Love is Intentional: Making a Vow

Love is intentional. Love in a marriage has to be intentional! Part of understanding love's intentionality is to look at the fundamental commitment of marriage. Marriage starts with two people making a vow to one another before God, friends, and family. What does that mean? That's what today's entry will be discussing.

When two people enter into a marriage, they make a covenant, a vow to one another. Nowadays that may not seem like a big deal, but it is and always has been. Only recently has divorce in the United States been so widely acceptable. That is because that covenant and vow were taken so seriously. Merriam-Webster defines a vow as "a solemn promise or assertion; specifically : one by which a person is bound to an act, service, or condition." A vow is a binding agreement. Biblically speaking, marriage is a covenant. Covenants in the Bible are blood bonds for life; the only way they can be broken is through death. All of that is to say that we must understand the brevity and severity of the actions we are taking on that blessed wedding day. It's serious stuff, and I think if we thought about that, focused on that, and really understood that, we would act differently.

Exchanging vows with your husband or wife was a huge moment and step in your life. It was (or is for those of you not married yet) a serious commitment that needs to be thought about and taken seriously. It helps to think about that individually and collectively. I would encourage you to keep your vows current and relevant. What does that mean? Print out a copy of your wedding vows - keep them easily accessible, and then look over them together. Recite them to each other again (maybe each year on your wedding anniversary - that's a minimum), and keep it fresh in your minds. It will help keep you on the right track.

Intentionally remind yourselves of the vows you have made in your marriage. Remind yourselves of the commitment you have made and what that means. Understanding it is a commitment helps you to intentionally commit to your marriage for life day in and day out. The truth is that you aren't always going to "feel" in love, which is why you have to intentionally choose to love your spouse and commit to your marriage each and every single day.