My wife and I are teaching a new series titled, Reconstructing Love, and it began Monday night here in The Woodlands, Texas. If you're ever in the area over the next three weeks please feel free to join us. It's a blast! At least, that's what we think.

Our first night was all about learning how to grow together spiritually. Couples struggle when it comes to growing together spiritually and when we got to the end of our talk and opened up the time for discussion, couples wanted creative things they could do together that would foster their spiritual walk together.

So I promised that I would provide them a list of things on my blog the very next day! It is now Thursday morning, shame on me, but I am finally getting to that list of ways couples can grow together spiritually, but I know I'm not the only one who can come up with fun and creative suggestions. So please feel free to jump in and leave suggestions as well:

1. Go to your local Christian bookstore and find a book together that gets you excited and read it together (The reason this fails so many times for couples is that you think you need to read this every night together, let go of that expectation and maybe just pick once a week.)


2. Get involved in a couples small group. I bet this one catches you off guard a little, but it is one of the best gifts you will ever give to your marriage. A couples small group is something that allows you to challenge, support, and encourage your marriage through significant friendships that are committed to your marriage and to your growth as a couple.


3. Start praying together. Prayer is an intimate experience and should not be ignored for too long. Amy and I can feel incredibly guilty about this point, and I can imagine that many of you feel the same. Prayer is so hard to do as a couple, especially when you're in conflict. But push through the conflict and pray together at least once a week during a time that is not at the dinner table.


4. Here's a great devotional book for you, Our Love Is Here to Stay: A Daily Devotional for Couples, by Tony and Lois Evans.


5. Attending Sunday School at your church is a great way to foster spiritual growth. I resisted this for many years in our marriage because I'd been burned as a younger man, but once I finally allowed Amy some influence in my life over this issue, we've found a wonderful class at our current church that has truly allowed us to grow together spiritually.


6. Spiritual walks together. These are quite different than simply walking together. Make them a spiritual walk by saying to each other that you would like to pray about a specific issue during your walk or would like to simply talk about how you can encourage each other in your spiritual "walks". It is always a great idea to get out into the open spaces to see God's creation together. It reminds us of the Creator and our place in this world and the beauty that surrounds us.


7. Take a fasting and prayer weekend trip. You can take a weekend together to discuss your spiritual goals and make this time a weekend of fasting and praying as well. If you've never fasted, there are people or resources you can utilize to help you understand the significance of this act and how it can help you grow together spiritually.


8. Other recommended books: The Marriage You've Always Dreamed Of, Experiencing God: Knowing and Doing His Will, Prayer: Does It Make Any Difference?, Waking the Dead: The Glory of a Heart Fully Alive, Captivating: Unveiling the Mystery of a Woman's Soul, and Praying God's Word Day by Day

© Copyright 2007 Smalley Relationship Center

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