Purity is absolutely vital to having a long and healthy marriage. Too often it is lack of purity that causes marriages to fail. This week you will learn the importance of purity in your marriage and discuss ways you can ensure your marriage remains pure.
Day 1: Hebrews 13:1-8
God’s Word is very clear about purity. You must keep yourself pure so that your marriage can remain pure. You must not allow toxins into your life that can tarnish your purity and destroy your marriage.
- Talk: Confess to your spouse something in your life that you’ve placed ahead of your spouse and God.
- Pray: Ask God to help you remove those things that are distracting you from focusing on your spouse and that could bring impurity into your marriage.
- Do: Give up something this week that you love as a sign of your commitment to purity in your marriage.
Day 2: 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8, Romans 13:12-14
Unfortunately, the amount of impurity is growing in marriages and causing an increasing number to break apart. Studies show there are three primary reasons for the increase in impurity. First, there are more temptations today than in the past thanks largely to such technologies as texting, social media, and the many websites dedicated to pornography. Second, people are getting married later in life. Finally, there is a growing sense of entitlement causing people to justify such things as living together before marriage, viewing pornography, or even having affairs. Because these and other factors make it easier to lose your purity before and during marriage, it’s vital that you do not compromise and put yourself at risk.
- Talk: Ask your spouse: how are we compromising and putting ourselves at risk when it comes to purity?
- Pray: Ask God to protect your marriage from all impurity and to help you address any at-risk issues there may be in your marriage.
- Do: Write a short love letter to your spouse today and find a creative way to give it to them.
Day 3: Ephesians 5:1-21
There are two types of purity everyone must focus on. The first is outward purity, which is the way in which you behave. Think about this: if your spouse were to watch a video of the way you behaved for an entire day, would they be proud or disappointed? Does the way you dress reflect purity? Does the way you talk reflect purity? Does what you look at or watch reflect purity?
- Talk: Ask each other this question: What outward changes do you need to make to reflect a life of purity?
- Pray: Ask God to convict you of any outward changes you need to make and to help you make those changes as you both strive for purity.
- Do: Find a new or fun recipe and cook something together. While you cook, enjoy some great conversation.
Day 4: Psalm 119:1-16
The second type of purity everyone must focus on is inward purity. This type of purity refers to the condition of your heart. In fact, if you are struggling with outward purity, it’s likely the result of a lack of inward purity. Inward purity begins in your heart through a relationship with Christ, and you maintain inward purity by nurturing and continually growing your relationship with Him. Inward purity is also the result focusing your mind and thoughts on Christ and not on things that are impure. Be passionate about pleasing God and living a life of total purity, both inside and out.
- Talk: Share with your spouse the current condition of your heart. Discuss what things both of you need to do in order to maintain inward purity.
- Pray: Ask God to help both of you make inward changes you need to make in order to have a pure heart.
- Do: Publicly express your love for your spouse today. A great way to do so would be to post something positive about your spouse on Facebook or Twitter or to speak well of them in front of others.
Day 5: 1 Corinthians 6:12-20, Colossians 3:1-25
When impurity enters into a marriage, the results can be devastating. Take a moment today to visualize the wake of destruction that would result if you were impure in your marriage. Visualize explaining to your kids, visualize losing your reputation, visualize losing the respect of your spouse and family, visualize breaking the heart of God, and visualize one day meeting God and giving an account of your actions. Do everything you can to stay pure. Your marriage depends on it!
- Talk: Ask your spouse to share with you one way that you can be more present in your marriage.
- Pray: Spend time praying for each other today. Pray that God will give you the desire to remain pure at all costs.
- Do: Give your spouse a hug or a kiss every time you see them today.