5 Ways to Pursue God Together as a Couple

Unity in marriage is key to a healthy and thriving relationship, yet spiritual unity can feel more difficult to attain. Date nights might be regular, you may have a favorite show you watch together consistently, and maybe you even exercise as a couple.

While those are excellent ways to connect with your spouse, jointly pursuing a deeper relationship with God can have a powerful impact on your relationship. Shared spiritual goals and activities will strengthen your marriage while simultaneously drawing you closer to Christ.

Here are five ways to grow “in the grace and knowledge of your Lord and Savior” (2 Peter 3:18 NIV) together.

1. Read Together

We all know the impact that reading God’s Word has on us. Even if you keep up your own devotional habits, find a way to read the Bible as a couple. This could be as simple as a Psalm together each morning or as intense as a Bible reading plan you do simultaneously. Perhaps you read the same book of the Bible but separately. Any form of reading God’s Word together will allow your minds and hearts to get on the same page.

Similarly, read spiritual books together. You can read aloud, listen to an audiobook together, or one of you can read a physical book while the other listens to audio while driving to work or exercising. You don’t even have to be together, but you can share in the same spiritual experience through the shared information.

My husband and I recently listened to Family Discipleship separately, he at work and me at home. We discussed it here and there and then decided to purchase the book and implement many of the things we heard.

2. Listen Together

Podcasts can be another fun way to grow spiritually together. My husband and I will send each other links to podcasts that challenge and encourage us. This allows us to understand what spiritual thoughts are occupying our spouses’ minds and to discuss the concepts discussed in the podcasts.

You can also intentionally find podcasts about news through a Biblical worldview, marriage, parenting, and much more. Through this, you can apply your faith in God to your everyday lives. Sometimes, subjects that might cause conflict can be better discussed if each member of the relationship has had time to listen to thoughts on the topic separately and then ponder them before discussing.

Do a little research, choose a podcast that interests both of you, and start listening. It can almost feel like a date when you know that a new episode is being released, and you will get to listen to it and discuss it. Deep conversations and growth can come from this.

3. Reflect Together

All this listening and reading is great, but a key aspect of it comes from the discussion portion. Come together to talk about what you are reading and hearing. Share what you are learning in your scripture reading. Ask questions about your partner’s thoughts on a book or podcast.

You can apply this habit to Sunday sermons as well. After church, share your thoughts or notes on the sermon. If you have questions, then look up scriptures together to understand what confuses you better. Even with children present, this activity can take place around the lunch table after church or in the evening once the littles are put to bed.

4. Grow Together

Just as it is good to keep marriage fun and fresh with activities, dates, and trips, you can keep your spiritual growth from becoming stagnant. Attend a conference or special class together. There are many options provided by churches, ministries, and even online. Take a Bible course together. Study Greek words. Learn the inductive Bible study method. Attend a marriage conference. Take a class on theology at your church.

5. Serve Together

Sometimes, a marriage needs team spirit. Working together or accomplishing a goal together can really enhance the bonds between people. Consider a service project together. This could mean opening your home once a week to host a Bible study or a family from church for dinner. It could mean teaching a Sunday school class as a couple. Perhaps you could mentor a younger couple. Whatever you choose, it will likely cause you to plan together, set goals, seek wisdom, pray, and work together. You may struggle, but you will also celebrate many joyful and successful moments that will create a connection between you and the God you are serving.

Proverbs 27:17 is often used to refer to men encouraging one another, but I think that “iron sharpens iron” applies to married couples as well. Marriage is the closest relationship that exists and can be a powerful tool in sharpening each member. Marriage is a joining, so join your spiritual worlds as well and see what wonderful fruit will come of it.