Tony Dungy - The Uncommon Marriage Adventure: A Devotional Journey to Draw You Closer to God and Each Other

Before we married, we made a simple choice that has had a profound impact on our lives.

Rather than looking to the world for wisdom on building a strong marriage, we chose to listen to God. That one decision has enabled us to endure and even thrive through the best and worst of times. And considering how much societys views on marriage have changed in the thirty-plus years weve been married, were thankful for biblical principles that are both unchanging and unassailable.

Thats why, when we agreed to tell our story in our earlier book Uncommon Marriage, we chose to think about it from a couple of different angles. Yes, we spent hours reminiscing and telling stories about our years together. But once the chronological events had been laid out, we decided to look at our story in another way by considering the core biblical principles behind it.

From those discussions, we developed . When we examined those principles further, we realized that a number of practices specific actions weve taken to live out those principles emerged as well.

As we said in Uncommon Marriage, we dont claim that our list is exhaustive. However, we believe it may be a helpful tool for any couple who wants to explore the biblical principles related to marriage.

Those core principles and practices also provide the framework for this devotional, which is designed to be used over sixteen weeks and can be started any time of the year. We spend two weeks considering each of the eight core principles. Days 1 through 6 take a closer look at one of the practices related to that principle. Each of those devotionals ends with what we call an Adventure Application a conversation starter or a simple activity you can do to explore that practice further.

Day 7 allows you to reflect and use the prayer prompts to ask for Gods help in a particular area. Youll also be encouraged to choose one of the Adventure Applications to concentrate on further that week. You might find youd like to work on several things, but we urge you to choose just one. If youd like, jot a note to the side to remind you of another practice youd like to try. Then feel free to come back to it in the fifth month, or to go through the book again and try other action items.

We wrote this book to encourage you not to give up hope on your marriage, no matter what shape its in today. Perhaps youre looking just to tweak a good relationship. Were thrilled and hope you find an idea or two in these pages to help.

Or you may have picked up this book because youre discouraged. Youve lost the spark in your marriage. Youre bored. Your spouse is busy. (Or vice versa.) If that describes you, remember that you are not alone. Use this book as a tool to help you work together to make your marriage stronger. As you do, remember this promise in Scripture: Lets not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we dont give up (Galatians 6:9).

Maybe you are engaged or thinking about it, but you wonder if marriage is even a big deal. I love her; who cares if its official?

Weve found the concept of commitment to be incredibly powerful. It helps us remember: Were in this together. For better or worse. Now lets press on. As you use this devotional, we think youll better understand why the vows we make in marriage fortify our resolve to persevere when the going gets tough.

No matter where you are in your relationship, you (like us) need Gods grace and direction every day. After all, the gospel of Jesus Christ says we are to be transformed... but it doesnt say that change will be immediate. And it doesnt promise that we wont make the same mistakes as a husband or a wife over and over.

But Scripture does promise a new life when we decide to follow Christ. A life of abundance... and grace. As some of you may recognize, grace in this context means the unmerited unearned favor of God. All we need to do is ask for it.

Remember this life is an adventure. If it were easy, wed have it figured out, and we wouldnt be sharing our challenges here in these pages. And like any undertaking, the joy and fulfillment that come from working together will make the hard work worthwhile.

So press on.

Pray together.

Dont give up.

Our prayer is that as you read The Uncommon Marriage Adventure, you will rejoice over your partnership even as you wrestle with ways you might improve it just as we did as we wrote this devotional.

May the Lord bless and keep you and your marriage.

Tony and Lauren Dungy

June 2014

THE CORE PRINCIPLES OF AN UNCOMMON MARRIAGE

1. Look to the Bible as your guidebook and to Christ as your living example.

2. Stay in sync spiritually.