How To Put God First In A Relationship

Having God at the center of your relationship can bring you closer together and strengthen your bond. If you want to put God first, here are some practical ways to make that happen.

If you’re short on time, here’s a quick answer: Make prayer, Bible study, and service central parts of your life as a couple. Let your faith guide major decisions and daily interactions.

Pray Together Regularly

Before meals

Praying together before meals is a simple yet powerful way to put God first in your relationship. Setting aside a few moments to thank God for the food and His provision allows you to begin each meal mindful of His presence and blessings. Some tips for meaningful mealtime prayers as a couple:

• Take turns saying grace so you both lead in inviting God’s presence.
• Hold hands or sit closely to pray together rather than individually.
• Keep prayers short but sincere – a few sentences is fine.
• Focus prayers around gratitude, blessings received that day, and God’s faithfulness.
• Consider praying for those in need or situations heavy on your hearts as well.

Making prayer a natural part of your time around the table deepens your spiritual connection and appreciation for each other and God’s role in your relationship. Reflecting on how God sustains you physically and spiritually before eating cultivates an attitude of reliance on Him to nourish your life together.

During challenging times

When trials and hardships come, commitment to pray together regularly provides strength, perspective and hope to weather the storms. Here are some pointers for praying through challenges as a couple:

• Set aside time to pray at the first sign of tension or difficulty rather than as a last resort.
• Be honest in bringing struggles and pain points before God, but balance with trust in His goodness and sovereignty.
• If anger or hurts affect your ability to pray positively, ask God to soften your hearts and give you His heart for the situation.
• Seek forgiveness and reconciliation if offenses have built barriers between you – through prayer, unity can be restored.
• Pray through specific decisions, uncertainties, needs for provision, hurts, fears, and anxiety together.

Stormy times often lead couples apart, but prayer has power to bring you together by reminding you of Jesus’ faithfulness as the anchor for your souls. Praying through hardship deepens intimacy with each other and the Lord.

About decisions

Seeking God together about decisions great and small is vital for making choices based on His wisdom and will, not merely personal preferences and opinions. Here are some pointers:

• Set aside undistracted time to pray, listen and discuss when facing big decision points like moving, job changes, having children, etc.
• Learn each other’s hopes, desires, concerns and boundaries regarding the decision at hand.
• Ask God to align your individual and relationship goals with His glory and purposes.
• Pray through various options, asking for discernment of God’s direction and confirming peace.
• Commit to wait on God’s timing and follow where He clearly leads, not rushing ahead anxiously.

Navigating through life’s intersections together through prayer helps you stay in sync and empowers you to choose paths that honor God and benefit your relationship. He will light the way forward as you seek His face.

Read Scripture and Devotionals

Pick a devotional book to go through

Going through a devotional book together is a great way for couples to connect spiritually. Popular options like Jesus Calling and Proverbs 31 have uplifting messages and thought-provoking questions perfect for couples’ devotion time.

Consider taking turns picking a devotional or doing one together if your schedules allow. Over time, consistently reading devotionals bonds you in faith.

Memorize meaningful verses

Choose key Bible verses that resonate with both of you and make an effort to commit them to memory. Verses on love (1 Corinthians 13:4-8) and unity (Psalm 133:1) make great starter verses. As your relationship progresses, you can add verses on marriage and family.

Reciting these verses together reminds you of God’s design for relationships. Check out apps like Bible for verse memorization features.

Listen to audio Bibles

Listening to the Bible on audio allows you to take in scripture together while cooking, driving, working out and more. Apps like Bible and Bible Gateway make it easy to stream audio Bibles and both have selections to fit your preference.

You could start from Genesis or try listening to books you’ve never read before. Hearing scripture spoken aloud in a shared context brings increased understanding and opportunities to discuss passages.

Participate in Church Activities

Attend services together

Attending church services together is a great way for couples to put God first in their relationship. Here are some tips:

• Make attending services a priority each week. Block out time on your calendars so it doesn’t get overlooked.
• Arrive early and pray together before services start. Ask God to speak to you both and transform you through worship.
• Sit together and both actively participate by singing, listening, taking notes, etc. Avoid distractions like phones.
• Discuss the sermon afterward. Share what God taught you and how you can apply it as a couple.
• Serve together if possible – for example, greet people at the door or help prep communion. Serving brings joy!
• Introduce each other to people at church. Make some new faith-based friendships.

Making church attendance a consistent couple activity keeps your focus on God and Bible teaching, and allows you to grow spiritually as a team.

