The Covenant of Marriage: Building a Christ-Centered Relationship
- Everyday Disciple
- Aug 20
- 3 min read
Last month, I asked my girlfriend Anyssa, of over a year, to marry me.
It wasn’t during a holiday or a fancy trip—it was on a weekday, in the middle of the work week. I took her to the lake, a place so deeply meaningful to us and filled with countless memories.
As we stood there, my heart was racing. I thought about our journey, about God’s hand in every step, and I did my best to put those thoughts into words.
Our Story
We met at Grand Canyon University in a four-hour Monday morning “Global Business” class.
She had a boyfriend at the time, and I respected that. But we still made time for lunch after class and “study” sessions that turned into deep talks about our spiritual and political beliefs.
We began evangelizing together on Friday nights with church friends, sharing our testimonies and the Word of God with anyone who would listen.
A few months later, she ended her relationship. Even though she initiated it, it was still painful—it had been her first boyfriend.
I prayed, “Lord, if it’s Your will, let this relationship grow into something more.”
And in His timing, it did.
At the end of the semester, I asked her out on a date. Over the next two months, we spent hours together at the lake—boating, jet skiing, tubing, cliff jumping.
On June 7, 2024, after another great night at the lake, I asked her to be my girlfriend.
Christ at the Center
From the very beginning—even before we were dating—we had put Christ at the center of our friendship. Once we started dating, that didn’t change.
We went to church together.
We served the teenagers in our congregation.
We built a community of Christ-fearing friends.
We filled prayer lists and prayed over them regularly.
We helped build a house for a single mom on a mission trip.
We read the Bible together.
We’re not perfect—far from it. There’s only One who ever lived a perfect life, and His name is Jesus Christ (Hebrews 4:15).
But we strive to make Him the focus of everything we do. She encourages me to grow in my faith and finds joy in the fact that God comes first in my life—and I do the same for her.
We want to create a future where Christ is our foundation, our reason, and our greatest pursuit. And for us, the only way to do that is through a covenant marriage.
What Covenant Marriage Means to Us
People marry for many reasons—love, companionship, starting a family.
For us, marriage is more than a declaration of love to each other—it’s a spiritual covenant with God. It’s modeled after the sacrificial, faithful, and unconditional love of Christ for His Church (Ephesians 5:25-33).
Marriage is not a contract that can be broken when things get hard. It’s an unbreakable union, where “the two shall become one flesh” (Genesis 2:24, Mark 10:8-9).
It’s a life-long promise, sealed before God and witnessed by friends and family. It’s a vow to pursue holiness together, to choose each other daily, and to remain faithful in every season.
We share the same vision, the same “why”—to glorify God. And we believe He brought us together to do exactly that.
A Word to Young Christian Men
Brothers, marriage is not about your own happiness. It’s about holiness.
The work doesn’t stop when you’re tired, when it’s inconvenient, or when you feel like giving up. Marriage requires sacrifice, patience, and grace.
When God is at the center, anything is possible (Matthew 19:26). But entering into a covenant marriage means understanding that it’s not just about you—it’s about serving your spouse, putting her needs above your own (Philippians 2:3-4), and leading your home in a way that honors Christ.
It’s not always easy, but the fulfillment that comes from a God-centered marriage is unlike anything the world can offer.
If you’re dating, I challenge you—do it God’s way. Stand firm against temptation. Put Jesus first. And if the Lord is leading you toward marriage, enter into it with the understanding that it’s a holy covenant, not just a ceremony.
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