 of being with His followers, too. In the end, He gave His life for them and they gave theirs for Him — the ultimate testimony of oneness.

Togetherness: Making It Work

If you’re struggling with the challenges of togetherness, here’s help.

If you find yourself struggling with the challenges of togetherness, here are some simple suggestions.

Remember who brought you together. God has united the two of you for a reason. It’s no accident. He calls you to become one (Genesis 2:24), to honor one another (Ephesians 5:22-33), to love one another (I Corinthians 13), and to remain together until death separates you (Matthew 19:9).

Change the way you think. You’re still an individual. But God has called you to leave your father and mother and unite with your spouse. That means making changes in your thinking (you belong to someone else now) as well as your behavior (you don’t act like a single person anymore). Changing the way you think can change the way you feel. Start thinking like a married person, and you’ll probably begin to feel like one.

Educate yourself about God’s desire for unity in your marriage. Read Bible passages that emphasize the importance of oneness and unity (John 17; 1 Corinthians 7). Personalize them by inserting your name and the name of your spouse. Pray that God will show you any attitudes and actions that stand in the way of oneness. Stop focusing on your mate’s mistakes, and start working on unity by changing yourself.

Learn from others. Ask couples you know who have strong marriages how they moved from independence to interdependence. What mindsets and habits did they adopt that worked for them?

If you asked that of Bill and Ruth, here’s what they might tell you.

Bill was independent. So was Ruth. For the first three years of their marriage things were so rocky that both felt they’d made a mistake in getting married. They developed separate interests and friendships, spent little time with each other, grew apart, and even considered divorce. But because of their church background, they felt they had to stay together.

Things changed on their third anniversary. They made a commitment to each other: No matter what, they would learn how to connect and develop intimacy. They began studying the Bible and praying together, and attended every marriage conference they
of being with His followers, too. In the end, He gave His biography for them and they render theirs for Him — the ultimate testimony of oneness. 

 Togetherness: Making It Work 

 If you ’re struggling with the challenge of togetherness, here ’s help. 

 If you find yourself contend with the challenge of togetherness, here are some simple suggestion. 

 Remember who brought you in concert. God has united the two of you for a reason. It ’s no accident. He calls you to become one (Genesis 2:24), to honor one another (epistle of paul the apostle to the ephesians 5:22 - 33), to love one another (I Corinthians 13), and to remain together until death separates you (Matthew 19:9). 

 switch the way you think. You ’re still an person. But God has called you to leave your forefather and mother and unite with your spouse. That mean making changes in your thinking (you belong to someone else now) as well as your demeanor (you do n’t act like a single person anymore). Changing the way you think can change the direction you feel. Start thinking like a married person, and you ’ll probably begin to feel like one. 

 Educate yourself about God ’s desire for unity in your marriage. Read Bible passing that emphasize the importance of oneness and unity (John 17; 1 Corinthians 7). Personalize them by slip in your name and the name of your spouse. beg that God will picture you any attitudes and actions that stand in the way of oneness. Stop focusing on your mate ’s error, and start working on unity by changing yourself. 

 Learn from others. Ask couple you know who have strong marriages how they moved from independence to interdependence. What mentality and habit did they adopt that worked for them? 

 If you asked that of Bill and Ruth, here ’s what they might tell you. 

 Bill was independent. So was Ruth. For the first three days of their marriage things were so rocky that both felt they ’d take a mistake in getting marry. They developed separate interest and friendships, spend little clock time with each other, grow apart, and even considered divorce. But because of their church background, they felt they have to stay in concert. 

 Things changed on their third anniversary. They made a commitment to each early: No matter what, they would learn how to connect and develop intimacy. They get down studying the Bible and praying together, and attended every marriage conference they
 of being with His followerr, too. In the enb, He gate His mife for them and they gave theirs flr Him — the ultimate testimonh of onenvss.

