Marriage and Intimacy Tips for Christian Couples: Secrets of Happily Ever After

True intimacy requires the freedom to be ourselves in marriage. We explore what it means to create space where both partners feel safe, seen, respected, and supported throughout all seasons of life together.

• Creating emotional freedom by feeling safe to make mistakes, have opinions, and share feelings without judgment
• Physical freedom in maintaining personal friendships, self-care, and autonomy within partnership

We often avoid difficult conversations, but addressing conflicts directly leads to stronger relationships rather than allowing resentment to build and potentially emerge "sideways." Understanding that all relationships cycle through harmony, disharmony, and repair helps us recognize conflicts as opportunities for growth.

• Lead with curiosity, not accusation: examine your triggers, consider others' intention...

Money conversations don't have to lead to arguments—they can actually strengthen relationships when approached with the right communication tools and mindset. We explore three essential skills for talking about finances with your spouse that build connection instead of conflict.

• Understanding each other's money personalities and formative experiences around finances
• Learning to express your needs without ...

I tackle the challenging reality of what to do when one partner wants to work on the relationship while the other resists, providing a clear three-step approach based on my experience with couples in this situation.

• Despite what some experts claim, you cannot completely transform your marriage alone—both partners must participate
• The first step is to directly invite your partner to therapy or coaching, being persis...

After an incredibly busy May filled with family celebrations including our 23rd wedding anniversary, my son's wedding, my daughter's high school graduation, and a week-long houseboat trip to Lake Powell, I'm reflecting on valuable relationship lessons that emerged during this special time.

• Shared a powerful relationship skill called the "I notice" technique that creates open communication without...

Dr. Nicole Villegas, occupational therapist and founder of the Sensory Conscious Institute, explores how understanding nervous systems and sensory patterns helps build relationships rooted in safety, connection, and clarity.

• Beyond the five senses: interoception (internal feelings), vestibular (movement through space), and proprioception (body position awareness)
• Creating collaborative solutions versus compromises ...

When life gets chaotic, maintaining your sanity and your marriage requires intentional practices and clear communication. This episode shares my five-step approach to handling busy seasons with grace while keeping my relationship strong and cooperative.

• Start each day with focused prayer to identify what truly matters that day
• Ask for help confidently, remembering that it allows others the opportunity to serve
...

Tony and Elisa DiLorenzo of One Extraordinary Marriage discuss how busy couples can rekindle intimacy and connection through intentional time together. They reveal the biggest roadblocks to intimacy are lack of meaningful conversation and diminished sexual connection, with practical solutions for couples who feel like roommates.

• The "we'll make time when..." trap leads many couples to disconnect by the tim...

We celebrate a double milestone as my son gets married on our 23rd wedding anniversary. This emotional weekend brings together two generations of love stories while I reflect on what makes a marriage work for over two decades.

• Cooking for 125 wedding guests from a small Airbnb with crockpots scattered throughout every room
• The importance of morning walks for communication and connection in marriage
• Jewish wed...

I spent an incredible weekend at the first-ever Relational Life Therapy conference in Orlando, immersed in transformative teachings from world-renowned relationship experts. RLT offers powerful tools for building radically honest, fiercely loving relationships where both partners thrive in equality, focusing on intimacy, connection, and practical relational skills.

• RLT focuses on telling the truth in relationships and wh...

Money often causes tension in relationships, but it doesn't have to. Nate and Bethany Smith share their expertise on creating financial harmony through better communication, understanding each other's money stories, and developing shared goals.

• Understanding your partner's "money story" helps build empathy and reduces financial conflict
• Creating a "spending and savings plan" feels...

In this episode, we explore how recommitting to daily conversations and weekly date nights can reignite emotional intimacy and transform your relationship with your partner.

• Gottman research shows mapping your partner's inner world is crucial for emotional connection
• People constantly change and evolve—nobody remains the same person they were when you married
• Commit to 20 minutes of daily connection thro...

Passionate relationships require more than love—they need the right psychological dynamics to keep desire alive. When couples come to me feeling more like roommates than lovers, they're often surprised to learn that their sexual disconnection has less to do with libido or attraction and more to do with unrecognized emotional patterns.

The truth about passionate marriages might surprise you. While emotional connection ...

What's the worst piece of marriage advice you've ever received? In my years coaching couples, I've heard countless well-meaning but misguided tips passed down between generations. Today, I'm pulling back the curtain on one of the most damaging myths that keeps showing up, especially in religious communities: "divorce is not an option."

Despite its popularity among relationship experts, this se...

I'm announcing my first book "Bad Marriage Advice: 15 Myths that Are Making you Miserable," releasing on May 3rd to coincide with my 23rd wedding anniversary and my son's wedding day. The book challenges popular but potentially harmful marriage advice and offers better relational skills based on my experience as a marriage coach and interviews with couples married over 50 years.

• Written as a guide for...

Monica Tanner shares transformative relationship skills to help couples communicate more effectively and maintain passion in their marriages. Through practical frameworks, she reveals how making specific requests and mastering repair techniques can dramatically improve relationship satisfaction.

• Most people complain about relationship problems rather than making clear requests
• Every complaint contains a hidden requ...

Walking with your partner is a powerful tool that has strengthened my marriage through every season, from dating challenges to parenting transitions and career changes.

• Discovered the power of walking while facing parental disapproval during our engagement
• Walking side-by-side creates a safe space for difficult conversations that face-to-face interaction doesn't
• Daily walks help us download the day, disc...

This episode sheds light on the often challenging journey of forgiveness in relationships. Understanding how to forgive is crucial for moving forward after betrayal or hurt. 

• Exploring the emotional journey of betrayal in relationships 
• Importance of understanding personal willingness in forgiveness 
• Discussing the withholding dynamic in relationships 
• Actionable steps to effectively communicate needs f...

Trust is an essential foundation of relationships, but sometimes it gets broken. This week, Nate and I dive into the complexities of restoring damaged trust, providing valuable insights and actionable strategies. 

• Definition of trust and its importance in relationships 
• Exploring types of hurts: big and small 
• Discussing personal responsibility in rebuilding trust 
• Effective communication strategies for...