PURSUITOF

VOW-a solemn promise.synonyms: oath, pledge, promise, bond, covenant, commitment, profession, affirmation, attestation, assurance, guarantee;

GOD FIRST AND FOREMOST

SPOUSE SECOND

Last Sunday our VOW#1,

I promise that God is my number ONE

VOW#2 I promise to always pursue my number TWO.

I MUST BELIEVE MY SPOUSE COMPLETES ME.

Gen 2:18-23

18 The Lord God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him."

Gen 2:18-23

19 Now the Lord God had formed out of the ground all the beasts of the field and all the birds of the air. He brought them to the man to see what he would name them; and whatever the man called each living creature, that was its nameNIV

Gen 2:18-23

20 So the man gave names to all the livestock, the birds of the air and all the beasts of the field. NIV

Gen 2:18-23

But for Adam no suitable helper was found. 21 So the Lord God caused the man to fall into a deep sleep; and while he was sleeping, he took one of the man's ribs and closed up the place with flesh. NIV

Gen 2:18-2322 Then the Lord God made a woman from the rib he had taken out of the man, and he brought her to the man.

23 The man said,

"This is now bone of my bonesand flesh of my flesh;she shall be called 'woman,'for she was taken out of man." NIV

Gen 2:24

24 For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh. NIV

Gen 2:24

24 For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh. NIV

dabaq (daw-bak)

cling or adhere; figuratively, to catch by pursuit: pursue hard with affection and devotion

(Biblesoft's New Exhaustive Strong's Numbers and Concordance with Expanded Greek-Hebrew Dictionary. Copyright © 1994, 2003, 2006 Biblesoft, Inc. and International Bible Translators, Inc.)

PRACTICAL WAYS TO PURSUE YOUR

SPOUSE

1. When you think something good, say it!

Hebrews 3:13

But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called today, so that none of you may be hardened by sins deceitfulness.

Men: We must Pursue

her with Words of Affection.

Ladies: You must Pursue

him with Words of Affirmation.

1. Thank your husband once a day for something (try to make it something different each time)

2. Compliment your husband to your mother, your children, your friends, whatever, within earshot of your husband, every chance you get.

3. Do not nag.4. Do not give the silent treatment.5. Make love with relative frequency (say at

least 2-3 times a week).

2. If you think something special, DO IT!

James 4:17

Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.

A. Men: Serve Her, Treat her.B. Ladies:Do the same!!!

3. If you want something different, BE IT!Revelation 2:4,5 (NLT) You don’t love me or each other as you did at first! Look how far you have fallen! Turn back to me and do the works you did at first.

TIPS

1. Make a list of what you would want in a best-friend.

SAMPLE

Make me feel good about being me. Affirm my best qualities (especially when I am

feeling insecure) Call out the best in me, and hold me

accountable to the best version of myself. Listen without judging or trying to fix me. Give me the benefit of the doubt. Extend grace to me when I am grumpy or

having a bad day. Remember my birthday, favorite foods, music,

and art.

SAMPLE Know my story and love me regardless. Spend time with me, just because they enjoy

my company. Speak well of me when I am not present. Serve me with a joyful spirit and without

complaining. Speak the truth to me when no one else will. Never shame me, diminish me, or make me

feel small. Become excited about what I am excited

about. Celebrate my wins!

TIPS

1. Make a list of what you would want in a best-friend.

2. Now become that person for your spouse.

3. Keep sowing the seeds, until the relationship blossoms.

I MUST UNDERSTAND AND ACCEPT MY ROLE TO MY SPOUSE.

Ephesians 5:21-24 (The Message)

Out of respect for Christ, be courteously reverent to one another. Wives, understand and support your husbands in ways that show your support for Christ.

Ephesians 5:21-24 (The Message)

The husband provides leadership to his wife the way Christ does to his church, not by domineering but by cherishing. So just as the church submits to Christ as he exercises such leadership, wives should likewise submit to their husbands.

Ephesians 5:25-28 (The Message)

Husbands, go all out in your love for your wives, exactly as Christ did for the church a love marked by giving, not getting. Christ's love makes the church whole. His words evoke her beauty.

Ephesians 5:25-28 (The Message)

Everything he does and says is designed to bring the best out of her, dressing her in dazzling white silk, radiant with holiness. And that is how husbands ought to love their wives. They're really doing themselves a favorsince they're already "one" in marriage.

Ephesians 5:29-33 (The Message)

No one abuses his own body, does he? No, he feeds and pampers it. That's how Christ treats us, the church, since we are part of his body. And this is why a man leaves father and mother and cherishes his wife. No longer two, they become "one flesh."

Ephesians 5:29-33 (The Message)

This is a huge mystery, and I don't pretend to understand it all. What is clearest to me is the way Christ treats the church. And this provides a good picture of how each husband is to treat his wife, loving himself in loving her, and how each wife is to honor her husband.

MY ROLE AS SPOUSE

HUSBAND

• LEADER• LOVER• PROVIDER

WIFE

• HONOR• SUBMIT• SUPPORT

VOW#2 I promise to always pursue my number TWO.

BELIEVING MY SPOUSE COMPLETES ME.

CONTINUE PURSUING MY SPOUSE.

UNDERSTANDING AND ACCEPTING MY ROLE TO MY SPOUSE.