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4 Simple Prayer Starters for a Stronger Marriage [via Gary Thomas] Posted: 14 Feb 2012 01:34 PM PST Take some time to pray in a few of these directions. If you and your spouse can make time to pray together, even better. Father, teach me humility so that I can see how you want to grow me and shape me through my spouse. Give me wisdom to see when my view of marriage is based on a picture painted by the media or the world and not shaped by your Word and truth. Jesus, when I feel discouraged or disheartened, help me to remember all that you sacrificed for me. Give me strength to stand strong in my marriage, even when emotions ebb and frustration grows. God of hope, fill me with anticipation for all the good things you want to do in my marriage as we walk through this learning experience together.   Learn More These quotes are from Gary Thomas's Sacred Marriage video group study, Session 1. Watch the video of Session 1 for free on YouTube. - Adam Forrest, Zondervan    (This post does not represent the views of Zondervan or any of its representatives. The writer's personal opinions are shared for information purposes only. To receive new Zondervan Blog posts in your reader or email inbox, subscribe to Zondervan Blog.)

Epic Love is in Little Choices [Excerpt by John & Stasi Eldredge] Posted: 14 Feb 2012 08:20 AM PST   Excerpt from Love & War Participant's Guide by John & Stasi Eldredge.   Learn More Love plays itself out in what seems like such unremarkable ways — you pick up your socks, you ignore their snarky comment, you put the toilet seat down. But this is exactly what makes it epic — the fact that love plays itself out in a thousand little choices, unseen and without supporting soundtrack. That's what makes it so beautiful.   I'll run to the store. We can watch your show. Yes, you can dim the lights. No, I don't mind if you go out tonight. Would you like a little of my cookie?   I [was] thinking about my reputation, not my wife's heart. We meet these moments every day. This morning, we had to get down to an event for which we were the keynote speakers. Stasi and I agreed last night we'd better leave the house at eight. It is now ten after and she's not ready; she's futzing in the bathroom. It's moments like these that reveal what fuels us. Hey, you were the one who said eight. Let's go. Why am I tweaked? What's with the compulsion, the anxiousness? Isn't it really about wanting to get on top of things, making sure we make a good impression? It is godless; I'm thinking about my reputation, not my wife's heart.   So, I sat at the kitchen table and finished my oatmeal, had a cup of tea. I simply waited until she came out and said, "I'm ready." I didn't even get in that little dig men savor — "Finally." These are the little choices we are making every day. We are learning to love...   Choosing to Love Every time we choose to love, we take a step closer to God; it's like he's right there. Every time we choose something else, we take a step away. I want God, so I choose love. Don't get me wrong—I love Stasi, more than ever. Sometimes it scares me how much I love her, because my heart feels so utterly out there, so entirely vulnerable... Then we read the Scriptures telling us to love one another "as God loved us," and ... that trail leads to a crown of thorns.   Pardon the grammar, but it don't come easy. Falling in love is how God gives us a push in the right direction. But then we have to choose. And we are going to need a very compelling reason to lay down our lives, day after day, year after year. To make those thousand little choices, for the thousand-and-oneth little time. Something needs to compel us.   What could be more compelling than this? When we abandon ourselves to love, we find ourselves closer to the One who is always doing that himself. We find God. -John and Stasi Eldredge   Learn More Learn more about the Love and War DVD Group Study   - Adam Forrest, Zondervan (Some styling above is a web-exclusive feature not included in the text of Love & War. This post does not represent the views of Zondervan or any of its representatives. The writer's personal opinions are shared only for information purposes. To receive new Zondervan Blog posts in your reader or email inbox, subscribe to Zondervan Blog.)

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