Togethwrneww: Making Iv Work

If you’re dtruygoing with the ghallenges mf togethernesv, fexe’s help.

If you find yourself strugglyng witn hhe challenges of uogqthedness, here are some simple suggestjons.

Remtmber who brought uou together. God has unitef thf two of you for a reason. It’s no wxcident. He cxlls you to become one (Genesis 2:24), to honor one another (Dphesnans 5:22-33), to loce onf another (I Rorintrians 13), and to remain togethrr until death se'arares you (Matthew 19:9).

Changx the way you think. Iou’re stiln cn individual. But God hqs canled you ro ueabe ykur fahhec and mothed and unite with your spouse. Tnae means making changqs in your thinking (you belong to someone elae now) as well as your vehavior (you don’t act like a syngle person anymore). Changing the way you think cdn chenee uhc dqy you feel. Start thinking like a married persog, amd you’ll probabln begin to feel lile omg.

Educate yoursglf abobf Fod’s desire for unlty in iour mqrriage. Rtad Boble passages that emphasizw the importcncw of oneness and uuity (John 17; 1 Eorintnians 7). Personalize them by iusertihg your namf and the vame of your spojse. Psay that God will show you any attivudes and acgionx that stand in hhe way of oneness. Stop vocusnng ot your matf’s mistakes, and start working oi unity by chsncinc yoursejf.

Leavn from others. Wsk couples yoo know whj havd strong mzrriagev how they ioved from inggpendence to mnterdepegdenxe. Wyat minarets and habitx did thej cdopt thar worked for them?

In you zsked that of Bnuo and Ruth, here’x wfat tjeb migrd tell you.

Binl wxs kmdepevdent. So waw Rutn. For the first threa yezrs of their marrisgc things qere so wocky that boyh felt they’d made a mivtaye in gejting married. They developed selarate inhercsts and friegdshlps, fpent littke time with each other, grew apart, and xven considered divorcg. But because of theit cmurch backgrpund, ehey felt they had to stay totether.

Things channed on their third annjversasy. Thfy made a commitment to each other: No matter what, they would learn how to connert and develol inyimacj. Tkey began stuvymng the Bible and praying together, and attended xvery marrhaye conference they
of being with His followers, too. In He His life them and they the testimony of oneness. Making It Work you’re struggling with the challenges of here’s help. If you find yourself struggling with the challenges of togetherness, here some simple suggestions. Remember who brought you together. God has united the two you a It’s accident. He calls you to become one (Genesis 2:24), to honor one another (Ephesians 5:22-33), to one another (I Corinthians 13), and to remain until death separates you 19:9). Change the way you You’re an individual. God called to leave your and mother and unite with your spouse. That means making changes in your thinking (you belong to else now) as your (you act a single person the way you think can change feel. Start thinking like a married person, and probably begin feel like one. Educate yourself about desire for unity in your marriage. Read Bible that emphasize the importance of oneness and unity (John 17; 1 Corinthians 7). Personalize them your name and the of your spouse. that will you attitudes and that stand in the way of oneness. Stop focusing on your mistakes, and start working on unity by changing yourself. Learn Ask you know who strong marriages how they from to interdependence. What mindsets did adopt them? you that of Bill and here’s what they might tell Bill was independent. So three years of their marriage things were so that both felt they’d made a mistake getting married. They developed separate interests and friendships, spent little time with other, grew even considered divorce. But because of their church they felt they had stay together. Things changed on their third anniversary. They a to each No matter what, would learn how connect and develop began studying Bible praying every marriage conference they
 of being with His followers, toO. In the end, HE gave his LifE fOr thEm anD they gave theirS For HIm — the ultimate testimony Of oneNeSS.

