Daily Devotional Study on Marriage

By Joe Phago and Phumzile Phago

This 21 Day devotional on marriage; is a tool that will assist married couples to have their dream marriage. For many years, after counselling married couples; we wished we could leave them with a tool that would reinforce what was discussed. Finally, it's here! That is because it is very clear on individual and a couple's responsibilities in a marriage and it deals with practical challenges faced by all marriages such as conflict, in-laws, sex, money and parenting. The book is easy reading with principles, examples and step by step instruction. It is both for people who want more from their marriages and those who are wanting to give up their marriages. It is very practical and will help a couple have the skills required to build a dream marriage

• Language: English
• Publisher: Phago Media
• Release date: May 2, 2020
• ISBN: 9781393783695

Book preview

Daily Devotional Study on Marriage

JOE AND PHUMZILE PHAGO

Copyright © 2020 Joe Phago and Phumzile Phago

All rights reserved.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.comThe NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

ISBN: 9798642607244

DEDICATION

I thank God for His grace and mercies which are new every day. I am also grateful to other servants of the Lord upon whose shoulders we stand.  I dedicate this book all lovers everywhere.

Joe

I thank God for all the blessings He continuously showers us with. I dedicate this book to married couples in Africa and beyond: may we have the marriage we always wanted.

Phumzile

Table of Contents

DAY 1: MARRIAGE STARTS WITH GOD

DAY 2: MARRIAGE IS LIKE A GARDEN

DAY 3: THE TWO MUST BECOME ONE

DAY 4: HUSBAND, LOVE YOUR WIFE: SECURITY

DAY 5: WIFE, SUBMIT TO YOUR HUSBAND

DAY 6: HUSBAND, LOVE YOUR WIFE: LIKE CHRIST

DAY 7: WIFE, SUBMIT TO YOUR HUSBAND: SEX

DAY 8: HUSBAND, LOVE YOUR WIFE: GIVING

DAY 9: WIFE, SUBMIT TO YOUR HUSBAND: RESPECT

DAY 10: HUSBAND, LOVE YOUR WIFE: LEADING

DAY 11: A WISE WOMAN BUILDS HER HOME

DAY 12: HUSBAND, LOVE YOUR WIFE: AFFECTION

DAY 13: WIFE, SUBMIT TO YOUR HUSBAND: BEAUTY

DAY 14: THE IN-LAWS, FRIENDS & BABY PAPA OR MAMA

DAY 15: CONFLICT: MEN VS WOMEN

DAY 16: CONFLICT: PERSONALITIES

DAY 17: MARRIAGE AND CONFLICT MANAGEMENT

DAY 18: MARRIAGE AND PARENTING

DAY 19: MARRIAGE AND THE LAW

DAY 20: MARRIAGE AND MONEY

DAY 21: MARRIAGE IS FOREVER

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We would like to thank Reverend MJ Phago without whose encouragement, follow ups and support this book would not exist. Thanks Papa for making authors out of us.

DAY 1: MARRIAGE STARTS WITH GOD

Haven’t you read, he replied, that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ ⁵ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? ⁶ So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate.

Matthew 19: 4-6

INTRODUCTION

In the beginning, God created marriage. He established marriage principles. Whenever people want to become serious about marriage, they will strive to understand and abide by the marriage creator’s principles of marriage. If marriage partners keep God at the centre of their marriage; it is likely to succeed. If they use God as the final arbiter over any conflict and they subject themselves under the creator’s leadership, then their marriage will succeed. The problem is when one of them or both of them decide to ignore the creator’s principles and start doing their own thing. The Bible says every good and perfect gift comes from God. James says

PRINCIPLE

Marriage was created by God and thus He and His principles are best placed to help any marriage succeed. (Genesis 2:18-25).

EXAMPLE

God created marriage for Adam and Eve. Whilst this couple failed dismally on other things that matter; their marriage is not one of them. God was at the inception of their marriage and He helped sustain it. In John 2, Jesus Christ was invited to a wedding in Cana. When the bride and groom met the challenges of life, they were able to get Him involved. He made the wedding joyous again.

STEP BY STEP APPLICATION

Marriage is not an invention of people. It is not just a good idea; it is rather a God idea. You must then build your marriage on His principles. Whilst at times they may seem weak or stupid, God’s marriage principles are the only principles that truly sustain marriages. Also, sometimes you need God Himself to help you in your marriage. You can always involve Him through prayer. Therefore, use God’s principles and God Himself to build your marriage.

VERSE OF THE DAY

Unless the Lord builds the house,

the builders labour in vain.

Unless the Lord watches over the city,

the guards stand watch in vain.

(Psalm 127:1).

DISCUSSION POINT

What is God’s role in a marriage?

What are some of God’s principles of marriage?

Are they still relevant in the modern era? Why?

What are