1. Putting your kids before your spouse. Stereotypically, men kill their marriages by putting their jobs before their wives. But men, we must never do this. Your boss can replace you with a new employee, but your wife cannot get a new husband. And stereotypically, some women put their children before their husbands. But ladies, even though your children came from your flesh, the Bible never says a mother and her children are one flesh. It does say that a husband and wife become one flesh. If you get the foundation wrong, the rest of the house will develop cracks. 2. Putting your parents before your spouse. The Bible says, “A man shall leave his father and mother and cleave to his wife.” When your children get married, they start a new family—and you become extended family. If you don’t leave, you can’t truly cleave. 3. Putting yourself before your spouse. If a marriage is two people trying to use each other, it feels like a battle. If one person is trying to serve and the other is trying to use, it feels like abuse. But if two people try to out‑serve each other, it feels like a blessing. Some of you may feel trapped in your marriage and think, “I need a new marriage. Here’s the promise: if the people of God start living by the Word of God, you can have a new marriage with the same spouse.

Husbands, your wife is not always going to be lovable. Love her anyway. As Christ loves the Church, your calling is to love your wife—even when it feels like she’s putting you on a cross. Wives, respect your husbands even when they’re not acting respectable. Because guess what—sometimes we’re kind of idiots. We do dumb things. Now, this does not mean that if there is abuse or full-on neglect you just continue in the same song and dance. I’m not saying that at all. I’m talking about the majority of healthy couples. If you learn to respect your husband when he’s not respectable, and husbands learn to love your wives when they’re not being lovable, you will look like Jesus. This is the biblical model. Wives, respect your husbands. Husbands, lay down your lives for your wives and love them as Christ loves the Church. Ephesians 5. It’s very simple—and very difficult. Why? Because we’re sinners. We’re self‑motivated, self‑focused, and self‑centered. But when you crucify your flesh and realize that a cord of three strands is not easily broken, when you become one, that means a divine death has taken place. Your former self has died, and now you are united with Christ together—one flesh at the foot of the cross. You’re going to live a beautiful life. Because guess what—wives, your husband is your own body. He has needs. Meet those needs if it’s a healthy relationship. Husbands, the same goes for you. Put down the remote, stop scrolling, and look your wife in the eyes—look at her heart. You will have a beautiful marriage when you simply do what Jesus did, who did not consider equality with God something to cling to, but made Himself a servant to imperfect people. That is the call of the Christian.

Dear God, thank you for giving me a new day. you are great, you are mighty to save, and you are an awesome God. your word in 1 Chronicles 16:31 says, "let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let them say among the nations, 'the lord reigns!'" God, in a world filled with darkness and so much pain, you remain greater than it all. you came from heaven to earth to show me the way, and you gave everything so that I could have eternal life. Thank you for your goodness and for your protections over me and my family. I will fear no evil because you are with me. I'm not afraid of today or tomorrow, because you're already there. Bless this day with peace and strength and help me keep my eyes fixed on you no matter what comes, my way. in Jesus name, amen. He is the one you praise; he is your God, who performed for you those great and awesome wonders you say your own eyes. -Deuteronomy 10:2

Dear God, thank you for another day. Thank you for waking me up today with breath in my lungs and strength in my lungs and strength in my body. As I step into this day, I ask for your protection over my life. There's so many things that can happen in one day, but you are all that I need to be safe and secure. Your word in Psalm 5:11 says, "But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you." God thank you for being a place of safety for me today. I don't have to be afraid or have any fear in my heart with you by my side. I Praise you with every fiber of my being, and I thank you for the miracles that you give me each day. Thank you for leading the way, and for taking all my burdens and giving me rest. I give this day to you. in Jesus' name, Amen. God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. -Psalm 45:1

Dear God, thank you for being so good, and thank you for carrying me through another day. This day brought lots of ups and downs, and so many things didn't go the way I planned, but through it all, you are good. Things can always better, but everything you've done for me is a gift. Your word in Isaiah 50:7 says, "Because the sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore, I have set my face like a stone, determined to do his will. l know I will not be put to shame." God, thank you for this word that helps me stay focused on you. Just like this scripture says, I'm determined to do your will no matter how hard it gets. You have me the victory on the cross, and you save me every day from things I don't even see. Thank you for everything. I give this night to you. in Jesus' name, Amen. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. Psalm 23:1