How Can My Thought-Life Prepare Me For Marriage?

Though we have officially "closed" our study on thought-life, here is an extra article that a guest writer sent. I appreciated her views as a married woman and thought that you would enjoy reading this as well. ~Ana Renee

By Mrs. Christina W.

Images from Reusable Art

Have you ever asked yourself this question? How can my thought life on a daily basis prepare me for a godly, Christ-centered marriage? My answer can be explained simply. Think: If I was married right now, how would my thoughts affect my husband? As someone pursuing the Proverbs 31 woman as her role model, she mentions that this kind of woman “does him good and not evil, all the days of her life”. It doesn’t say all the days she is married to her husband.  So, that means you have to start now.  How can you do good to your husband right now while you are still unmarried and maybe don’t even have a clue as to who that perfect someone will be?

Let me remind you that the woman you are today is the same woman you will be when you are married. In other words everything you are cultivating in your heart garden will keep growing unless you dig it out. The weeds of discontentment, bitterness, selfishness, dishonesty, unkindness and the list could go on, will still grow taller and wider in your garden and will take over the fruits of the spirit unless you get out your hoe and dig those weeds out.

More specifically, though, let’s say you are discontent with being single. You are cultivating discontentment in your garden. Why do you think you will suddenly become content when you are married?  Marriage is the most amazing union in the world, but it is also the most difficult to maintain. We are sinners and will always carry our flesh with us. Are you one of those young women who is always commenting on or thinking about other young men?  I’m talking about comments like “Did you see that guy in Science class in the green polo toward the front? He is so attractive! When he smiled at me it felt like I was going to faint! And his eyes! They were like pools of blue I wouldn’t mind sinking into for hours!” Yes, I’m sure you’ve heard or said similar things. But keeping your future husband in mind, how does that prepare your for the line in your wedding vows that says, “Forsaking all others”?

My goal isn’t to go through every part of your life because I want you to take time right now and do that on your own. How can you be the best wife someday in the future? By remembering the Proverbs 31 model and strive to do your husband good and not evil, all the days of your life. Think on things that are pure, honest, good, kind, and if it is worthy of praise, think on those things.