Organizations offer workshops, seminars, and retreats to help leaders develop a vision statement for their businesses. When all the key players have embraced a shared vision, they can move forward as a united front. Vision is no less important for married couples, except Christian couples go to the Bible for their vision.
Habakkuk 2:1-2 states, “I will stand my watch and set myself on the rampart, and watch to see what He will say to me, and what I will answer when I am corrected. Then the Lord answered me and said: ‘Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it.’”
This verse can be broken down into six sections:
1. STAND; WATCH
This means more than just waiting for inspiration to strike. It’s about adopting a posture of prayer and intentionally seeking God’s guidance for your marriage. By standing watch, you acknowledge your dependence on God and invite Him to lead you into His plans and purposes.
2. WAIT FOR GOD’S ANSWER
When we dream about what our Christian marriage should look like, it can be easy to turn to the latest self-help books or remember childhood fantasies. But as Christians, we must put all this aside and seek God’s vision for us. It’s essential to wait and listen for God’s answer.
3. I WILL ANSWER WHEN I AM CORRECTED
Developing a vision for our Christian marriage requires a willingness to be corrected and adjust our course as the Holy Spirit leads. This often requires the death of our most cherished assumptions about marriage. So let us be humble and teachable, ready to answer when corrected to fulfill God’s plan for our marriage.
4. THEN THE LORD ANSWERED ME
God is not distant or uninvolved in your life but is actively engaged and interested in the well-being of your marriage. When you seek His guidance and direction, you can trust that He will respond through His Word, the promptings of the Holy Spirit, or other means. Knowing that God hears and answers should give you great comfort and assurance!
5. WRITE THE VISION
It’s not enough to simply have an idea in our minds – we need to write it down and make it clear and understandable. This provides a tangible reminder of the vision when you face challenges or setbacks. It creates a concrete representation of your commitment to each other and God’s plan for your marriage.
6. THAT HE MAY RUN WHO READS IT
When we write down our vision and make it plain for all to see, we enable ourselves and our spouse to “run” towards it with purpose and determination. A shared vision creates a sense of unity and direction, motivating us to work together towards a common goal.
Create a “marriage vision statement” together. You can be inspired by verses such as Psalm 127:1, which states, “Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain,” or Joshua 24:15 which says, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
A well-known motivational statement says, “Where the focus goes, energy flows.” In other words, wherever we focus our attention becomes the most dominant thing in our mind. When we lack focus, we lack momentum. This is true whether it’s our education, career, spiritual life, fitness, or finances. And we find this particularly true of marriage.
“Where there is no vision, the people cast off restraint” (Proverbs 29:18).
We’ve seen the importance of vision and the power of vision. Now it’s time to learn how to write down our own. To begin, we can ask ourselves the following questions:
- What do we want our marriage to accomplish?
- Who do we want our marriage to bless?
- What is the result of fulfilling your vision?
Crafting a marriage vision statement is essential to building a fulfilling and purposeful life together as a Christian couple. Feel free to brainstorm as you explore what you want to accomplish and who you want to bless through your marriage. With God’s guidance and your shared vision, you can move forward with a renewed sense of direction in your relationship.
To learn more about how to seek God’s blessings in the context of Christian marriage, visit Dream City Church or join one of our DREAMarriage ministries!
DREAMarriage is a ministry called by God to encourage, equip, and empower husbands and wives to enjoy an abundance of true love found only in the sacred marriage covenant.
