Principle 2: Stay In Sync Spiritually.

UNCOMMON WISDOM

Your eternal word, O LORD, stands firm in heaven. Your faithfulness extends to every generation, as enduring as the earth you created.

—Psalm 119:89-90

UNCOMMON PRACTICE

Take a few moments to select one of this week’s practices to explore further. The related Adventure Application appears just below each practice. If you’d prefer to come up with a different way of living out that practice this week, feel free to discuss what that might look like.

Consider the input and wisdom of others when making decisions.

What decision do you or your family need to make? Review Jerry Clower’s four questions for decision making, and then discuss how you might answer them in light of the options you are considering.

Plug into a church that offers solid biblical teaching and where you feel at home.

Is your church meeting your family’s needs at this stage? If so, that’s great. If not, what should you do?

Seek out an older couple who can model a strong marriage and family life.

Do you know a godly older couple to whom you can look for mentoring, wisdom, and guidance? Be sure to spend time with them. If you don’t have such a couple in your life, try to identify one who could serve in that role. Take the first step to get to know them better this week.

Be open to the possibility that the Lord is speaking to you through the input of your spouse.

How can you do a better job of tuning in to your spouse and really listening to what he or she has to say? Remember that God may be sharing something He wants you to hear through him or her.

Share with each other the lessons you learn as you study the Bible.

Look to share at least one thing with your spouse each day this week that you learn in your private Scripture reading, devotional reading, or in a Bible study elsewhere. Encourage your spouse to add his or her insights to the discussion. You both will be doubly blessed.

Don’t resist change when you see God bringing something new into your life.

If your life were a parade, what would you say is in your line of sight right now? Would you compare it to a stunning float, a group of scary-looking clowns, or an out-of-sync marching band? What would you like to see next in the procession? Thank God for where He has placed you now, knowing He can see what comes next.

UNCOMMON PRAYER

Take a few minutes to discuss any praises and needs you’d like to bring to God as a couple. Then, in addition to praying about those things together, use one or more of the following prayer prompts to ask God to help you stay in sync spiritually.

Praise God for the older family members, mentors, and pastors He’s brought into your lives and the insights you’ve gained as they’ve shared their wisdom and experience.

Confess your need for God to give you the desire to spend regular time in His Word.

Ask the Holy Spirit to be at work in your mind and heart this week as you read the Bible, listen to messages and teaching, and talk with each other about what you’re learning from your study of the Scriptures.