Marriage is the sacred union of a man and a woman before God and before men. It is a seal of lifetime commitment towards each other as their wedding vow says “….to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, until death do us part.” This is the sweetest line we could ever hear in the planet.

Maybe, when you were younger, you have started to build your dream wedding in your mind and you are looking forward to that day when it can happen. Being in love is the greatest feeling there is in the world. What more if you will be spending your whole life with the person you love the most?

But people who are not married yet are too idealistic thinking about the benefits only of getting married that they forget to prepare themselves for the challenges of marriage. Yes, marriage is the greatest thing in the world that can happen to somebody, but it doesn’t always taste sweet. That is why, Christian pastors and mentors counsel their members first before entering marriage.

Based on Soundvision,2.3 million million couples are getting married yearly which breaks down to nearly 6,200 weddings a day. But on the sad side of it, there is actually one divorce approximately every 36 seconds. That’s nearly 2,400 divorces per day, 16,800 divorces per week and 876,000 divorces a year, as stated in Mckinley Irvin Family Law Blog. Divorce is a serious problem that many couple all over the world are facing.

But how can couples really take care of their marriage? Read these 10 Biblical Rules for a Happy Marriage by CBN:

1. Never bring up mistakes of the past. Stop criticizing others or it will come back on you. If you forgive others, you will be forgiven (Luke 6:37).
   
2. Neglect the whole world rather than each other. And how do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul in the process? (Mark 8:36)
3. Never go to sleep with an argument unsettled. And don’t sin by letting anger gain control over you. Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry (Ephesians 4:26).
4. At least once a day, try to say something complimentary to your spouse. Gentle words bring life and health; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit (Proverbs 15:4).
   
5. Never meet without an affectionate welcome. Kiss me again and again, your love is sweeter than wine (Song of Solomon 1:2).
   
6. “For richer or poorer” – rejoice in every moment that God has given you together. A bowl of soup with someone you love is better than steak with someone you hate (Proverbs 15:17).
7. If you have a choice between making yourself or your mate look good, choose your mate. Do not withhold good from those who deserve it when it’s in your power to help them (Proverbs 3:27).
8. If they’re breathing, your mate will eventually offend you. Learn to forgive. I am warning you, if another believer sins, rebuke him; then if he repents, forgive him. Even if he wrongs you seven times a day and each time turns again and asks forgiveness, forgive him (Luke 17:3, 4).
9. Don’t use faith, the Bible, or God as a hammer. God did not send His Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it (John 3:17).
   
10. Let love be your guidepost. Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. Love does not demand its own way. Love is not irritable and it keeps no record of when it has been wronged (1 Cor. 13:4, 5).
    

Couples all over the world need to know this. Share to bless others!