God has designed marriage as a partnership - for those who are committed in love - to each other. _____ and _____ - God’s desire is to create in you a union of heart, mind, and body for your mutual joy - for comfort - for strength in the midst of whatever circumstances of life lay ahead of you - a partnership which may involve children - a family - which glorifies Him.

Before we move up to the alter I’d like to share one other verse from the Bible - because I’d like to challenge you with one thought which I think will make a major difference in your marriage.

Psalm 127:1 “Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it.”

I’ve been married for 11 - almost 12 years now - which is not a whole lot of experience compared to some in this room. But, I’ve seen a lot of marriages from the inside and the outside - some work - some don’t. One thing that I am certain of is this: Unless God is the one who puts your marriage together - you will never have the fulfillment that He intends for you.

I’ve seen a lot couples come to be married - go through the ceremony - do the religious thing - and then it just doesn’t seem to make a whole lot of difference in their lives. So many couples end up enduring marriage - they put up with each other - tolerate each other - they go through the motions of being married. But, they never experience the depth of the joy of being married.

God desires to give you His strength and power for life - to give you purpose and pleasure and joy and fulfillment. But, that only takes place if He is first in your lives and in your marriage.

_____ and _____ - if you can learn this - you will have a life long partnership that will go deeper and beyond anything you can imagine today.

Give God priority - as individuals - and in your marriage and you will know His blessing.

1. Give God the first part of each day. (Mark 1:35)
2. Give God the first day of each week. (1 Corinthians 16:2; Hebrews 10:23-25)
3. Give God the first part of your income. (Proverbs 3:9; Mark 12:41-44)
4. Give God the first consideration in every decision. (Matthew 6:33)
5. Give Jesus first place in your heart always. (2 Corinthians 8:5)

Never doubt that God loves you, has chosen you, and has a purpose for you. And in whatever way I can - and we as a church can - we want to stand with you - to encourage and support you - all of these people have come here today to support you. And, we pray that as you come together in marriage you will move forward from here into God’s love and the tremendous life He has prepared for you.