Covenant – The Backbone of A Lasting Marriage

“Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”
—Ecclesiastes 4:12 | NIV

 

Friday June 13, 2025

In a world where contracts are easily torn up, marriages cannot be sustained by feelings, finances, or fairytales. They are only held together by covenant.

Covenant is not just a spiritual term—it is the very backbone of marriage. Unlike a contract, where each person fights for their rights, a covenant means laying down your rights for the sake of your spouse. It’s messy, costly, and powerful.

The covenant of marriage mirrors ancient biblical practice: animals are split in two, blood flows, and the two people walk between the pieces, declaring, “If I ever break this agreement, may my fate be like that of this animal.”
That is how sacred covenant is.

No wonder Scripture says, “a threefold cord is not easily broken.” It’s you, your spouse, and God—intertwined. That’s why we must never treat covenant casually.

When you start finding emotional comfort in someone who isn’t your spouse, you’re already crossing a line. Covenant is not just broken in bedsheets—it begins to unravel in chats, secrecy, neglect, and silence.

Ask yourself:

• Have I kept the covenant in my thoughts, words, and emotions?
• Am I tempted to disconnect emotionally or spiritually from my spouse?
• Do I truly see God as the third strand in my marriage?

We break covenant not just by cheating, but by giving someone else what belongs to our spouse: our attention, our affection, our presence.

But there’s hope. If you’ve drifted, the same God who bound you together can mend the cord. You may be hurt. You may feel like giving up. But covenant means saying, “Even when I’m tired, I won’t let go.”

Covenant also means “when my spouse is weak, I will be strong for both of us.” You will not both be as strong at the same time. That’s why God put you together—to lift each other.

What can you do today to protect the covenant you made with your spouse?
Not based on how you feel, but based on the sacred promise you made before God.

Consider a simple step—a heartfelt apology, a hard conversation, or a kind gesture. And remember: You are not in this marriage alone. God is in the middle.

(Excerpt From Couple’s Hangout 2.0 available on YouTube @capstoneonline. You can also learn more by downloading a free digital copy of Pastor Funmi Johnson’s latest book, Rethink Success, from her website at www.funmijohnson.com)

Let Us Pray

Lord,
Thank You for the covenant of marriage.
Help me to honor it not just with my lips, but with my life.
Where I’ve broken trust, restore me.
Where I’ve grown cold, rekindle the flame.
When I am tempted to disconnect emotionally or spiritually, remind me of the price of the covenant.
Be the third strand in our home—the One who binds us together when we feel undone.
I choose to stay, to serve, and to love—just like You do for me every day.

In Jesus’ mighty name, I pray.

Amen.

Praying in the Spirit for 30 minutes (Take out some more time to pray more in the cause of the day or night)

Prayer of Thanksgiving for another 5-10 mins

DAILY BIBLE READING PLAN

Leviticus 1

Proverbs 17

John 20

Philippians 4