After Leading Marriage Retreats Two Weekends in a Row - This is What I Learned
In 2014 I co-wrote a marriage book based on the Biblical principles of love in marriage. Around this time of year, one of the things that I do for churches is marriage retreats. It’s not something that comes up all the time, but because I care about marriages I always try to do a couple of them a year. This year I got to do two in back-to-back weekends.
For the first time, I noticed something I hadn’t noticed before when it comes to high-functioning, high-capacity leaders/couples.
The best gift the marriage retreat gave them was time.
Sure, the content was good, and the event was fun, but what they needed more than anything was intentional time with their spouse to connect and dialogue.
I have long believed that most couples don’t fall in and out of love, they fall in and out of commitment. And it’s not a commitment in the sense of “I’m going to leave you.” Rather, it’s a commitment to the discipline of being married.
Disciplines like; intentional communication, date nights, physical intimacy, having fun together, and of course, praying together.
As a leader, you have so many things that are on your plate, but don’t let what the world is putting on your plate push off the vows that you made before God.
Maybe this week is a great week to spend some time with your spouse and look at your disciplines in marriage. Intentional time is a gift, and I want to encourage you to take it!