Keep Your Marriage a Priority

By Carla Collier

Is anything beginning to eclipse your marriage? This was the question I asked myself after I had a visual reminder of just how easily that can happen. I have a favorite wedding picture displayed among books and collectibles on a shelf. While dusting the other day, I noticed that my husband and I, young and smiling in the picture, were having to peek out over books that were taking over the shelf! Over the course of several years since I first arranged the items, the number of books had increased one at a time until slowly but surely our picture was being hidden! As I removed books to restore the picture to it’s original and proper prominence, I was reminded that from time to time there may be things I need to move or remove from my schedule and calender to keep my marriage in it’s proper place of priority.

What could those things be? Just as the books on the shelf weren’t bad or worthless, many of the things that need to be rearranged in my life are good and worthy in and of themselves and even a calling from God, such as my children, work, ministry or service. I need to pray that God will give me wisdom to plan my days so that I can meet these needs and still be available for my husband. Other things like hobbies, facebook, and friendships need to be consciously monitored to keep them in balance so they don’t crowd out time and attention I should give to my marriage.

I decided to get out my Called to be a Keeper Bible study book and reread chapters three and four where we study God’s plan for our marriage relationship. Lori Merrill reminds us that nothing should be more important to you in life, apart from God, than your relationship with your husband. While most of us would agree with that statement, do our lives demonstrate it? I want to encourage you to review Lori’s biblical teaching and practical suggestions on marriage in the Keeper’s study. Then, as the Holy Spirit prompts you, remove or rearrange the things in your life that are hindering your marriage from being all that God intended it to be.