Monday's Marriage Moment -- Go On a Date For Goodness' Sake!

Let your fountain be blessed,
And rejoice with the wife of your youth.
As a loving deer and a graceful doe,
Let her breasts satisfy you at all times;
And always be enraptured with her love.
-Proverbs 5:18-19

I don't have a deep and soul-stirring message for you today, but I do have a practical one. Go on a date with your spouse! I am sure that your life is full just like mine: full-time work, parental responsibilities, familial obligations, bible study, appointments, errands, and more! It is easy to become so engrossed in these things that we forget that we married the person that we liked. Notice that I didn't say loved. Of course, we love our spouses (at least, I hope we do), but have we forgotten that we like them. Do you remember how you felt when you were dating? Do you remember the butterflies when you saw their number appear on your phone? Do you remember how you felt when you saw them from across the room? Do you remember the excitement of going out on a date with them?

I think one of the greatest weapons the enemy has unleashed against us in busyness. We are too busy for relationships because we are doing so many other things. We have stopped holding hands with our spouse. We have stopped giving hello and goodbye kisses.We have stopped flirting with each other - you know winking at each other, blowing kisses, and playfully smacking each other on the butt (yes, the Elder said that - we are married, ok?). The love hasn't gone, but the "like" has run away!

The enemy has deceived us into thinking that spirituality begins and ends at church. We have somehow forgotten that God is concerned about our marriages. He must be because there are so many verses in the bible about our interactions with our spouses. We pray, prophecy, speak in tongues, and cast out devils (all good things), yet we forget to put energy into showing love to our spouses. We have made church/church activities "the other woman" or "the other man" that our spouses have to compete with for our attention. I don't think God is pleased with that.

I challenge you this week to go on a date with your spouse. Yes, you may have a full week, but cross something off your list if necessary to sit across from your spouse and look into their eyes. Take some time to hold their hands. Take some time to cuddle and talk about your future. Reserve a room and get away if possible, but please do something! I guarantee that it will increase your oneness and intimacy with your spouse, and after all, we need the power of agreement in our homes. Schedule a date night!!!