Wedding Vows.

My husband Marcus and I recently got married on July 28th, 2023 and it was a joyous day. Our closest people gathered for an intimate ceremony on the beach of Lake Michigan, and we took the party to a reception venue where we invited more of our friends and family to celebrate all that God had done. It was unique, and it was us! I got to marry my dream man, wear my dream dress, hold pretty flowers and take beautiful pictures that I will cherish forever. One of my favorite moments of our day was dancing with Marcus at the very end of our reception to “Be Yourself” by Wilder Woods, while our friends and family blew bubbles and our photographer took great shots. An unforgettable moment.

I love weddings. I love the music, the flowers, the decorations, and watching the bride and groom beam all night. Though all of the details of a wedding day are beautiful and worth cherishing, nothing beats the moment when you and your almost-spouse stand at the altar before God and your witnesses to speak your vows. The whole purpose of a wedding ceremony is to make promises to one another before God to be husband and wife for the remainder of your lives. It is a promise with God at the center. It’s so easy to get caught up in all of the details that will end up being meaningless if your heart isn’t focused on the Kingdom-purpose of the promises you are making. Any of us who get married will have weddings that are unique with different desires, communities, financial situations, and even timelines, but the one thing in common for us who desire a Kingdom-minded marriage is the importance of the vows.

There are too many opportunities to get distracted by the things that aren’t important. Culture around us tells us that how we look, what we have, our image and our status matters more than anything else, but we know that we are called to a higher standard -- to seek the Kingdom of God over all other things (Matthew 6:33; Philippians 4:6). The vows made at the altar have an eternal impact because of the ways a Kingdom-minded marriage preaches and displays the gospel. God is so glorified when we live a life committed to honoring him and worshiping him in all that we do, and that kind of surrender requires us to let go of other expectations and idols. We can enjoy the details of a wedding and have fun putting it all together, but it will be most fulfilling when our eyes are focused on the ways we can display the love of God. The wedding ceremony is an opportunity for you and your spouse to start your life together with your hearts set on the Kingdom of God and the life of ministry he has set before you.

“And so we have come to know and rely on the love that God has for us. God is love, and the one who remains in love remains in God, and God remains in them.” 1 John 4:16

Whether you are preparing for a wedding and planning your big day, you hope to get married at some point in the future, or your mind and your heart aren’t in a place to be thinking about a wedding -- know that God’s love must be the focal point of all that we do. Glorifying him, honoring him, and remaining in his love are our greatest joys, and we can do this at the altar and everywhere else we go. Let your concern for love and focus on God be a loud gospel message to everyone who is watching and listening. <3