Good Devotionals for couples

[Sascha Fitzpatrick]

Does anyone know of a good devotional book a not-married couple can read together.

I'm going thru the 'couples' one on the devotions link on this site, but occasionally, it just doesn't suit our relationship stage. They talk about kids, spanking, divorce (all great topics to be talking about), but they don't really focus on what we're needing right now.

We want a devotional that will help us grow in our relationship, discover topics we should start addressing, and helps us put down good roots that will make our relationship flourish over time, in a healthy, God-like manner.

Marriage is not on the cards for us (yet). Brad isn't at a stage where he's ready for it, and with my going to Ireland for a year in 2006, it's really not the right time. BUT it could be, eventually. So, for that sake, we want to be studying things that can help us form a strong, Christ-like, healthy bond with one another.

Any suggestions?

Sasch.

(we really like Boundaries Before Marriage, and Define the Relationship - the Ludy/Harris books did not really help us much - all we want now are devotionals we can do).

 

[KristianJ]

This one might be worth looking at, Sasch. The blurb says that it's aimed at "highly committed" couples...depending on where you and Brad are at the moment it could be worth considering. I'm not aware of many other devotional books that would specifically be good for dating couples as opposed to married couples though.

http://orders.koorong.com.au/product/details?code=0785267492

 

[Sascha Fitzpatrick]

That's a great one! I'm beginning to really like you Kristian - you've certainly helped me out a fair bit lately

Thanks for that

Sasch

 

[KristianJ]

That's a great one! I'm beginning to really like you Kristian - you've certainly helped me out a fair bit lately

Thanks for that

Sasch

Hehe...not a problem, Sasch...wherever I can help anyone out with anything (particularly Christian literature since I work in the "industry"), I will. Things that I can't assist with include planning weddings though...

 

[Sign Of The Fish Burger]

Hummm I might look into that book myself

 

[Leanna]

Well I can feel myself getting burned at the stake for this one but I really believe it. If a couple is not married they have no business doing devotions together. You should enjoy and grow in the Lord apart because as you said, marriage isn't in the cards right now and if you break up it can make things worse. It would be enough that you would have the live-in situation to deal with.

 

[mnati21]

Wow, I guess I don't understand some things......why wouldn't a couple do devotionals together. It would seem an important part of their relationship so that they both can grow and learn about GOD together.....We expect couples to sperate that part of their lives and only after they are married bring that part of their lives together.....maybe the divorce rate would be lower if more couples worked together to discover Gods will for them.....I may be way off as I am weak in many areas of my christian life. But I would believe it only as positive to share you love and passion for GOD with the one you love, so that as you enter you lives together you did it with GOD in both you lives.....how can that be wrong.....if I would have kept doing that like I started I would have been strong enough to keep from making the mistake I did......

 

[Sign Of The Fish Burger]

Wow, I guess I don't understand some things......why wouldn't a couple do devotionals together. It would seem an important part of their relationship so that they both can grow and learn about GOD together.....We expect couples to sperate that part of their lives and only after they are married bring that part of their lives together.....maybe the divorce rate would be lower if more couples worked together to discover Gods will for them.....I may be way off as I am weak in many areas of my christian life. But I would believe it only as positive to share you love and passion for GOD with the one you love, so that as you enter you lives together you did it with GOD in both you lives.....how can that be wrong.....if I would have kept doing that like I started I would have been strong enough to keep from making the mistake I did......

Great post. I see nothing wrong with a couple growing in the Lord together. My best friend is a guy and we do devos together all the time. I wish in previous relationships I would have kept God at the centre and did devos with him... maybe things wouldnt have ended up the way they did.

I fully believe that each person in the relationship needs to seek God for themeslves and grow individually, but I think its great that couples want to grow clsoer int he Lord together.

