Unveiling the Covenant Stage: The Spiritual Foundation of a Lasting Marriage

The Covenant Stage: A Deeper Understanding Vincent and Valerie Woodard discuss the often-overlooked covenant stage in their conversation about the three phases of marriage.

Unlike a contract, the covenant phase is a spiritual agreement between man, woman, and God to fulfill God’s purpose in the kingdom. This sacred bond mirrors Christ’s relationship with the Church on Earth.

God’s Covenant with Abram: A Foundation for Marriage The concept of a covenant in marriage is rooted in God’s covenant with Abram.

In this Biblical story, God promised to make Abram’s descendants as numerous as the stars and grant them the land. However, God made a covenant with Himself, acknowledging that Abram could not hold up his end of the bargain.

This story demonstrates that a covenant is an agreement between two parties, but it’s a threefold chord with God at the center in marriage.

Marriage: Covenant vs. Contract It’s crucial to differentiate a covenant from a contract in marriage. A contract can be entered, broken, or breached, while a covenant is a spiritual commitment between man, woman, and God.

God serves as the “glue” that keeps the marriage together, and the strength of the covenant will sustain the couple through trials. Love is a beautiful reason to get married, but it shouldn’t be the sole focus of a covenant-based marriage.

God’s Principles: The Key to a Successful Marriage When couples adhere to God’s principles in their marriage, love becomes easier to uphold.

A contract mentality leads to conditional love, where spouses only fulfill their obligations if the other person does the same.

In contrast, focusing on one’s part in the covenant allows God to honor and improve the marriage over time.

Turning Troubled Marriages Around A Testimony, Vincent shares his personal experience of transforming his troubled marriage by embracing God’s principles.

After attending a men’s retreat, Vincent felt God’s presence and heard His message of love. This encounter led him to realize that with God, nothing is impossible.

He decided to become the husband his wife needed and to live by God’s principles, ultimately saving their marriage.

Learning to Love Through God’s Word Even without an ideal role model, individuals can learn how to love through the mirror of God’s word. First Corinthians Chapter 13 is a perfect example of how to measure love against one’s actions.

Couples should bring everything to the foot of the cross, seeking God’s guidance in prayer and being open to His blessings.

Proactive Approach to Marriage A successful marriage requires a proactive approach. Couples must ask, seek, and knock to gain understanding and empathy for their spouse.

For those in the courtship phase, it’s essential to consider the covenant they plan to make before God. Ultimately, both partners benefit from a strong, spiritually grounded marriage.

Coming Up: The Commitment Phase Stay tuned for the next installment in Vincent and Valerie’s three-part series as they explore the commitment phase of marriage. Be sure to like and share their insightful discussion to help others navigate the complexities of a God-centered marriage.