Join a small group

In addition to Sunday services, joining a small group bible study or fellowship group at your church can enrich your spiritual connection as a couple:

• Choose a group focused on marriage, parenting, or other relevant topics to gain helpful perspective.
• Open up in a safe, tight-knit community of believers who can support your relationship.
• Pray together with the group before diving into study. Amazing things happen through prayer!
• Discuss the Bible passages or topics with thought-provoking questions. Get to know God better together.
• Apply the lessons individually and as a couple. Small groups encourage accountability and growth.
• Socialize after the gatherings to build friendships. Go out for coffee or meals together.

The couple that studies scripture together in a caring small group stays close to God and one another.

Volunteer to serve

What better way for a couple to prioritize God than by serving others together at church? Here are some rewarding ways to volunteer as a team:

• Lead children’s ministry to nurture the next generation in the faith.
• Serve meals to the homeless at the church’s soup kitchen. Jesus served the poor.
• Help with landscaping, building projects, and maintenance on service days. Many hands make light work!
• Visit elderly members who are homebound. Brighten their day through fellowship.
• Organize outreach events like vacation bible school. Spread the gospel in fun ways!
• Clean the church before services. Stay humble by serving behind the scenes.

Serving together deepens teamwork, communication, and your shared love for the Lord. Plus, you’ll be a blessing to others in need.

Make Faith Part of Daily Conversations

Discuss Sermons and Readings

Making faith a regular part of conversations with your significant other is a great way to strengthen your spiritual connection. After attending a worship service or bible study, discuss aspects that stood out to you or impacted you (Ephesians 4:29).

Exchange perspectives on sermons, scripture passages, worship songs, or anything else from the service. This shows you are both actively listening and learning. It also allows you to support each other’s spiritual growth.

Look up bible verses together that relate to current issues you face to see God’s wisdom on the matter.

Share Testimonies and Blessings

Testifying to God’s work in your daily life is powerful for growth. When something good happens, share it with your partner while giving God glory. It demonstrates God’s active presence and reminds you of blessings (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

Some examples include a prayer answered, a chance to minister to someone, a new opportunity, or simply a beautiful sunset to enjoy. Give thanks together for all the Lord has done. Seeing evidences of God’s grace in action produces encouragement and joy.

Apply Scriptural Principles

As Christians, God’s word is packed with practical marriage advice. Discuss scriptures with truth about handling conflict, communication, roles, finances, intimacy, and more with patience and grace. Explore passages on themes relevant to areas you want to grow in as a couple.

This trains you both to turn to the bible for wisdom in every circumstance (2 Timothy 3:16-17). Select a fruit of the Spirit such as love or joy and share examples with each other when you witness that trait in your significant other’s actions (Galatians 5:22-23).

Applying God’s principles will lead to greater unity, sincerity, and peace.

Let Your Faith Guide Major Decisions

Seeking God’s will about relationships/marriage

When considering a potential spouse, it is crucial to seek God’s guidance through prayer, wise counsel, and studying scripture. God’s principles for marriage include unity, selfless love, forgiveness, and lifelong commitment (Ephesians 5:21-33).

Ask God to clearly reveal His will and to confirm when you have found a godly spouse who shares your faith and values (Proverbs 3:5-6). Discuss your relationship openly with mature believers who know you both well.

Evaluate your compatibility in the faith, life vision, communication, conflict resolution, and intimacy. Make choices based on godly wisdom over fleeting emotions. Remember that God cares deeply about your marital happiness and will guide you to His best if you seek Him first (Matthew 6:33).

Aligning career choices and calling

God has intricately designed each person with unique talents and spiritual gifts to fulfill specific Kingdom purposes (Ephesians 2:10). As you consider career options and job opportunities, begin with prayerful self-reflection on how God has shaped you and what burdens He has placed on your heart.

Study biblical principles about stewardship, excellent work, and bringing glory to God (Colossians 3:23). Seek wise input on how your personality, skills, and passions align with potential vocations. Look for open doors and confirm God’s calling through peace and joy when following His will (Psalm 37:4-5).

Discuss with mentors how you can honor Christ in different fields and allow your job to complement your higher spiritual calling. Trust that God will reveal and enable the right career path as you commit your way to Him (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Determining family planning

Starting a family is an immense responsibility and privilege, so seek the Lord earnestly about when to have children and how many. Pray together as a couple, asking God to guide your decisions, timing, and preparations.

Study biblical principles about parenting, children as gifts from God, and raising children in the faith (Deuteronomy 6:6-7). Discuss your maturity level, relational health, financial readiness, and family support system.

Seek wise counsel from parents, mentors, and pastors to gain helpful perspective. Consider options like adoption or foster care if God may be calling you to a special purpose. Trust God’s sovereignty over conception, due dates, and prenatal health when committing your family size to Him.

God promises to equip faithful parents so rest in His perfect timing and provision (Psalm 37:4-5).

Conclusion

By praying together, immersing yourselves in scripture, serving at church, having daily faith conversations, and following biblical principles for major life decisions, you can put God first in your relationship.