IN layman’s language, marriage is an agreement in which a man loses his bachelor degree and a woman gains her master.

The way we always pray without stopping, when we pray for our daily bread, is how we should pray about our marriages and live to enjoy them. Proverbs 5:18 says let your wife be a fountain of blessing for you. Rejoice in the wife of your youth. God never intended marriage to become boring, lifeless and dull. Real happiness comes when we decide to find pleasure in the spouse God has given you.

A marriage vow renewal ceremony is believed to be a special way to declare your continuing commitment to your spouse before family and friends. It is also for a couple who have faced difficulties in their relationship and who wish to recommit and reaffirm their love for one another.

The ceremony can occur any time after your original wedding. For some who had a destination wedding may choose to renew their vows for those who were unable to attend the wedding.

The renewal of vows is usually done on the day of marriage anniversary. Couples choose to publicly recommit themselves to one another after going through a difficult period in their lives. Since the ceremony is symbolic, not legal, a minister does not need to perform it, no marriage license.

A father, grandfather or a special friend are the right people to perform the ceremony making it very personal. Personalise your vows if you have been married for a number of years you might mention occurrences during the past years and hopes for your future together, giving special meaning to the occasion.

Since it’s not bride but wife, a father should not give her in marriage but can walk her down the aisle. No bridal party is included; they might ask their children, parents or friends that have a major impact on your lives to stand with them.

There is a difference between vow renewal and a wedding. Many couples even here in Zambia are conducting their vows renewal as though it is a white wedding, dressed in white instead of pink and bridal party.

Some Christian couples are having marriage vow renewal in the Church as a way to be added to the body of Christ. Those who never had their wedding celebration in the Church are not allowed to partake of the Holy Communion or the Lord’s Supper. Meaning they are not recognize by the Church but God recognizes the other forms of marriage court and tradition which were done some years back or now and honors them.

The Bible in Malachi 2:14 says, you cry out, “why doesn’t the Lord accept my worship?” l”ll tell you why! Because the Lord witnessed the vows you and your wife made when you were young. But you have been unfaithful to her, though she remained your faithful partner, the wife of your marriage vows.

The people were complaining about their adverse circumstances when they had only themselves to blame. They left their Christian women and married pagan women. Many couples today are facing difficulties in their marriages and are trying to avoid guilt feelings by shifting the blame.

This doesn’t solve the problem at all, when you face problems look first at yourself if you have changed your attitude or behaviour. The blame is put on marriage vows, so many people want to start all over again by renewing their marriage vows which are not at fault. You renew today, tomorrow you have an argument three times more than the one you had before you renewed your vows.

The men were unfaithful to their wives and they also were ignorant the fact that this bonding relationship was an illustration of their union with God. Guard your heart, remain loyal to the wife of your youth, means to have the same commitment to marriage that God has to his promises for his people. Our passion should be reserved for our spouse.

A vow is a binding promise/ pledge. When your marriage seems to be shaking, disagreement has become the order of the day, faller to communicate with one another and it does not mean that marriage vows have expired. Marriage vows have no expiry date and they are as meaningful as the day you made them.

The Lord witness the vows that you make with your spouse, even if you made them 50 years ago, they are still valid. Marriage vows are permanent, lifelong and exclusive union. We are living in a world where almost everything has to be renewed every after a given period of time. Y

ou have to renew your passport, driver’s license and credit card when they lose value. This has made many to believe that when the marriage is sinking, then vows have lost value. No! This is not the case.

Many say vows without paying particular attention to what they are saying. Vows are a covenant so mean what you say and say what you mean. The vows are established the moment you say them, as you speak those vows in the presence of witnesses, you declare and decree those words and they are established.

God also is a witness to the vows you make to each other on your wedding day, remember, what is bound on earth is bound in heaven and the Lord acknowledges. He hates divorce, encourages the married to always remain loyal to their spouse.

The faller of marriages is not the vows loosing value but lack of commitment between husband and wife. It is vital for husbands and wives to know their role in the marriage institution. Some of the things you need to work on in order to enjoy your marriage are, over commitment as the first killer.

Couples are too busy with the things of the world, and then get surprised when their marriage falls apart. Why wouldn’t it? They only time you see each other is when you are worn out. You must reserve time for each other if you want to keep your love alive.

The second thing is conflict over the usage of money, live by this theory pay cash for consumable items or don’t buy. Allocate your funds with the Wisdom of Solomon.

Alcohol has and is still destroying not only marriages but people also. Avoid it like a bomb. Many couples are ignorant about the word of God especially what it says about marriages. A group of women meet for prayers at mountain as it’s a quiet place to communicate with God.

Being ignorant about the word of God, the one who was conducting prayers on a particular day told them to pick sticks and wipe everything they believe was making their marriages an institution not worth living in.

They wiped the ground, air and tree fully convinced that they were dealing with the “assistant to the madam” (ATM), anyone against their marriage, any demon blocking the husbands from going home and refusing to eat. It is never won physically. You will just waste your energy, and at the end of it all develop a 6 Pac and bitterness. Make your request known unto God and take it to him in prayer.

Guard your relationship against erosion as though you were defending your very lives not only can you survive but you can keep your love alive if you give it priority in your system of value.

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