Honoring God In My Marriage

Expectations of Marriage - pgs 135-140

Note: If you are not currently married, feel free to skip over any questions in this week's study that do not apply directly to you.

Realize
1. How does our culture promote unrealistic expectations of marriage?

2. What is an expectation you had prior to marriage that you found to be unrealistic after getting married?

Reflect
3. Read Psalm 62:5; 118:8-9; and Jeremiah 17:5-8. Why is it foolish to look to people to satisfy us and meet our needs? Where should we focus our expectations?

4. Reflect on your marriage or, if you aren't married, on your desire for a husband. Are you expecting a man to meet needs in you life that only God can meet? What are those needs?

Respond
5. Have you made your husband a prisoner of your expectations by putting pressure on his to satisfy you and make you happy? Ask God to help you release your husband, and choose to place your hope wholly in God.

6. What is the ultimate source of true happiness? What biblical counsel would you give to a woman who says her husband is not making her happy? To a single woman who is finding it difficult to be content without a husband?

Prayer of the Day
Lord, I thank You for my situation in life. I pray that You will help me not to look to other people to meet my needs but to look only to You. I realize that no human being can control my happiness; ultimately, I may choose to live in joy because of my relationship with You. Amen