Whether 2011 was a satisfactory year for your marriage, or one you would rather forget, now is the time to be proactive and establish goals you can achieve to improve your relationship in 2012. When we give our marriages the attention, prayer and focus they deserve, we can see true growth in the relationship. However, the opposite is also true: if we sit back and allow our marriages to become stagnant or allow the downward spiral to continue, we can risk losing the most precious union God created. Take action now, by setting Godly goals for your marriage and taking steps to achieve them, and you may be able to look back at 2012 as the year your marriage rose to new heights.

Even God Himself is into planning, so why should we be any different? We read in Jeremiah 29:11: “’For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” This is a well-known Bible verse and it should hold so much meaning for you as you consider goals for your marriage.

How does God follow through in His plans for us? He cares for us, comforts us, speaks to us and reveals things to us through those around us. In other words, He is actively involved in our lives. As we strive to live our lives using God’s example, we must be actively involved in the most important relationships in our lives, specifically in our marriage relationship.

How to Improve Your Marriage with Goal-Setting

To some, goal-setting seems too formal and methodical for marriage, but the truth is that marriage takes work—hard work! Once you begin to set goals and follow through with them, you will be able to realize the positive impact this process can have on your relationship with your spouse. In fact, you’ll likely wonder why you didn’t do this sooner.

It’s a good idea to begin with three specific goals and once those are achieved you can add more. By choosing only three goals, you can put your full focus on them to produce the best results. Let’s take a look at some steps you can take to begin goal-setting for a healthier marriage in 2012:

• Step One: Include God! Pray, read God’s word, and ask for His guidance as you set goals for your relationship.
• Step Two: Put the goals into writing. Yes, it seems formal, but it will serve as a reminder to you during those times when you are feeling unfocused and weary.
• Step Three: Break down your goals into mini-goals to provide a sense of achievement. For example, if you have a goal of spending more quality time with your spouse, create a mini-goal of having an interruption-free evening together once a week.
• Step Four: Give yourself grace when you fall short. God is full of grace and love for you, so don’t beat yourself up when you don’t achieve a goal or have a set-back. The point is to keep trying and to keep God at the center of what you are doing.
• Step Five: Pray more and include your spouse. Prayer time with your spouse about these goals may be the most powerful step in the list. When you come together with God in prayer, your spirits are connected, and true intimacy is the result.

2012 can be the best year yet for your marriage. There will be highs and lows and successes and failures along the way, but by establishing goals and striving each week to meet them, you will be giving your marriage the attention it deserves. You can trust God will honor your commitment.

Make 2012 the Year for a Healthier Marriage

The New Year brings with it a sense of hope, and it is the perfect time to grasp hold of a renewed dream and inspiration for your marriage relationship. Maybe 2011 was a disappointing year in your marriage, or you find yourself feeling less than unified with your spouse. What if this time next year you can look back on 2012 to see amazing growth in your marriage? It’s very possible, but it will require some work and commitment.

When you have a dream of a healthier marriage, the best way to move you closer to that dream is making sure God is at the center. Once He is a part of what you are doing in your relationship, you significantly increase your positive impact. No matter what is going on in your marriage, when you take time for prayer and meeting with God, you are adding the all-important spiritual component to your goals.

We can know with certainty that God cares about your marriage. In Mark 10:9 we read: “Therefore what God has joined together, let man not separate.” We hear this all the time during weddings, but that may be one of the last times we really stop to consider the significance of the verse. God has joined you with your spouse, and man, woman, the world should not separate this sacred bond.

Clinging to this truth and reminding yourself of this truth can fuel your actions as you strive for the dream of a healthy marriage in 2012. The world around us will continually bombard our minds and hearts with messages of selfishness and lust, so we must work hard to keep God’s truth in the forefront of our minds.

Working for a better marriage isn’t always easy, and there will be bumps in the road along the journey. However, when you keep God at the center of your actions and His truth in your mind, you can move forward with purpose, setting goals and following through with them to make this year the best yet in your married life—and by the end of the year, you will be a big step closer to achieving the relationship of your dreams.

Learn about setting goals for your marriage in 2012, Christian marriage tips and more at www.marriage101.us.

Jewell R. Powell, affectionately known as The Marriage Coach is an inspirational teacher/speaker and bestselling author. Jewell has made it her mission to help married couples, especially those who are having trouble in their marriages. She believes that, with effort and God’s grace, all can have a ‘happily ever after' marriage when you live by faith.

Interested in Lewis & Jewell speaking at your church or marriage conference, contact Jewell by email at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or by calling 301-743-5654.

© 2011 by Jewell R. Powell, The Marriage Coach and author of Marriage 101: Building a Life Together by Faith. Visit www.marriage101.us.