Laying the Foundation for a Lasting Marriage

By Wonuola Adetayo

In Laying the Foundation for a Lasting Marriage, Wonuola Adetayo presents couples and intending couples with practical insights and guidance as a wise coach inspired by the Holy Spirit.

The book draws on biblical principles and patterns to instruct and equip readers for a marriage that will bring glory to God while also affording the couple lasting joy and fulfillment.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Wonuola Adetayo
• Release date: Dec 15, 2019
• ISBN: 9780463940983

Wonuola Adetayo

Wonuola Adetayo is an inspirational teacher and seasoned business executive with a compelling passion for activating the latent potentials in individuals and organizations as she works with them to drive peak performance. In addition to her work as Executive Director at Kainos Edge Consulting, Wonuola sits on the boards of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) and Honeywell Flour Mills Plc. She is also the founder of Yes to 30, a leadership and mentoring program for emerging executives under the age of 30. Wonuola has distinguished herself in the training and capacity development of over 10,000 professionals at individual, corporate and kingdom levels. An alumnus of the University of Lagos and Harvard University, Wonuola brings her unique blend of leadership skills to bear on a wide range of issues especially in the areas of management consulting, capacity development and relationship management. She is married to Pastor Adetokunbo Adetayo, a Pastor In Charge of Province in the Redeemed Christian Church of God. They are blessed with children and grandchildren. By the grace of God, Wonuola has authored other books including The Pregnancy Watch, The Morning Watch, The Season of Overflow and The Indomitable.

Book preview

"Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not practice what I tell you? Everyone who comes to Me and listens to My words and obeys them, I will show you whom he is like: he is like a [far-sighted, practical, and sensible] man building a house, who dug deep and laid a foundation on the rock; and when a flood occurred, the torrent burst against that house and yet could not shake it, because it had been securely built and founded on the rock. But the one who has [merely] heard and has not practiced [what I say], is like a [foolish] man who built a house on the ground without any foundation, and the torrent burst against it; and it immediately collapsed, and the ruin of that house was great."

Luke 6:46-49

Laying the Foundation for a Lasting Marriage

Wonuola Adetayo

Laying the Foundation for a Lasting Marriage

© Wonuola Adetayo, 2019

Published by One Flesh Marriage Settlement Foundation

Ikoyi, Lagos.

Unless otherwise stated, all scripture quotations are from the Amplified Bible, Classic Edition.

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Under International Copyright Law, no part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

Author’s Contact:

Email: [e-mail], [e-mail]

Dedication

It is a great honour to dedicate this book to the Almighty God, the Author of marriage, and to everyone who is committed to building a marriage that honours God.

Acknowledgement

This book reflects the efforts of many people whose contributions have facilitated the work in no small measure.

A deep and sincere appreciation goes to my spiritual parents, Pastor E.A. Adeboye and Pastor (Mrs) Folu Adeboye, for your consistent show of care for our family and for your exemplary lifestyles. Most particularly, I thank you for providing my husband and I with platforms and channels to fulfill our calling and dispense the grace of God under your godly leadership.

To my husband, Pastor Adetokunbo Adetayo, I am immensely grateful for your consistent support and for releasing me to fulfill God’s calling upon my life. For more than three decades, we have stood by the principles espoused in this book and found the Bible to be an infallible guide in the journey of marriage.

To our daughters Adetola, Adetoke and Adetope, I am immensely grateful for the grace of God upon your lives that has made us one united family under God. Thank you for your insightful comments during the production of this book.

I would also like to appreciate my book production team: Femi Luther-Abegunde, Atinuke Akinbisola, Ayoola Sosan, Promisedland Communications Limited and The Plenipotent Company Limited. Your encouragement, enthusiasm and expertise in publishing this book remained consistent from beginning to the end.

May the Lord reward you all abundantly.

Table of Contents

Dedication

Acknowledgement

Table of Contents

Preface

Chapter 1: Fundamental Lessons on Marriage

Chapter 2: Causes of Marital Failures

Chapter 3: Types of Soil and Applicable Foundations

Chapter 4: The L.O.V.E. Principle

Chapter 5: 7-Step Foundation for a Lasting Marriage

Conclusion

A Call to Salvation

Prayers for Marital Foundation

Questions and Answers

About the Author

Other Books by the Author

Preface

Through skillful and godly Wisdom is a house (a life, a home, a family) built, and by understanding it is established [on a sound and good foundation].

Proverbs 24:3

A great marriage isn’t something that just happens; it’s something that must be created.

Fawn Weaver

A successful marriage does not happen by chance; it is built deliberately. Just as every building requires a foundation, so does every marriage. And the durability of a building is largely determined by the strength of its foundation. In the same vein, if a marriage will last and withstand the storms of life, it must be built on the right foundation.

To aid your understanding and assimilation of this book, we need to proceed with mutual understanding. Therefore, it is important to explain the key terms that are used throughout the book.

1. What is a Foundation?

It is the basis on which something is grounded. It is the base or the fundamental support on which a structure rests.

Ephesians 3:17

That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love.

Colossians 2:7

Rooted and built up in him, and established in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

A foundation can also be defined as the underlying assumptions upon which something is developed.

1 Timothy 6:19

Laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on eternal life.

2. What is a Lasting Marriage?

It is a durable, enduring and continued union of a husband and wife who are devoted and committed to their intimate, lifetime covenant relationship. A lasting marriage is the opposite of a failed marriage.

3. What is the Foundation for a Lasting Marriage?

It is the fundamental beliefs and lifestyle that support and ensure the durability and longevity of the marital union between a husband and wife.

As we expound these concepts in the following pages, may the Holy Spirit open your understanding. By applying the scriptural truths and principles in this book, you will be equipped to build a lasting marriage that bring glory to God and give you true fulfilment.

Chapter 1: Fundamental Lessons on Marriage

Except the Lord builds the house, they labour in vain who build it; except the Lord keeps the city, the watchman wakes but in vain.

Psalm 127:1

God intends and expects marriage to be a lifetime commitment between a man and a woman, based on the principles of biblical love. The relationship between Jesus Christ and His church is the supreme example of the committed love that a husband and wife are to follow in their relationship with each other.

John C. Broger

Since the foundation for a lasting marriage refers to the fundamental beliefs and lifestyle that support and ensure durability and longevity of the union between a man and his wife; we can draw some lessons from the scripture passage in Luke 6:46-49 ("Why do you call Me, ‘Lord,