“Peter directed his gaze at him, as did John and said, “Look at us. He fixed his attention on them, expecting to receive something from them. But Peter said,” I have no silver or gold, but what I do have I give you in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.” Acts 3:3-4
We have good intentions, and we want to prioritize our marriage. But expected—and unexpected—circumstances become priorities and take our time. I’ve had to prioritize my marriage, even though sometimes other things must take precedence. I have a family and work as a writer so those things sometimes take precedence over my marriage, making it challenging to balance my life and marriage. Sometimes my busyness has caused my husband and I not to speak for days or weeks. But when we do, we realize we miss spending time together and vow to make it a priority in our lives.
Acts 3 is one of my favorite chapters of the Bible because it’s just an example of Peter and John and the Holy Spirit’s work through them. They want others to know what Jesus has done for them and for the people around them to experience this, too. They want to meet the needs of the community around them, and Jesus gives them the opportunity when they notice this man.
Peter and John are on a mission. They’re going to the temple (something they probably do every day.) They go there at an ordinarily busy hour when a lot of people are going by, and their minds are set on their agenda to go to the temple to pray. But that day is different. They stumble upon this gentleman who has been at the gate for some time. It would be easy for them to walk by and never talk to the man because of the busyness of the public square where they were going. Peter and John see this man in a new way in this passage, and by making this man’s life a priority, they also change his life and others.
The best thing we can do to improve our marriage is to prioritize it. We need to see our spouses in new ways, making them feel seen and heard. Often, we have our agendas. We go through life earning a paycheck and working to care for our families, but we must prioritize marriage in our lives. Take the time to see your marriage for what it is: a privilege. Don’t take it for granted or get so busy in your day that you don’t value your spouse because of the busyness of your life, but take them out and make that time a priority for you. Just like Peter and John made this man a priority, someone who probably had been seen by so many religious leaders who claimed to know the Lord but didn’t help him, Peter and John met his needs intentionally.
God will honor your decision to prioritize your marriage. But you must prioritize with intention. By loving your spouse, you will, in turn, love Jesus. As you seek to love Jesus, you will make him known to the world. When we do this, God uses us in new and powerful ways.
Do you need to see your spouse or your marriage in a new way? Have you been taking your marriage for granted? Have you been going through the motions of life, not seeing your spouse for who they are? What can you do today to show your spouse that you love them? How can you go out of your way to see them intentionally and express your love only to your spouse? How can you be an example of Jesus to your spouse?
Father, help us make our marriages a priority. Help us not to go through our busy days without seeing our spouse in new and exciting ways. Allow us to make our spouse a priority in our lives. As we honor our spouses with intentionality, may you be glorified, and may your gospel message be spread to the world. Amen.
Related Resource: Spiritual Leadership or Spiritual Abuse in Marriage? 6 Signs to Know the Difference
In this episode, I’m discussing six signs of spiritual abuse in marriage and how to recognize the difference between biblical spiritual leadership and toxic leadership. I explain why healthy leadership invites collaboration, tolerates disagreement, and never uses Scripture, submission, or God to control a spouse. For more helpful resources on marriage, be sure to follow The Rebuilding Us Podcast on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!
Michelle S. Lazurek is a multi-genre award winning author, speaker, pastor’s wife and mother. She is a regular contributor for ibelieve.com and crosswalk.com and is a movie reviewer for Movieguide Magazine. She also is a literary agent for Wordwise Media Services. When not working, she enjoys sipping a Starbucks latte, collecting 80s memorabilia, and spending time with her family and her crazy dog, Cookie. For more info, please visit her website www.michellelazurek.com.
Featured Image by AlisaDyson from Pixabay
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