26 Ways to Strengthen Our Marriage A-Z

We all desire to strengthen our marriage.

But…

Good marriages are made.

And strong marriages birth from intentional work. 

So in the busy everyday grind, how can we prioritize and invest in our marriage? 

What practical things strengthen our marriage?

Because I need this as much as anyone.

Here are 26 suggested and practical ways (ABC’s) to strengthen our marriage.

Strengthen Our Marriage: Apply, Build, Cast, Deposit

A-Apply God’s Word to issues you face. Find Scriptures that address those areas first, instead of turning to a friend or family member for insight. (James 1:5)

B-Build up your spouse through words. Use affirming words that speak life over your marriage and spouse. (Proverbs 18:21)

C-Cast your cares on God first, then your spouse. Going to God first positions your spouse to be what God intended—your partner in marriage, not your Savior. (Psalm 55:22)

D-Deposit into your relationship more than you withdraw. Imagine a bank account where you withdraw more than you deposit. Soon, a spouse feels empty or overdrawn.

Cast your cares on God first, then your spouse. Going to God first positions your spouse to be what God intended—your partner in marriage, not your Savior. (Psalm 55:22) Share on X

Strengthen: Expose, Fan, Grow, Hold

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My 10 Favorite Attributes of God as Father

I first met God as Father at sixteen. Since that day, the Lord Almighty is my Abba Father.

And the Bible confirms this happens when we accept Christ as Savior, God’s gift of salvation.

“…God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, ‘Abba Father!’” Galatians 4:6b (NIV)

This meant everything to me then and now. Because my earthly-father story includes chapters of abandonment, a longing to know my biological father, dreams to be loved by a father, and a redemptive ending that still amazes me.

You see, every Father’s Day I celebrate three fathers.

First, during my dad’s absence, a wonderful stepfather came into my life as a young girl. Wendell loved and cared for me like his own flesh and blood. Since fatherhood runs much deeper than bloodline, he’s an amazing dad.

Next, my biological father came back into my life in elementary school. And we slowly rebuilt a father-child relationship again. But he was an atheist. So as soon as I became a child of God, I started praying for my dad. Sixteen years and over 5000 prayers later, my biological father became a child of the heavenly Father, too.

Dad passed away in 2010. And I’m always a little tear-filled this time of year. I really miss him.

Yet, as we honor fathers this month, I also want to celebrate God as my Father.

Regardless of our earthly-father experience, God as Father, rises above any father definitions we write into our stories. He is Abba Father. Here are 10 of my favorite fatherly attributes of God.

Regardless of our earthly-father experience, God as Father, rises above any father definitions we write into our stories. He is Abba Father. #FathersDay Share on X

God as Father Loves

(1) He adopted me.

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Practical Prayers to Pray From Head to Toe

Often we forget to pray specific and practical prayers.

Like prayers taken directly from God’s Word that are powerful when spoken over the various areas of our lives.

This is especially true where we struggle.

So let’s address the issues we face as believers from head to toe. And these prayers include the help we need from the Bible. 

Our prayers include: our mind, eyes, ears, mouth, shoulders, heart, hands, and feet.

Everything from our head to our toes.

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Practical Prayers: Mind

Father God, You created my mind, so I submit it to Your care. Help me set my mind on eternal things. And give me power to take every thought captive, making it obedient to Your truth. I cast out every lie from the enemy. Help me meditate on what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, and excellent of praise. Let Your Spirit renew my mind daily in Your Word. Also, give me the mind of Christ. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

(Scriptures: Colossians 3:2, 1 Corinthians 2:12 & 16, Romans 12:2a, Philippians 4:8, 2 Corinthians 10:5)

Practical Prayers: Eyes

Lord, Your Word reminds me how my eyes can cause me to sin. So help me turn my eyes away from lust and temptations like overspending, addictions, and sexual immorality. Place in me a desire for integrity. Give me the strength through Your Spirit to not set things before my eyes that do not please You on television, devices, and online. Because those things never bring honor to You, but defile my flesh. And it stunts my growth in You. Instead, let my eyes be raised to You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

(Scriptures: Genesis 3:6a, 1 John 2:15-16, Psalm 101:3a)

Practical Prayers: Ears

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7 Things God Wants Us to Know About Hope

God wants us to know.

Hope is one of those words we often overuse in our daily vocabulary. Such as hoping to get something good to eat, for a good income tax return or not have to pay too much, to land a new job, and so on. But God wants us to know more.

We underestimate the power of hope in our lives and in the heavenly realm. Perhaps, you relate to these 7 things God wants us to know.

(1.) God wants us to know we are never far from hope. 

Hope. In tragedy, it is there. During dark moments, it covers with light. It soars above despair. Life brings hurt, heartache, and disappointment. 

And hard places dissolve every ounce of faith. But in an uncertain world, there is an undeniable hope, an unshakable anchor for our soul. As the unexplainable happens in life, there is a promise that brings hope near. 

(2.) We choose between hope-less or hope-filled. 

Because the world only offers hope that fades and fizzles away. But God offers the kind of hope still standing when all else fails—a foundation on something outside of this world. 

Although hope seems intangible in how it’s not seen or touched, it is something we can know exists and then grab ahold of. 

Therefore, the perfect place to search is God’s Word. “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.” (Romans 15:13, ESV, emphasis mine)

(3.) God wants us to know we can personally know the Hope-Giver. 

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