Marriage

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Before I was married, I didn't have any problems getting up in the morning and spending time reading my Bible and praying. I had a regular time and place where I met with God, and it worked quite well until I wasn't alone anymore.

Suddenly I didn't just have God to wake up to in the morning; I had a spouse -- a wonderful, cute, warm, snuggly spouse. Just his presence made me want to lie in bed for hours and cuddle. Eventually one of us would volunteer to make breakfast for the other, and then, we were planning our day. Groceries to buy. Errands to run. People to see. Before I knew it, my husband and I were sitting down to dinner and I hadn't spent any time with God.

The worst part was that this kind of day wasn't unusual; it was quickly becoming the norm. I'd find myself cracking open my Bible to read a few verses during a few spare moments or turning on the local radio station to catch portions of a sermon while driving to the grocery store. The once-intimate relationship I had with Jesus was becoming stale. I was having a hard time juggling my relationship with God and the relationship with my spouse.

It's something I still struggle to balance. I finally talked about the issue with my husband, and we decided to do some activities together that would help us grow spiritually.

Here are a few to try to jump-start your spiritual lives together. If one doesn't work, don't beat yourself up about it. Simply try another:

Read a devotional such as Daily Bread together.

Pray in the mornings or before bed together.

Try memorizing Scripture together.

Read a Christian book together.

Create a place -- whether it's a particular chair or couch -- that is conducive to quiet times.

Make time to pray together, even if it's over the phone.

Read the Bible together and discuss.

Look for spiritual themes in films, books, and music.

Carve time out of your schedule for both of you to focus on spending that time with God.

Go on a retreat.

Choose a day to fast together.

Pray together about a particular issue every day for a week.

Play worship music in your home.

Download sermons from some of your favorite Bible teachers.

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