Marriage is a beautiful thing, but it can also be hard work.
It’s easy for our relationship goals and dreams to get lost in the midst of day-to-day life. That’s why it’s important for us to be intentional in our marriage.
To intentionally cultivate your relationship and make sure that you are working together towards a common goal.
As the Bible says in Proverbs 4:23, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”
This means that if we want our marriage to succeed, we must first focus on our own hearts and mindsets because how we think and feel about our spouses affect our relationship with them.
But we can have a better marriage if we try to be better to our partners. Here are 9 ways to be intentional in your marriage.
1. Define Your Relationship Goals
The first way to be intentional in your marriage is by defining what you want your marriage to look like.
When you take time to define what success looks like for you as a couple, it defines the path forward and makes it easier for both of you to stay focused on achieving those goals.
You can even create a vision board or make a list of things that you would like to accomplish together as a couple.
This will help keep your relationship focused on achieving shared goals and making the most of each other’s strengths.
It’s easy to bounce around all over the place when we don’t have clear goals and objectives.
Becoming intentional in your marriage is about setting and achieving goals together, as well as understanding each other’s strengths and weaknesses.
2. Communicate With Each Other
One of the most important aspects of any marriage is communication.
It’s essential that couples communicate openly and honestly with one another, so there are no surprises or misunderstandings down the road.
Take time each day or week to talk about things that are important to both of you – this is an opportunity for both partners to express themselves freely without judgment or criticism from their partner.
When a married couple fails to communicate, it is very easier to start feeling like you’re living separate lives, even though you’re living under the same roof.
3. Spend Time Together
We all have busy schedules, but it’s important that couples make time for one another amidst their hectic lives.
Make an effort to spend quality time together, whether it’s going out on date night or staying at home cuddling up on the couch watching movies – whatever works best for both of you!
Taking this time allows couples to reconnect with each other and strengthen their bond even further, which is essential for any marriage’s success!
4. Be Supportive Of Each Other
It takes two people working together in order for any marriage to thrive and succeed, which means being supportive of one another – especially when times get tough!
Offer words of encouragement when needed, and don’t forget the importance of physical touch too!
A hug, kiss, or even just holding hands can go a long way toward showing love and support towards your partner during difficult times!
Encourage each other, celebrate each other wins and milestones, and offer advice or help when it’s needed.
5. Be Honest With Each Other
Honesty is essential in any relationship, but it’s especially important in marriage.
You need to be able to tell your spouse everything—the good, the bad, and the ugly—without fear of judgment or criticism.
Remember that they’re your partner, not your enemy and that they’re here to help you through life’s challenges, not make them harder.
6. Respect Each Other’s Differences
In any relationship, it’s important to respect each other’s differences.
Just because you don’t see eye-to-eye on everything doesn’t mean that your relationship is doomed—in fact, it can actually make it stronger.
So instead of getting frustrated with each other over your differences, try to understand where the other person is coming from.
You might be surprised at how much common ground you actually have.
7. Work as a Team
One of the best things about being married is that you have someone who is always on your team —someone who wants what’s best for you and wants to help you achieve your goals.
So when life gets tough, lean on each other for support and encouragement, and work together as a team to get through whatever challenges come your way.
8. Make Time For Date Nights
As much as we all love spending time with our spouses, sometimes life can get in the way — especially if we have kids or demanding jobs.
But even though it might be hard to find the time, it’s important to schedule regular date nights so we can reconnect with our spouses without distractions.
9. Prioritize Your Relationship
Sometimes, no matter how much we love our spouses, we can get so caught up in our everyday lives that we forget to prioritize our relationships.
But if we want our marriages to last, we need to make sure we’re regularly putting our spouses first — sometimes ahead of our careers, our hobbies, and even our kids.
When we do that, we show our spouses that they are truly the most important people in our lives.
What is an Intentional Marriage?
An intentional marriage is one where both partners make a deliberate effort to put their relationship before themselves.
This means that they are continuously putting in the work to make sure the relationship is healthy, full of mutual understanding, and strong communication.
By prioritizing their marriage, couples can build a lasting bond that withstands the test of time.
Intentional marriages require commitment and dedication, but with that comes tremendous rewards such as emotional support, trust, greater understanding of each other, increased communication, and unconditional love.
What does it mean to be intentional with your partner?
Being intentional with your partner is showing them care, respect, and kindness by actively listening, meeting their needs, and considering their feelings.
It starts with clear communication, simply knowing what you both want out of the relationship and expressing those expectations.
Making conscious relationship decisions will have positive effects on your partnership, and it will help you build trust, understanding, and, ultimately, a stronger bond.
Spending quality time together regularly is a great way to show each other you’re committed to building an authentic connection.
Intentional relationships require openness, consistent action, and communication – but ultimately, they provide an amazing opportunity for meaningful growth!
Intentionality in Marriage Takes Work
A happy and healthy marriage takes work, but it’s worth it. If you want your marriage to last, start by being intentional about it.
No matter how many years you have been married, if you want your relationship to continue growing strong, then being intentional about how you nurture it is key!
Being intentional means taking time out each day (or week) just for each other – setting goals together as well as communicating openly & honestly with one another – so remember these 9 tips next time you feel like spicing up your relationship!
With intentionality comes greater connection & understanding between partners, which will ultimately lead them through many more years filled with love & joy!
By doing all these things, you’ll set yourself up for a happy and healthy marriage that will stand the test of time.
