Marriage is a journey of two hearts becoming one. It’s beautiful, but it’s also vulnerable. Life has a way of throwing distractions and temptations our way, and if we’re not careful, those things can chip away at our connection with God—and each other.
This is why guarding your heart is vital in marriage. The Bible tells us:
“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it” (Proverbs 4:23)
Guarding your heart doesn’t mean closing yourself off from your spouse or building walls to protect yourself. It means staying vigilant against anything that might erode the bond you’ve built together. When your heart isn’t guarded, it’s not just your personal faith that suffers—it’s your marriage, too.
1. Challenges in Marriage: Draw Closer or Drift Apart
In every marriage, challenges will come. Financial strain, loss, stress, or even unexpected blessings can test your relationship. During these times, couples either draw closer to God and each other—or they drift apart.
I’ve seen marriages where the couple, despite facing incredible pain, grew stronger because they leaned on God and each other. I’ve also seen marriages crumble because one or both partners pulled away.
Ask yourself: When life gets tough, do I draw closer to my spouse, or do I retreat? Do we face challenges as a team, or do we let them create distance between us?
Guarding your heart in marriage means being intentional about drawing closer to your spouse, no matter what life brings. It’s about fighting against the drift and choosing connection over isolation.
2. Money and Marriage: A Test of Unity
Money is one of the biggest challenges couples face. It’s not just about managing finances—it’s about guarding your heart against letting money control your priorities.
It’s easy to fall into the trap of chasing success, working long hours, and putting your marriage on the back burner. What starts as a desire to provide for your family can quickly become a distraction that pulls you away from them.
In marriage, guarding your heart means remembering that your relationship is worth more than any paycheck or promotion. It means working together as a team to keep God first in your finances and your priorities.
When you tithe, make financial decisions together, and put your marriage above material things, you’re building a foundation that no amount of money can buy.
3. Lust and the Slow Drift From Intimacy
One of the greatest threats to a marriage is lust. It doesn’t always appear as a full-blown affair—it often starts with small compromises. A lingering thought. A glance. A growing emotional connection with someone other than your spouse.
Pornography is a common example. It might seem harmless at first, but every time you indulge, you’re chipping away at the intimacy you share with your spouse. You begin to compare, to disconnect, and to see your spouse through a distorted lens.
Or maybe it’s a coworker or friend of the opposite sex. You start to share more with them than you do with your spouse, leaning on them when things get hard. This emotional drift can lead to devastating consequences.
But here’s the truth: the grass isn’t greener on the other side—it’s greener where you water it. Guard your heart against anything that pulls you away from your spouse. Protect the intimacy you’ve built by staying committed to watering the grass in your own marriage.
4. Bitterness: The Silent Marriage Killer
Bitterness is another way an unguarded heart can harm your marriage. Maybe your spouse hurt you in the past, and instead of addressing it, you let resentment take root. Or maybe life’s disappointments have left you bitter, and that bitterness spills over into your relationship.
When bitterness hardens your heart, it’s easy to shut your spouse out. You convince yourself you’re “guarding your heart,” but in reality, you’re building walls that keep them from getting close.
God calls us to guard our hearts—not with walls of bitterness, but with His love and truth. If you feel resentment creeping into your marriage, take it as a sign to reconnect with your spouse. Be honest about your feelings and invite God to heal the wounds that are holding you back.
5. Keeping God at the Center of Your Marriage
Satan’s goal is to distract and divide. He knows that a marriage centered on God is unshakable, so he throws everything he can to pull you apart—distractions, temptations, and even busyness.
Guarding your heart in marriage means guarding your focus. Make time for God together as a couple. Pray together, worship together, and keep Him at the center of your relationship. When God is first, everything else—your marriage, your family, your priorities—falls into place.
A Hopeful Close
Marriage isn’t just about two people; it’s about two hearts united under God. Guarding your heart in marriage means protecting that unity—staying vigilant against anything that threatens to pull you apart.
If you feel distance growing in your marriage, don’t ignore it. Turn to God and to each other. Ask Him to soften your heart, renew your connection, and restore your joy.
As a couple, make guarding your hearts a shared mission. Protect your bond by prioritizing God, nurturing your love, and staying faithful to each other. Together, you can face any challenge with confidence, knowing your marriage is built on a foundation that cannot be shaken.
Let God lead your marriage, and watch as He strengthens your bond and fills your hearts with peace, love, and purpose.
Living a God-Inspired Marriage,
Chris
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