Hello Friends,
Recently we have taken a few of our blogs and focused on our favorite marriage resources. Alex and I are firm believers in investing in our marriage. Making regular investments is the only way our marriage has grown and become more mature. What is true for our marriage is true for yours as well, your relationship needs investments.
We could not stop talking about ways to invest in your marriage without talking about our favorite books. Over the 10 years, Alex and I have been married we have gained so much wisdom from diving into books that were specifically focused on godly marriages. I know some people like to dismiss “self-help” books, but at the end of the day if we gain wisdom from the past experiences of another couple we are all for it. Why go through something if you can miss it altogether?
Iron Sharpens Iron
Proverbs 27:17 says “Iron sharpens iron, and one person sharpens another.” There is so much truth in this verse. We can learn so much if we will just allow other people’s stories to affect our own. Books are a great way to invest in your marriage while learning tips and tricks from like-minded people.
Our the years, we have read countless books on marriage, and have gained something from every single one of them. However, for the sake of time, we are going to narrow it down to our four most favorite marriage books. We tried to pick a book from several different categories that way you can learn something unique in each one. So let’s dive in!
Four of our Favorite Marriage Books
The Meaning of Marriage
“The Meaning of Marriage” is written by a New York pastor and bestselling author Timothy Keller. This book is by far the best book on marriage we have ever read. It goes beyond the typical “how to fix your marriage” topics of most books, and explores what a godly marriage actually looks like. This book is filled with wisdom and insight on God’s model for marriage and how we can walk that out in our everyday lives. In this book, Alex and I found the most beautiful definition of what a true marriage after God looks like. I cannot recommend this book enough, it’s a pretty long read, but totally worth it!
Husband in Pursuit/Wife in Pursuit
“Husband and Wife in Pursuit” is a two-book couple devotional. The goal of these books is for each person to focus on investing in their marriage in specific ways for 31 days. Each book has 31 chapters so you only have to read one chapter a day. The chapters average about 4 pages and are comprised of a Bible verse, a story, and a challenge for each day.
There are some days the couple has to do the same thing, but there are other days when you each do something completely different. Those days were so much fun because it was always a surprise to find out what Alex was going to do. In the back of the book, they also give you 50 creative date ideas to explore with your spouse. We loved these books because they were a ton of fun, and for 31 days they helped us be intentional about investing in our relationship.
The Marriage Challenge
“The Marriage Challenge” is written by Art Rainer. This book is such a great resource for the couple that wants to be good stewards of their money. Money is one of the leading causes of conflict in a relationship. This book takes the principles of the Davey Ramsey course and narrows it down to basic steps that can help a couple manage their money well.
This is a book that definitely needs to be read by both husband and wife. It is easy to manage your money when you are on the same page. If you have a financial goal, you both need to know what it is that way you can both go in the same direction. This book can help you do that!
A Beautiful Adventure Marriage
We couldn’t talk about our favorite books without mentioning our own. “A Beautiful Adventure Marriage” was written by us! We believe that marriage is God’s idea. It is a good idea and it can be a beautiful adventure. However, just like a real adventure you have to plan, prepare, and pace yourself if you are going to arrive at your destination healthy, happy, and whole. This book serves as a guide to help you enjoy the adventure of marriage. We highly recommend it!
What is Your Secret?
Over the last 10 years, Alex and I have been asked this question a lot. Once people realize we are genuinely happy they want to know what our secret is. We are always honest with this question. There is no secret, only Jesus and a lot of work.
We take time to invest in our marriage. We make it a priority, and the benefits are visible in our marriage. If a happy marriage is your goal, you will have to work. You will have to make it a priority to invest in your relationship. It may be books, podcasts, blogs, or conferences, do as much as you can as often as you can! Your marriage will benefit from it and your community will notice!
You can do this!
We are praying for you!