Spend time in prayer and silence with God asking Him to meet with you and speak to you.
Bible Reading
I slept but my heart was awake. Listen! My beloved is knocking; “Open to me, my sister, my darling, my dove, my flawless one. My head is drenched with dew, my hair with the dampness of the night.” I have taken off my robe-must I put it on again? I have washed my feet-must I soil them again? My beloved thrust his hand through the latch-opening; my heart began to pound for him. I arose to open for my beloved, and my hands dripped with myrrh, my fingers with flowing myrrh, on the handles of the bolt. I opened for my beloved, but my beloved had left; he was gone. My heart sank at his departure. I looked for him but did not find him. I called him but he did not answer. The watchmen found me as they made their rounds in the city. They beat me, they bruised me; they took away my cloak, those watchmen of the walls! Daughters of Jerusalem, I charge you-if you find my beloved, what will you tell him? Tell him I am faint with love.
-Song of Solomon 5:2-8
Devotion
Solomon’s wife has a dream which reveals her insecurities and fears resulting from the inevitable practicalities of everyday life. Solomon shows up in the middle of the night and calls to her while she is comfortably in bed. When she hesitates, he leaves. Her dream then becomes a nightmare in which she suffers loss and abuse emphasizing her fear that they are growing apart and that she will lose him.
Inevitably, with the passing of time and the growth of familiarity, a marriage will start to lose its initial sparkle. Conflicts and pressures may creep in, causing a couple to lose their passion and tenderness toward each other causing one or both spouses to question the security of their relationship. It is common for external pressures and stress to work against the intimacy of a marriage.
The Big Question
When marriage seems to have lost its initial excitement, what can a couple do to restore intimacy to their marriage? If you are married, how can you be a haven of rest, security, and enjoyment for your spouse? You can begin by taking some time to give thanks for your spouse, being mindful of the commitment that you made.
Conclude in prayer and silence reflecting on what you’ve learned.