Today is a very special day. Three years ago today I said “I
do” to the man I love and my life hasn’t been the same since. Three years ago
today I embarked on an adventure that would be full of surprises around every
corner. Three years ago today I made a vow before my heavenly Father that I was
going to serve Him alongside this man that He had placed in my life. Three
years ago today I made a promise to a man “for better or for worse.” Today is
my three year anniversary!

Marriage has truly been such an adventure; I have absolutely
loved every moment of it. There have been days that have been hard, there have
been days that have been easy. There have been seasons that have been hard, and
there have been seasons that have been easy. But walking through it all together, with my husband, has made all the
difference.

I’ve been thinking a lot about what God would want me to
share with you on this very special day, I even began writing this post thinking
it would be on a few different things, but I truly believe God is wanting me to
speak about just one thing through this post.

You are in this
together.

That’s it. Simple statement.

You are in this
together.

I believe more than anything that God wants to remind each
and every one of us as married couples that we are in this together. God had a
purpose and a plan that He wanted to see carried out and at some point in
History He decided to create specifically you to fulfill that purpose. When He
designed that plan He chose someone to be a part of that plan with you. He set somewhere in the timeline
of your life the day that you would marry that person, it didn’t happen by
accident. He decided that at that point in life, everything that was to come
afterwards you were going to face together.

The minute that you say “I do” you are making a commitment to
walk through life with that person. How much you choose to be a part of when
walking through life with that person is up to you. But I believe that God
wants you to experience life together at its fullest – the good times and the
hard times. I believe that God designed marriage to be more than just living in
the same house and spending the few hours that neither of you are working nor
sleeping together. I believe that He wants you both to truly experience life
together. That you both would share in each other’s joys, sorrows, dreams, accomplishments,
trials, and so much more. The union that He created marriage to be is one of
the most powerful relationships that can happen on earth. He blessed us with
the ability to have someone to share life with and experience just how
wonderful that opportunity can be!

In this crazy, busy life the aspect of togetherness in
marriage is being threatened on a daily basis. We have work that consumes the
majority of our day, and then we come home and have children to take care of.
Even those of us who do not have children have distractions that are screaming for
our attention around every corner. We live in a technologically advanced world
that has every gadget possible that can distract us from being together.

Truly living life together is much more than just being
around each other and in the same room. Living together is about actively working
at “together.” It takes effort and it takes time to truly experience the
togetherness God has intended for us in our relationships. To truly experience
the life that God intended you to have together you have to want that and make
it a priority in your life.

Take an interest in
everything in each other’s lives. You may not work together, but share in
each other’s accomplishments at work. Share in each other’s challenges at work.
Make it a point to know what those are in each other’s lives. You are your
spouse’s biggest support. You can offer encouragement, you can lend a listening
ear, you can challenge their perspective where it’s needed, and most
importantly you can pray for them.

Be a part of each
other’s dreams. If your spouse has a big dream that God has laid on their
heart, than that should be your dream too. Your dream should be to see that
come true for them. Sometimes the dreams that God lays on our heart are so big
that we can’t see them coming to pass, a lot of times we doubt ourselves ever
being able to amount to what God has placed on our hearts. Be that person for
your spouse who encourages their dreams, be that person who reminds them that
God is equipping them in the now to do what He has placed on their heart. Make
that dream a part of your dream – make it your dream to see that come to pass
in their life.

Remember that you are
in this together. Sometimes things get tough and a little bumpy. A lot of
times it’s the circumstances surrounding us that make it tough and it’s easy to
let that frustration out on our spouse. Remember that you’re supposed to be in
this together. Don’t let things on the outside affect you. You and your spouse
are in this together so allow them to be there for you. If you’re feeling
overwhelmed about life, it’s likely they will know what you feel because they
may be facing a lot of the same things you are. And even if they aren’t they
can help you through that. Remember God chose that they would be with you
through this season in your life for a reason.

Focus on “together.” Make
it a point in your life to spend quality time together. Invest time in being a
part of each other’s worlds. Find out what is challenging them and exciting
them. Be more than just roommates, be a couple who cares about each other
intimately. Make it a priority to do life together, not separately while still
living together. There is true strength in the two of you living life as a couple.
Imagine what two people working in harmony and challenging each other to be all
that God desires them to be can do for the Kingdom.

Don’t allow yourselves to be in a place where you are
comfortable just being together and not really, intimately, being together. You’re
not just a person living with your spouse; you’re a part of their life in every
aspect. You are a part of their story, the plan that God has designed
specifically for them. Be intentional about this in your marriage and you will
see the effects of it throughout your relationship. In a day where the enemy wants
to do all he can to pull marriages apart, you have to be that much more ahead
of him. It’s a blessing to share life alongside of someone, why wouldn’t we want
to take advantage of all that has to offer in our marriages?

What do you do to
focus on that “togetherness” with your husband? What do you do to make sure
that stays a priority in your marriage?