When I think of preparing for marriage, I have being equipped to stay the course and honor God through every twist and turn in mind. Only a rich relationship with Jesus can establish your heart in the purpose God has for marriage. A mindset that differs from what God says about marriage and discipleship, is unprepared for the challenges, disappointments, and sin life with a spouse brings. The ultimate marriage preparation for Christian single women is discipleship by Christ.
How is discipleship tied to marriage?
Everything Jesus teaches and models to His disciples is for us to learn how to love God and love people. God is love. Marriage is a commitment between a man and a woman to love each other in a covenantal relationship with God. The common denominator between discipleship and marriage is love.
When I speak about love in this context I am referring to selfless, forgiving, enduring, committed love. Love that imitates God (Ephesians 5:1,2) and seeks to do no harm to a neighbor. The marriage relationship has the aim of a woman submitting to her husband as to the LORD, and a husband loving a wife as Christ loves the church (Ephesians 5:22,23). This same submission and love in marriage is the same submission and love in discipleship where Christ is husband and we are His submissive bride.
Practical devotional habits for future wives
One really great way to grow in discipleship is by studying Scripture daily. In the Gospels Jesus teaches the way for us to live and love the way God instructs us to. Daily reading of the Word of God renews our minds (Romans 12:2). The Word is a light for our path (Psalm 119:105). So much of the information that we consume through media and people who do not follow Christ, is opposite of what the Bible teaches. Therefore when we read, we can combat improper influences to our wifehood.
After you get married no two days are the same. Honoring your husband and submitting to his leadership is not a natural inclination (Genesis 3:16). Crucifying the flesh is a daily work for a wife. You have to learn a whole new way of life and conduct yourself in ways you never have before. Husband and wife interaction is unique. Only in the context of marriage will you engage with an imperfect man as your personal leader, protector, provider, life partner, etc.
Prayer and daily reading are your aids to being a good wife. Developing a habit of early morning quiet time in prayer, reading, and worship is preparation for the time when married life and homemaking are busy. Discipleship requires discipline. Train yourself to have the devotional habits now that you want to have as a married woman.
Resource for developing devotional habits
Patient. Prayerful. Preparing. is a daily devotional for Bible study and prayer. This is a perfect resource for seven weeks of daily discipline and discipleship. I highly recommend this devotional for women who are single in preparation for marriage (pre and post engagement) as well as women seeking God’s will concerning marriage. It lays the foundation for learning to pray as a wife by first cultivating the posture of surrendering your emotions to the Father.
When I wrote Patient. Prayerful. Preparing. I was a newlywed wife. Before getting married I served Christ for 12 years as an Evangelist/Missionary. I poured my experience and devotion to Christ into the Patient. Prayerful. Preparing. devotional specifically capturing my transition to preparing for marriage by walking with the LORD. I infused my revelation of Biblical Womanhood into this devotional by including Scripture meditations that cultivate an understanding of submission, homemaking, building your womanhood on God’s love, and learning to trust Yahweh with your heart and emotions.
Remember: “…don’t awaken love before the time.” (Song of Solomon 8:4)