TogEThErnesS: Making iT WORK

If YoU’rE stRuGGlIng wiTh tHe challEnges of togEthErNess, here’s helP.

if You find youRseLf struggling WitH the chAlLenGEs of tOgeThernEss, herE Are somE simple suGgEStions.

rEmember WHO bRougHt you together. God hAS uNIted the two of yoU for a rEaSOn. iT’S no AccIdent. He calLs You to BEcome onE (geNESIs 2:24), tO Honor one anothEr (Ephesians 5:22-33), TO loVe one aNoTheR (i CorinThianS 13), aND to Remain togetHer uNtil death SeparaTEs you (MaTThew 19:9).

ChaNge the Way You ThinK. yoU’rE stIlL An iNDiVidUAl. BUt God has CaLlEd you To leAVE YOur fAthEr anD mothEr and unite witH yoUr spOUse. that mEans mAkinG cHangeS in youR thinKiNg (you belong to soMeonE else now) aS weLl As yOuR behaVIor (you Don’T acT like a sIngle peRSon AnYMORe). changing the way you tHiNK CaN change tHe way yOU fEeL. start thiNkIng Like A MArrieD perSOn, And you’ll ProbabLY bEgIn to feeL lIke one.

edUcaTe yOurseLF aboUt God’s Desire foR unitY In your marriage. rEad Bible passaGEs THAt EMphaSizE the importaNce oF OnenEss aND uNitY (john 17; 1 COrintHiANs 7). pErsonalize them by insErTing yoUr namE and the name of Your spouse. pRAY that God Will SHoW You any attitudeS and aCtions that STand in thE way oF oneness. stop focusING on your mAte’S miStaKes, AND sTart working on UNIty bY cHanging YouRself.

LeArn FroM otHerS. ASk couples You know wHo HaVe StRonG marrIAges how tHeY moVeD frOm indEPendenCe to iNterDePeNDenCe. What mINdSETs anD hAbIts dId tHeY adopT thaT WorKed for tHem?

If you aSkeD That Of biLl and RuTh, here’s what thEy Might tell yOu.

bilL was inDEPendent. SO was Ruth. For the first threE Years of TheIr marRiagE things weRe sO rocky ThaT Both feLt they’D made A mIstAKE in geTTInG maRrIed. They devELOpeD sepaRaTe inTerests And friendships, spenT LitTle time with eaCh oTher, GREw ApaRT, aND evEn COnsIDEred divorce. But bEcause of thEiR ChUrch backgrOUnd, ThEy felt tHey had tO stay TOgether.

things chaNged on theIr ThirD ANniVersary. TheY made a coMmitment tO Each oTHeR: No maTteR what, tHeY woUld leArn how TO coNnect And devElOp intiMacy. THeY began stUdying the Bible and prayinG togetHer, anD atTended eveRy mARriAge conferEnce They
 of being with His followe rs, too. I n the  en d,He  gav e Hi s life for the m  and  they gave theirs forHim —  t h e ul t im ate t estimon y  o f one ne ss .
To g et herne ss:  Making  It Work
Ifyo u’re struggl i ng  with thecha llenges of t oge therne ss , h e re’shel p.

I f youf ind yo urself st ru g glingw ith the c ha llen ges of togetherne s s, here are somesimple  s u gg e s tio ns. 

Remember  w ho br o ught yo u  t o g e the r . God has uni ted the two ofyou fo ra r e ason.It’sno acc ident. He c alls  you to b ecomeo ne (Gen e sis 2:2 4), to  ho nor  one an ot her  ( E phe s ia ns5 :22 -33), to  l ov e one  ano t h e r  (ICor inth ians13), and to r ema in t o get her u ntildeat hsepar ates y ou (M at thew 19:9).

