Bible verse: Isaiah 40:31 – But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
Have you ever read or prayed out loud with your spouse? That is super lame, right!? If it was up to me, after I tuck the kids into bed, I would turn on whatever game is on and eat all the chips and chocolate in the house. Chow time! Early on in our marriage, my wife started to read books out loud when we were taking road trips. At the time, my parents lived a 6 hour or so drive from us. So, while I drove the car, my wife would read a few chapters of a book to pass the time. Then, we would get into the book and take turns reading a chapter or two out loud before bed. Over the years, we will have phases when we read a book out loud and pray together before bed. If you are looking to grow your intimacy in your marriage, this is a simple and easy thing to do to grow closer to each other. When we do this, I find that we also talk about other things in our day, what our latest hopes and dreams are, as well as praying for each other and our family. We have read everything from John Grisham books, to devotionals, to parenting books. We have talked about everything from our frustrations at work, how weird our kids are, and the possibilities of moving to a remote piece of land in the world and becoming organic farmers. We have cried and prayed for sick family members, dined on chocolate covered almonds, and prayed for our kids’ future. It is always easiest to watch the game or binge on Netflix. But, make sure you take the time to spend time laughing with your spouse, reading a good book, and praying with each other.
Daily Guide:
Morning
- 5:30AM – Wake-up, thank God for this day prior to your feet hitting the ground
- Max out on push-ups / mountain climbers before leaving your bedroom (13 mins)
- Read your Bible or listen with audio app
Lunch Break
- Pick out a book to read or listen to with you wife before bed
- Walk/run min of 5KM
- As you walk/run, pray to God with a thankful heart for the many blessings in your life
Evening
- Tell your wife that you love her and give her a big kiss on the lips
- Pray with kids before bed
- 10PM – Lights out