The 3-Body Problem

Hello Church!

I wanted to take a few seconds and recap what we talked about during our Sunday Gathering this past weekend (9/28). As part of our marriage series, we explored the three loves from The Song of Songs in Scripture. Let's look back over the big idea from this weekend and then we can explore these three different 'loves' and what we challenged you to do with them.

Big Idea: The most joy-filled and fulfilling marriages are the ones where both partners are investing daily into friendship, commitment, and passion.

We saw a couple in Scripture who played out the sort of intentionality that it takes if we are going to have the sort of marriages we got married dreaming about.

• We saw deep RAYAH or friendship love. This is mutual affection and that feeling of enjoyment we have just being in our spouse's presence. 

• There was also AHAVAH or commitment love as well. Completely separate from any feeling or emotion, AHAVAH says I am with you 'till death do us part.'

• Finally, we watched the couple from Song of Songs as their friendship and commitment to one another grew into DODE also known as passion/intimacy love.

Our natural tendency is actually to drift and move towards isolation. You know this if you've been married for any length of time at all. Marriage (especially a happy one) requires a TON of work. We introduced these three concepts (friendship, commitment, and passion) as the areas you need to be putting in the work (both daily and intentionally) if you want to see a change for the better in your marriage.

Along with praying for your spouse five minutes each day, this weekend we challenged you to take another five minutes (because we believe your spouse is worth 10 minutes of your time each day) to think and work intentionally towards building up the three loves in your marriage.

Our challenge to you is to find a time that fits naturally into the movement and flow of your day where you WON'T be rushed but WILL be reminded each day to take 10 minutes of time to think and pray intentionally and specifically for your spouse.

PRAYER PROMPTS

- Monday: How does my use of time reflect how I value my spouse? During your intentional time today figure out when the best time of day will be to spend 10 minutes on your spouse and put it into your calendar or daily to-do...however you plan your time for the week.
Eph 5:15-16 - "Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.

- Tuesday: Does how I speak about my spouse honor them and our family? Think about this during your intentionality time and pray over any ways that you may not be honoring them in your speech to others.
Eph 4:29 - "Let no corrupt talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear."

- Wednesday: Spend some time thinking about what you are thankful for your spouse for. Write that out and spend a few minutes thanking God for those things. Maybe consider writing that out one or two of the reasons you are thankful for your spouse and sending it in a text message or email.

- Thursday: Friends build one another up through encouragement. Question to consider: how does your spouse receive encouragement the best? Do you know that? If so, do that today and pray for their encouragement. If you don't know how to best encourage your spouse, consider talking with them at some point today and simply asking.

- Friday: Commitment is, in part, built by doing for your spouse when there is no motive or expectation of return. How can you quietly serve your spouse today? Pray that God would open your eyes to their greatest needs and then do your best to meet it just because...
Gal 5:13 - "...serve one another humbly in love." 

- Saturday: Today is a great chance to try something new! If you don't already have a good habit of praying together daily, then give that a shot at some point today! Your prayer time doesn't have to be long or fancy. Just spend a few seconds praying aloud together over your children or other family members if you need something specific. Just take the time to do it...that's most important.

- Sunday: Pray for you and your spouse to approach Worship this morning with open ears and hearts open to change.


You won't be getting text message reminder of these prompts throughout the week...so, if you've made it this far and actually read this blog post, my advice to you is to set up your own reminder with these prompts that will actually remind you to do these things at the time you've set aside to pray for and think intentionally about your marriage.

I am praying for you and I am here for you if you have any questions!

In Christ,
Devin Wood