Preparing for Marriage

Preparing for Marriage
Most people don't prepare for marriage. I am not talking about planning the wedding day. I am talking about after the wedding day after the honeymoon. A lot of couples jump into marriage, and off they go hoping for that "Love forever after" not realizing marriage is work. But it is worth every effort. 
Once married it seems to be a surprise about their spouse's habits or behavior. As well, their spouse looks at their spouse's habits and now realize they have to live these changes. Some want to bail out rather than run the race; some will hang in with their struggles about the differences. Marriages come with baggage, different habits or behavior. But for one reason or another, couples don't expect the differences. Getting married does not change our habits or behavior.
But don't give up, don't look at marriage as such hard work. It is work, but when both people are willing to work together, it is great fun. There is hope. Hope that can make the distance, hope that can refresh your marriage, hope when both are running the journey together to the end. Hope when you put God first in your marriage, and He is running along with you.
We are all different; we come into marriage with expectations. Some realistic and unrealistic. Marriage is a journey, learning about each other and loving the difference. 
Run the race together with God. And if you are getting married? The wedding day is beautiful but prepare for marriage. Know there will be differences. Don't allow the differences to break your marriage. We all have habits or behavior that we can change. Marriage is worth every effort.

Hebrews 12:1 NIV
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,​