I have gained so much wisdom and knowledge from multiple resources on marriage. I’m so thankful to many of the authors, researchers, and counselors that I’ve learned from, so I thought I would share some of my favourites with you.
Your plans will fall apart right in front of you
Proverbs 15:22 – (The Passion Translation)
if you fail to get good advice.
But if you first seek out multiple counselors,
you’ll watch your plans succeed.
In no particular order, here are 5 of my top recommendations for marriage advice. All 5 of these resources are ones that my husband and I have turned to many times over the years. Whether you’re just about to embark on your marriage journey, or you’ve had many anniversary celebrations, I hope these resources will help to bring you two closer together. Enjoy!
The Gottman Institute
Drs. John & Julie Gottman are the founders of the Gottman Institute and they have written numerous books centered around marriage and family. They have done some breakthrough research on couples and marriage, including building a “love lab” where they observed couples and their interactions. Based on this research, they have some great knowledge of what makes a marriage work, and what behaviours a marriage needs to protect itself from to avoid separation and divorce.
Gary Thomas
Gary Thomas is a best-selling author and international speaker. He is a thought-leader in the areas of marriage and parenting. His book “Sacred Marriage” has been a staple in our marriage, as we’ve come back to many of the ideas time and time again when we feel in need of a refresher.
Stormie Omartian
Bestselling author of the “Power of a Praying” Series, Stormie has written some amazing books that have helped us reach out to God and pray for our marriage. When times have been tough, or even when we feel like some maintenance might be beneficial, I pull out “The Power of a Praying Wife,” and my husband grabs his copy of “The Power of a Praying Husband.” It helps us change our perspective and let me tell ya, there definitely is power in prayer for your marriage!
Prepare Enrich
Prepare Enrich is an assessment for couples. My husband and I have done this assessment a few times and it always shows us the differences in our values and where we could use a little more understanding of each other. It has helped us in our communication and empathy towards each other.
Dr. Gary Chapman
Marriage thrives when we understand each other and what makes us feel loved and cared for. In his best-selling book “The 5 Love Languages,” Dr. Gary Chapman looks at 5 different ways that people feel and express love. Knowing what your spouse’s love language is, and how to speak it to them, can do wonders for your marriage.
(Please note, I am not receiving any kind of compensation for recommending these resources. These are genuinely resources that my husband and I have gone to again and again throughout our marriage and I just want to spread the knowledge around.)