more gentle, thoughtful, and respectful with our words?

Discussion Prompts:

What's one thing I appreciate about the way you communicate?
Is there a time when I misunderstood something you said? How can we prevent this in the future?

Prayer: Dear Lord, help us communicate with love and respect. Give us the wisdom to choose our words carefully and the patience to listen with open hearts. Amen.

Week 1: Foundations of a Strong Marriage

Day 2: Love Languages (1 Corinthians 13:4-8)

Theme: Communication

Bible Verse: " Love is patient, love is kind, it is not jealous; love does not brag, it is not arrogant. 5 It does not act disgracefully, it does not seek its own benefit; it is not provoked, does not keep an account of a wrong suffered, 6 it does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 7 it [a]keeps every confidence, it believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.8 Love never fails; but if there are gifts of [b]prophecy, they will be done away with; if there are tongues, they will cease; if there is knowledge, it will be done away with." – 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (NASB)

Reflection: Love languages provide a powerful framework for understanding how we express and desire to receive affection. By learning your spouse's primary love language, we can tailor our actions to make them feel truly cherished and strengthen the connection within our relationship.

Discussion Prompts:

What is your spouse’s primary and secondary love language?
How can you communicate this to them in a way that they can understand?

Prayer: Dear Lord, help us communicate our love for one another in a way that they can interpret it. Amen.

Week 1: Foundations of a Strong Marriage

Day 3: Forgiveness (Ephesians 4:32)

Theme: Communication

Bible Verse: "Be kind to one another, compassionate, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.” – Ephesians (NASB)

Reflection: Forgiveness is often less about the person who wronged us and more about ourselves. Holding onto resentment is like carrying a heavy burden. Forgiveness allows us to lay that burden down, freeing ourselves to move forward with greater peace. It is a gift we get to give ourselves.

Discussion Prompts:

Christ was the greatest example of forgiveness. How can we model more like Him when it comes to forgiveness?
How do you know when your spouse is attempting to communicate an apology? What behavior do you see?

Prayer: Dear Lord, help us communicate forgiveness in way that my spouse understands and can receive it.

Week 1: Foundations of a Strong Marriage

Day 4: Respect (Ephesians 5:33)

Theme: Communication

Bible Verse: " Nevertheless, as for you individually, each husband is to love his own wife the same as himself, and the wife must see to it that she respects her husband.” – Ephesians (NASB)

Reflection: Respect is the foundation of a healthy marriage. It means valuing your partner's feelings, opinions, and boundaries, even when you disagree.

Discussion Prompts:

How does your spouse communication respect? What behavior(s) do see?
What are three strategies help you communicate effectively while still honoring each other's feelings?

Prayer: Dear Lord, help us communicate respect in our words and deeds.

Week 1: Foundations of a Strong Marriage

Day 5: Commitment (Genesis 2:24)

Theme: Communication

Bible Verse: " For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.” – Genesis (NASB)

Reflection: In one of my recent conversations with a Lyft driver, I was struck by the question he posed about marriage longevity. It made me consider the idea that perhaps compatibility isn't the key factor, but rather a strong commitment to the relationship. While commonalities and shared interests are valuable, a couple's ability to weather challenges and navigate differences through dedication to one another seems to be an even stronger foundation for a lasting marriage.

Discussion Prompts:

What two strategies that can help you reaffirm your commitment to each other when doubts or disagreements arise?
What does commitment truly mean in the context of marriage? Is it a promise, a feeling, or a decision?

Prayer: Dear Lord, help us communicate respect in our words and deeds.

Week 1: Foundations of a Strong Marriage

Day 6: God's Design for Marriage (Genesis 2:18-25)

Theme: Communication

Bible Verse: "Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper [suitable for him.” 19 And out of the ground the Lord God formed every animal of the field and every bird of the sky, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called a living creature, that was its name. 20 The man gave names to all the livestock, and to the birds of the sky, and to every animal of the field, but for [b]Adam there was not found a helper [c]suitable for him. 21 So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then He took one of his ribs and closed up the flesh at that place. 22 And the Lord God fashioned into a woman the rib which He had taken from the man, and brought her to the man. 23 Then the man said, “At last this is bone of my bones, And flesh of my flesh; She shall be called [woman,’ Because she was taken out of man.” 24For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother, and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh. 25 And the man and his wife were both naked, but they were not ashamed.” – Genesis (NASB)

Reflection: God created marriage to demonstrate His love and dedication to mankind. He loved us when we were undeserving and yet gave His life for us. So, how we treat our spouse is a direct reflection of our relationship with Him. This union is meant to be a lifelong covenant of love, reflecting God's love toward His people.

Discussion Prompts:

In the Bible, marriage is often used as a metaphor for Christ's relationship with the church. Discuss the similarities and differences you see in these two types of covenants.
How can modern couples, facing various challenges, uphold these core values in their marriages?

Prayer: Dear Lord, help us to build a marriage based on mutual love, respect, and unwavering support. Make us one, so that the world might know we are one in you. Amen

Day 7: Unity (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)

Week 2: Navigating Challenges

Day 8: Conflict Resolution (Proverbs 15:1)
Day 9: Patience and Kindness (1 Corinthians 13:4-5)
Day 10: Overcoming Temptations (1 Corinthians 10:13)
Day 11: External Pressures (Job 2:9-10)
Day 12: When One Partner Struggles (Galatians 6:2)
Day 13: Rebuilding Trust (Proverbs 3:5-6)
Day 14: Rest and Restoration (Psalm 23)

Week 3: Growing Together

Day 15: Intimacy (1 Corinthians 7:3-5)
Day 16: Shared Goals and Dreams (Amos 3:3)
Day 17: Serving One Another (Galatians 5:13)
Day 18: Supporting Each Other's Growth (Proverbs 27:17)
Day 19: Laughter and Playfulness (Proverbs 17:22)
Day 20: Finances (Proverbs 21:5)
Day 21: Parenting (if applicable) (Proverbs 22:6)

Week 4: Living Out Your Love

Day 22: Hospitality (Romans 12:13)
Day 23: Serving Your Community (Matthew 25:35-40)
Day 24: Grace and Gratitude (Ephesians 5:20)
Day 25: Leaving a Legacy (Psalm 78:4)
Day 26: Hope for the Future (Jeremiah 29:11)
Day 27: Perseverance (Hebrews 12:1-2)
Day 28: Unconditional Love (1 John 4:7-12)