What does it mean to be truly intimate with another human? In Genesis 2 (before the Fall), it says that they were “naked and not ashamed”. So much of how we experience closeness with each other in marriage is determined by our sense of vulnerability and how we’re perceived when we’re truly exposed. Is it possible to be fully known by someone and still fully…
Practical Tools for Building a Genuinely ‘Fierce’ Marriage
What does it mean to have a “fierce” marriage? And why should we want one? Basically, we believe that marriage is worth fighting for and you will have to fight for it. We’ve said it countless times: marriage takes a fierce tenacity that never gives up and never gives in. The thing is, you can’t do it alone. You need help (we all do). Thankfully…
Love vs. Lust
Is it possible to have lustful motivations in marriage? What makes an attitude or action loving or lustful? Hebrews 13:4 says, “Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled, for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous.” Could this apply to married people engaging in sex within their own marriage? In today’s podcast, we’ll explore just that…
Fight Naked! How Fighting Well Can Help Build a Stronger Marriage
Fighting naked—both literally and figuratively—has been pivotal in helping us fight well. Yes, you can “fight well” in your marriage. Conflict, disagreements, frustrations, tension—none of this is new to marriage. That’s what today’s episode (and blog post!) is all about. Put two people in a covenant together, living in the same house for life, and conflict is inevitable. First, we’ll explore and understand what the…
Why Understanding Covenant is Absolutely Foundational for Your Marriage
We are big advocates for understanding the “why” behind the “what.” This is especially true for the idea of covenant. When we can understand the deeper meaning of covenant, we are better equipped to understand its importance for every facet of modern-day marriage. There is wisdom to be mined, understanding to be gleaned, and a clearer and more joyful path for our marriage when we…
Podcast: Live Q&A #2 (Uncut and Unfiltered)
Ryan and Selena answer questions from readers around the world! Uncut, unedited, and unfiltered… for better or worse (a little like marriage!) Fierce Marriage (the book) is available for pre-order at https://fiercemarriagebook.com. Go there to learn more!
Why “I love you but I’m not IN love with you” is a lie
One of the truest markers of genuine love is its staying power—its longevity, its ability to persevere, and its ability to withstand. This is the type of love Christ shows us, and its the type of love we’re called to express in marriage. However, our culture and our humanity would have us believe something else. Without a biblical understanding of love, we’re prone to follow…
Redeeming Respect
Is respect earned, given, or some combination of the two? What should a wife do if she wants to respect her husband but he’s not acting respectably? The biblical idea of respect in marriage can be tricky against our cultural backdrop, but it’s worth hashing through because we see a beautiful picture of the gospel on the other side. In this episode, Ryan and Selena…
Quit Trying So Hard
It feels wrong to start this blog post with advice to “quit trying so hard”. Since the beginning, this blog has been about encouraging couples to fight fiercely for their marriages—to never give up and to never give in. I still believe the latter, but I think it needs clarification. Why clarify when encouraging couples to fight for their marriages seems so obviously good? Clarity is…
5 Ways to Fight for Your Integrity While Apart for Work (or Otherwise)
Many couples experience separation for days, weeks, or even months because of work-related travel. If you or your husband/wife travel for a corporate job or military deployment, you will face unique challenges when it comes to staying connected emotionally (and physically), as well as maintaining spouse-honoring (and God-honoring) integrity while apart. In today’s podcast, we cover five ways to fight for personal integrity while one…