The passage from Proverbs 4:25-27 shows King Solomon’s advice for meeting goals. Essentially, it comes down to knowing where you’re going, setting a straight path to get there, and not getting sidetracked. That’s the approach we need to take if we’re going to meet our goals for marriage.

How do we make time? By eliminating some of the good things, we are doing so that we will have time for the best. Life’s meaning is not found in money, sports, shopping, academic success, or career achievement, as good as some of those things are. It is found in relationships – first with God, and then with people. If you are married, nothing is more important than your marital relationship. It is the framework in which God wants you to invest your life and experience His love. The husband is told to “love” his wife, and she is instructed to “honor” him. How better to love and honor each other than to make time for each other?

Take time to pray, asking God to help you identify what needs to be done in your schedule to improve your relationships. Ask for His help in determining what is good busyness and what is a distraction from other things you might be doing.

Discus or reflect on these questions:

What events exist in your schedule that could be dropped without consequence?

What regular chore could you begin to do together (or occasionally skip) to allow more time together?

Consider these passages for further study on Time:

Psalm 90:12 Teach us to number our days,
    that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

Luke 14:28 Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?

Ephesians 5:15-17  Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, ¹⁶ making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. ¹⁷ Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.

Proverbs 4:25-27 Let your eyes look straight ahead;
    fix your gaze directly before you.
²⁶ Give careful thought to the^[a] paths for your feet
    and be steadfast in all your ways.
²⁷ Do not turn to the right or the left;
    keep your foot from evil.

Great thoughts of Gary Chapman. One is to make you think of more ways to spend time with your loved ones and make it meaningful. Share in the comments one you remember or would like to plan.

It isn’t enough just to be in the same room with someone. A key ingredient in giving your loved one quality time is giving him or her focused attention. Some husbands and wives think they are spending time together when, in reality, they are only living in close proximity. They are in the same house at the same time, but they are not together. A spouse who texts while the other tries to talk is not given quality time, because the one speaking does not have the spouse’s full attention.

Quality time means that we are doing something together and that we are giving our full attention to the other person. The activity in which we are both engaged is incidental. The important thing emotionally is that we are spending focused time with each other. The activity is a vehicle that creates a sense of togetherness. Our spending time together in a common pursuit communicates that we care about each other, that we enjoy being with each other, that we like to do things together.

Take time to pray and thank God for creating you with a need for others. Ask the Lord to help you meet that need in others – first with your loved ones and family, and later with others.

Reflect on these questions:

What are the three biggest distractions that keep you and your loved one from being fully present with each other?

What specific steps can you take to minimize those distractions?

What is the best way for you to spend quality time with your spouse?

Consider these passages for further study on companionship:

Genesis 2:18 The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.”

Proverbs 18:22 He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord.

I Timothy 5:8 Anyone who does not provide for their relatives, and especially for their own household, has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

2 Timothy 4:11 Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry.

The great devotional thoughts of Gary Chapman made me think about how I am present in front of others. How do you show your loved ones that you are fully present with them and give them the focus they need?

Sometimes the simple things like smiling, looking at them, and not being on your phone. Asking about things that will show that you care.