 

[fadedblue]

Wow, I guess I don't understand some things......why wouldn't a couple do devotionals together. It would seem an important part of their relationship so that they both can grow and learn about GOD together.....We expect couples to sperate that part of their lives and only after they are married bring that part of their lives together.....maybe the divorce rate would be lower if more couples worked together to discover Gods will for them.....I may be way off as I am weak in many areas of my christian life. But I would believe it only as positive to share you love and passion for GOD with the one you love, so that as you enter you lives together you did it with GOD in both you lives.....how can that be wrong.....if I would have kept doing that like I started I would have been strong enough to keep from making the mistake I did......

i agree!

i do understand where you're coming from though Leanna...sometimes couples are not mature enough to be praying or doing devotionals together...but i believe that if you are truly committed to each other and seriously desire to put God first in your relationship, then i do not see the problem in doing devotionals together. sure, maybe the relationship won't work out in the end, but you know, to be able to walk God's path together...i think it's beneficial to keeping a relationship strong, whether it's a romantic one or just a friendly one. i'm personally looking for devotionals that i can do with my boyfriend...and i think it'll be great for us because although we're both christian, how we act separately, and how we act together differ so much--having something we can both do, like devotionals...or even just reading through the bible together, could really help shift the focus from ourselves, to God, and really trusting Him to guide us.

i don't have any personal suggestions, since i'm still searching, but i came across a few titles online that some of you might be interested in? or if any of you have read it before, any comments? i'm not really sure if they're any good but at least we know there are some more titles out there.

Love is...: Meditations for Couples on 1 Corinthians 13

Starting Out Together: A Devotional for Dating and Engaged Couples


do a google search for them because i don't have enough posts to post links

what i also thought about doing in the past was reading a book that discusses God's plan for courtship, dating, etc and perhaps discuss that with my boyfriend. but i don't know what do you all think?

 

[Sascha Fitzpatrick]

I would suggest we ARE looking at things seriously, because we aren't jumping in 'immediately' - rather we're taking the time to develop a good foundation before running around as a couple - believe me, the way churches are nowadays, the day you start showing yourselves as a couple, is the day you start getting asked about 'the M word' - and that's unfair.

Leanna, I'm sorry you feel that way. To me, it's important for us to start doing these devotions so our relationship starts off on the right foot - to start took about solid communication, what we both accept/don't accept, and how to make God the central part of our relationship seems the WISEST thing we could do now, to save mistakes and misconceptions about our relationship starting later on... I guess if we were looking at this as casual dating (with no commitment) then devotions wouldn't be a good thing, but I thought my OP clearly stated that our relationship meant more to us than that.



I'm surprised a Christian wouldn't see doing devotions as a couple as something good? ESPECIALLY since we share a house.

Sasch

ps. fadedblue - I will go have a look for them - haven't heard of them before. Thanks!

 

[KristianJ]

I checked out the database at work on those two books, Sasch...the Starting Out Together one is available at the store I work at (might have a flick through it myself), but I couldn't find anything on the first one. And as for the concept of spending devotional based time together, it's all but essential in my opinion if you want to keep your relationship focussed on the one who brought you together. There are many worse things that don't glorify God that you could be doing, and I could find nothing more edifying and appropriate than spending time considering God's Word with my girlfriend, how it applies to our lives and then praying about it. And Sasch, I think from what you've shared with us not only in this thread but others, it's clear what level of commitment you and Brad would be striving for.

 

[Leanna]

I'm surprised a Christian wouldn't see doing devotions as a couple as something good? ESPECIALLY since we share a house.

I think I will have a hard time explaining this but I will try. I think it is important for each person's individual relationship with God to stay strong and separate from the dating relationship. I have seen so many dating couples do everything together, even all of their "God" things like devotions, camps, small groups, and so their growth with God becomes partially dependent on the other person. Then when the break up comes, one or both become completely lost and end up falling out of church. And I have seen couples who swore they were getting married and this happens. You just never know until you get to the altar. I think the level of intimacy of doing devotions is something that should be saved for marriage for the protection of both people. Soooo... it is better for each person to maintain their individual relationship and devotions with the Lord, but when they are together they can talk about it and share, but I don't think it should be a growth together.

On the housing thing, you definitely shouldn't be living together. I won't touch that though because on another thread you already told me "that isn't going to change so don't bother" so I won't waste time.

 

[Sascha Fitzpatrick]

Leanna,

Yeah, the way you shared it - I do understand your point. Having been in an engaged relationship before though, I am fairly certain that doing devotions together, and on the off-chance we broke up, wouldn't cause me to fall out of church - I have more than just him at church to keep me going there. I do agree though, that for younger people it possibly wouldn't be a good idea. We still have our own 'God' time, and if I saw that failing due to our devotions being devoted to the other doing it, I'd be having a few words to Brad.

Thanks for respecting me about the other issue though

Sasch