There is nothing better than living a life of joy. If you combine this with having a marriage that brings you great joy, your life is so much better. We work with couples every week who struggle in marriages that just don’t meet the standard of joy and peace they would like to have. There is a simple start to this process. First of all, there is one thing to always remember. YOU and you alone are responsible for your joy. When you truly begin to acknowledge that your spouse is not the source of your joy then you are well on your way to having the best start and the fabulous finish.
Even though it is true that you are responsible for your own joy, there is a secret that will ensure that you are able to have a joy filled day every day. The best start comes when every morning you begin by spending time with God. Just spending those precious first moments of your day remembering God, embracing His presence and verbalizing your gratitude to Him for all He has done for you, starts your day off right. There may be struggles in your day but they are nothing that you and God together cannot handle. I love Psalm 5:1-3 from the Message Bible:
1-2 O Lord, hear me praying; listen to my plea, O God my King, for I will never pray to anyone but you. 3 Each morning I will look to you in heaven and lay my requests before you, praying earnestly.
This simple concept of praying in the morning helps refocus your day. Taking time with your spouse every morning to refocus together will give your the best start at having a great day and a joy filled marriage. Psalm 5:4-5 gives advice for your thoughts throughout your day:
4 I will bless you as long as I live, lifting up my hands to you in prayer. 5 At last I shall be fully satisfied; I will praise you with great joy.
Taking this simple posture of remembering God in the middle of your day, continues to keep you focused on what is most important. Use phone calls and texting to encourage your spouse to remember that God is with him at every moment. I love getting texts from my husband sharing the ways God has reminded him that he is with him all the time. That simple act increases my joy so much.
Now for the fabulous finish, we look at Psalm 63:6-8:
6 I lie awake at night thinking of you— 7 of how much you have helped me—and how I rejoice through the night beneath the protecting shadow of your wings. 8 I follow close behind you, protected by your strong right arm.
Ending your day talking to and thinking about God and how much He has done for you, that He is protecting you, reminds you that you are never alone.
We are never fighting our way through life without the very help we need to succeed. God is with us every day at every moment. Try utilizing these steps to finding your “Best Start and Fabulous Finish” every day.
BridgeBuilderMarriage Ministry 