Daly Focus Blog
We try to predict everything – from the weather to the stock market to the winner of the Super Bowl or the World Series. But can anyone accurately predict the chances that your marriage will succeed?
Dr. John Gottman, a widely respected marriage therapist, estimates that he predicts with 90% accuracy whether or not a newly married couple will go the distance. His secret isn’t a crystal ball. It’s extensive research that examines how couples communicate.
Prayer is one of the most beneficial things you can do for your marriage.
Most Christian couples have heard that advice and believe it. But prayer still falls by the wayside when life gets busy and responsibilities demand our time and attention.
How can we incorporate prayer into our marriage in a way that not only helps us grow closer to our spouse but also deepens our relationship in Christ?
We’re answering that question on our Focus on the Family Broadcast “Praying for Your Marriage Is Essential” with our guest Jodie Berndt, a public speaker, Bible teacher, and the author of 10 books, including the best-selling Praying the Scriptures series.
When you ask couples which areas of life influence their marriage the most, children and finances are usually number one and two on the list. You may be surprised to learn that chores rank third.
How can something as simple as housework fuel conflict in a marriage?
Not long after the wedding, couples become focused on household tasks that matter to one spouse but not the other. The next thing you know they’re locked in a power struggle over who does more and who works harder.
Scripture calls us to care for the vulnerable. Except for a child in the womb, no one is more vulnerable than a child without a family.
Adoption and foster care represent a deeply meaningful journey, yet adoptive and foster families face unique stressors, including insecure attachment issues, trauma responses, and service agencies who don’t provide sufficient training or support.
How can you help?
Authors Jon and Dawn Stone are with us on our Focus on the Family Broadcast “Foster Care: Making a Difference During the Formative Years” to share a concept called “missional fostering,” which includes coming alongside children as a church community and connecting families with the resources they need to raise their children to thrive.
Mom and Dad, are you a tugboat or a rudder?
You can tell by the way you motivate your children. Tugboat parents get their children going the right direction by pushing and pulling them through life. There’s a lot of nagging, mild threats, and endless warnings against the consequences of bad choices.
I think every parent has done that. I know I’ve grabbed the rope and started to pull when one of my boys hasn’t made a good decision.
Does belief in God really help us survive tough times?
Millions of believers around the world say yes. And so does research out of Notre Dame and Ohio State University, which examined the role of faith in overcoming life’s hardships. The study drew a strong correlation between a lack of religious faith and what is known as “death by despair” – death caused by suicide or by drug or alcohol overdose. Researchers found that people who claim no religious faith are much more likely to seek an escape from life’s hardships through unhealthy means, sometimes tragically so.
Years ago, author and speaker Dannah Gresh inexplicably struggled with physical pain. Doctors tested for a number of problems, including cancer and lupus, but couldn’t identify the issue.
Her troubles continued until her counselor asked if Bob, her husband, was being faithful to her, suggesting that a woman’s body can sense when their husband is mentally, spiritually, and sexually distant.
When Dannah confronted Bob about her suspicions, he denied that he was struggling with sexual integrity.
When Jean and I first started dating, I was willing to inconvenience myself to show her my interest. I lived in San Diego, and she lived in Orange County. Despite the 90 miles that separated us, I’d often take dinner to her while she was at work.
Fast forward to the early years of our marriage, and I couldn’t be bothered to run an errand for her down the street. Something had changed. I was easily distracted.
Many women feel overwhelmed. They’re busy from morning until night yet still don’t seem to have enough time for important things like devotions, exercise, friendships, sleep, or quality time with their families.
My wife, Jean, did a great job of keeping our family and household in order during our parenting years. But some days the strain she was under was tough. Like the evening I came home from work, and Jean met me at the door.
Longtime friends and readers will remember a book I wrote and released back in 2012 titled, “ReFocus: Living a Life that Reflects God’s Heart.”
The offering was motivated by a desire to encourage Christian believers to engage the culture in both a convicting and loving manner. The hostility facing followers of Jesus Christ is real and rising, and it’s tempting to respond in kind. Our faith calls for us to do the opposite.
In that same spirit, I’m delighted to announce that I’ve decided to launch a new podcast echoing many of these same themes – and I have the privilege of talking with individuals who have a lot to say about the subject.
Jim Daly is a husband, father and President of Focus on the Family and host of its National Radio Hall of Fame broadcast. His blog, Daly Focus, is full of timely commentary and wisdom designed to help you navigate and understand today’s culture. His latest book is Marriage Done Right.
