Intentional Intimacy

You already know that this is an extremely busy time of year. I don't have to tell you that, but here is something you might need to hear.

YOU HAVE ALL OF THE TIME YOU NEED TO SPEND TIME WITH GOD (1ST) AND YOUR SPOUSE (2ND). 

That's right. You I do. 

The question is, "Will you I?"

Will you I prioritize your time with Christ above the shopping, cooking, and cleaning?

Will you I choose to bless your spouse before getting caught up with general busyness?

This isn't a challenge to avoid responsibility. It's a call to use time wisely. 

It's a call to keep the main thing, the main thing. 

Here are some practical tips to help us do just that. 

God first.

1. Subscribe to a daily devotional. I subscribe to Calvary Chapel Melbourne and Get Up With God  and both of these devos get sent to my inbox every morning. I wish I could tell you that I wake up every morning and go straight to my Bible, but I don't. As a matter of fact, I tend to go to my e-mail inbox first. See where I am getting at? These help. A lot.

2. Set a reminder on your cell phone. Don't be too prideful to try it. It is better to spend time with Jesus than to not. Agreed? 

Enough said.

3. Fast the news, Facebook, Twitter (GASP!), or some other daily ritual in your life for 14 days. Instead of watching the news, use that time to dig into God's Word and spend time in prayer.

Spouse second.

1. Next time you feel like complaining or nagging to your spouse, text them a message just because instead. Don't ask them for anything. Don't complain. Just appreciate, love, and compliment them. Let it be honest and sincere. Let it be intentional. 

2. Decide to discover what your spouse needs from you today. This is an active and continual process. It may be affection, attention, time, encouragement, accountability, time alone...It can be just about anything. Be observant. Discover what would serve your spouse today, and seek to do just that. 

3.  Serve your spouse in bed. Sex is good VERY good. (Yea, I know. I am such a newly wed lol) The fact remains that it's so good that sometimes it's difficult to remember that it's not about how good it makes us feel. It is about serving our spouse, so do it. That may mean being intentional about carving the time out for it. It may mean trying a new position that your spouse has expressed interest in. It may mean slowing it down a bit. You know what it means in your marriage. If you don't, it's time to open up the communication with your spouse on the subject.