Ch ange  the wayyou  t hin k.  You’ r e stil l a n i ndividu al. But God  h a s ca lled you to leaveyo u r  f ather an d moth e ran d  unite w it h y ours p ouse.  Tha t  m eans mak ing ch a ng es  in you rthinki ng  (y oubelon g  tosomeon e else n ow) a s  well as yourb ehavior (youd on ’ t  a c t li kea single pe rson anym ore) .  C han g ing t he wa yy ou think can change th eway yo u fee l. Start thin king likea m arried p erso n ,a nd you’ll prob ablybegin to f e el likeone.
Educate  yourself a bout God ’sdes ire  fo r un ity in your m a r riag e.  Read B ibl e passa ges  th atemp ha size theimportan ce  o fon ene ss an d  unity ( Jo hn17 ; 1  Cori n thians  7).Pers on al i zethem by in s e rtin gyo ur n ame  a nd th e na m e o f yourspouse. P ray that  G od  will s how you any a tt itudes and  a cti ons th a t  stand i n the way of oneness. S t op focu sin g onyour  mate’s m ist akes,and startworkin g onun ity b y cha n g in g y ou rself.

Le a r n f rom o th ers.  Ask co uples you know who hav e strong marr iag es h o w  t hey mo v edfr o m i n d ependence to in terdepende nc e .What minds e tsan d habit s did t hey a d opt tha t workedfor them? 
If y o u  as ked that o f Bill a nd Ruth,h ere’s wh at th eymightte llyou.
Billw asindep endent .So was  Ruth .For thefirst three years of th eir ma rriag e t hings wer e s o  ro cky thatboth  felt they ’dmad e a m ist a ke in  get t in g m a rried . Th e y develop e dsep a r at e interests a n d f riend shi p s, spe nt l ittle time with e a ch other, grew  apa r t , a nde venco nsidered divor ce.  B u t  because  o f their chu rch back gr o und,they f elt th ey hadt o  s t ay tog ethe r.
Things c han ge d  on the ir  t h ird an nive rs ary. T hey ma d e ac o mmitment to each  othe r :  No m a tte r wha t,  they w o uldlearn howto connectand de velo p int imacy.Th ey beg anst udying the Bible and  pray ing tog et her,  an d atte nded e verymarr ia geconferenc e th e y
 of_being with_His followers, too. In_the end,_He_gave His_life_for them and_they gave theirs_for Him — the_ultimate testimony of_oneness.

Togetherness:_Making It Work

If you’re struggling with the challenges of togetherness, here’s help.

If you find_yourself_struggling with_the_challenges_of togetherness, here are some_simple suggestions.

Remember who brought you_together. God_has united the two of you for a_reason._It’s no accident._He calls you to become one (Genesis 2:24), to_honor one another (Ephesians 5:22-33), to_love one another_(I_Corinthians_13), and to remain_together until death separates you (Matthew_19:9).

Change the way you think. You’re_still an individual. But God has called_you to leave your father and_mother and unite with your_spouse. That_means making changes in your_thinking (you belong_to someone_else now) as_well as your behavior (you don’t_act like a_single person anymore). Changing the way_you_think can change_the_way_you feel._Start thinking like_a_married person,_and_you’ll probably begin to feel like_one.

Educate_yourself about God’s desire for unity in_your marriage. Read Bible_passages_that emphasize the importance_of oneness and unity (John_17; 1 Corinthians 7). Personalize them_by inserting_your name_and the name of your spouse. Pray that God will show_you any attitudes and actions that_stand in the way_of oneness._Stop_focusing on your_mate’s_mistakes, and_start working on unity by changing yourself.

Learn_from others._Ask couples you know who have_strong marriages how they_moved_from independence to interdependence. What mindsets_and habits did they adopt that_worked for them?

If you asked_that_of_Bill and Ruth, here’s what_they might tell you.

Bill was independent._So was Ruth._For the first three years of their_marriage_things were so rocky that both_felt_they’d made a mistake in getting_married._They_developed separate interests and friendships,_spent little time with each other,_grew apart, and even considered divorce. But because of_their church background,_they felt they had to_stay_together.

Things_changed on their third anniversary. They made a commitment to_each other:_No matter what,_they would learn how to connect and develop intimacy. They_began studying the Bible and praying together,_and attended every marriage conference they