Enjoy this excerpt from the January issue of my The Family Forum newsletter. 

Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he. – Proverbs 29:18 (KJV)

When Josh and I hit the ten-year mark last year I was feeling a little lost. I knew I was happy to be married to Josh, that we were doing our best to raise our two sons according to God’s will, and we were in church ministry.

These are all great things to be doing right?

Yes, but I had no idea why we were doing these things. I felt like I was withering away, running around aimlessly, scrambling to keep my head above water, exhausted.

In short – I was perishing.

I remembered Proverbs 29:18 and came to realize why I was perishing.

I was totally lacking in vision.

That realization set me on a course to map out vision in all areas of my life, so that I had a sense of purpose. I was able to set goals for fulfilling the vision(s) and begin to watch them unfold as the days, months, years passed.

It had to start with our marriage. I knew we were married because we love each other, because we have fun together and we go really good together. I believe God brought us together to serve Him, to honour Him, and to bring Him praise. But how was all this working itself out in our marriage? Was it working itself out?

Josh patiently mapped out the vision with me that I desperately needed for our marriage and for raising our boys. As we talked about vision for our marriage, I was encouraged that we were already on the same page in many areas, and the rest just needed a little talking out to come together in my head and my heart.

Vision is a new thing for me. I thought it might be limiting to different areas of my life, but it is actually extremely freeing. I am so free to live out the life I want, the life I’m called to as a wife and mother, and to be the person God made me to be.

I am still working on visions for the other areas of my life like writing, running the household and self-care.

Most days now I feel confident instead of withered. I look to our future with hope and excitement for all that is coming. I am so grateful for the vision that Josh and I share. – Anna Sklar

Relationship Challenge:

2011 is a great year to set a marriage vision! Here are a couple of tips to get you started:

• Brainstorm a vision individually then bring the ideas together. Talk or write them out.
• Ask yourself some of these questions: Who do you want to be as a couple? What do you want to do together? Is there anything you want to accomplish? What does God call you to in your marriage?

Marriage Prayer:

Father, thank you for the gift of marriage and the togetherness it brings to our lives. This year help us to become more and more confident of who we are as a couple and the purposes You want to fulfill in our marriage. May we see each other and our bond through Your eyes and discover the possibilities and dreams that tie us together in Your will.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.