We recently interviewed Jackie Bledsoe for the Father On Purpose Podcast. We talked about marriage and Isaiah 40:28-31 came up. Maybe you don’t look to Isaiah for marriage advice, but I was encouraged with a few verses. Let’s play good, better, or best. #1 Good: Marriage isn’t about you. The Lord is the everlasting…Creator of the ends of the earth (Isa. 40:28). God created everything, so He knows everything. Maybe you’re newly married and think it’s all about you. But you don’t know everything, God does. Don’t make your marriage about yourself. #2 Better: Marriage is about your wife. He gives power to the faint (Isa. 40:29-30). It’s not easy being a husband/dad. But resist complaining. You will get tired, but God doesn’t. Been married for years? People change. I’m not the same person April married years ago. Connect to the current version of your wife. Make your marriage about your wife. #3 Best: Marriage is about God. They who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength (Isa. 40:31). You can be “renewed.” Renewal comes when you place your wants on God rather than yourself or your wife. Whatever you’re going through, you can have hope—an active dependence on God. Your wife and kids are watching. Make your marriage about God.

SEXUAL IMMORALITY IN THE BIBLE: We often hear this term thrown around, but what exactly does it mean from a biblical standpoint? As dads, one of our most significant responsibilities is living according to God’s principles and guiding our children to do the same. Let’s break it down and understand what sexual immorality means from God’s perspective.

WHAT MAKES MARRIAGES WORK: If you’re a married man, you remember the day that you watched your beautiful bride walk down the aisle. If you’re honest, you probably also assumed that everything was going to be great from that point on. Before long, though, you realized that even when the wedding is amazing, building a marriage takes a lot of hard work! In this episode, author and speaker Jackie Bledsoe shares some simple tips for making a marriage work from a biblical perspective. Getting a handle of his seven “rings” can put you on the path to becoming the man and the husband God created you to be.

“Men, you’ll never be a good groom to your wife unless you’re first a good bride to Jesus.” —Tim Keller

“When I have learnt to love God better than my earthly dearest, I shall love my earthly dearest better than I do now.” —C.S. Lewis

“Remember that creating a successful marriage is like farming: you have to start over again every morning.” —H. Jackson Brown, Jr

“Let the wife make the husband glad to come home, and let him make her sorry to see him leave.” —Martin Luther

Good, better, or best? What’s it gonna be: You, your wife, or God? Think back over the last few days. Can you honestly say your marriage has not been about you? If so, good. Can you say it’s been about your wife? If so, that’s better than your marriage being about you. But, there’s another level. It’s best to make your marriage about God. Start here: Admit you need Him. Commit to Him. Trust in Him. Is there a struggle you need to work on right now? Get your view of God in order and your marriage will follow.

Kent Evans
Author of Bring Your Hammer, co-founder of Manhood Journey

P.S. Was this Mountain Monday helpful? Tell me if you love it, hate it, or if there’s something you’d like in the next one.

Forward this to a dad you know who needs some encouragement.