Most couples say they’re Christians—but is Jesus truly at the center of their marriage, or just a guest? In this episode, Chris and Jamie explore what it really means to orient your life and marriage around Christ, not just in name, but in everyday action.

We’re unpacking the difference between a marriage that’s influenced by Jesus and one that’s built on Jesus. You’ll learn how to recognize if your relationship is drifting from Him, and practical ways to bring it back on course.

📊 Did you know that while about 65% of Americans claim Christianity, only 4% actually reorient their lives around Jesus?
It’s time to make sure our marriages aren’t just labeled “Christian”—but are truly Christ-centered.

🔹 What You'll Learn in This Episode:

• What it means to truly “orient” your life around Jesus
• Signs that Jesus may not be the true center of your marriage
• 5 practical steps to re-center your marriage on Christ
• Why individual spiritual growth matters in a united relationship
• How prayer, scripture, and community can realign your foundation
• A simple weekly question to help keep your marriage from drifting

📖 Key Scriptures Mentioned:

• Matthew 7:24–27 — Building your house on the rock
• Colossians 3:17 — Doing everything in the name of Jesus
• John 15:4–5 — Abide in Christ to bear lasting fruit
• Romans 12:1–2 — Be transformed by renewing your mind

✅ Your Challenge This Week:

Take time with your spouse to answer this question together:
“Where in our marriage are we oriented toward Jesus—and where are we not?”
Pray together, invite God into the areas that need realignment, and commit to taking one step forward in making Him the true cornerstone of your marriage.

🔗 Resources & Next Steps:

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📖 Newlywed Couples Devotional - https://amzn.to/3Qn9XpB

🎧 Listen & Subscribe
Don’t miss a single episode! Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or YouTube

📬 Get more biblical tools for your marriage:
Visit us at https://expeditionmarriage.org/podcast/ep-143-is-jesus-just-a-guest-in-your-marriage

What do you do when it feels like you’re the only one fighting for your marriage? Maybe your spouse is emotionally checked out, spiritually distant, or just seems unwilling to grow alongside you.

This episode is for the one carrying the weight, wondering if anything is ever going to change. We want you to know: you are not alone, and your faithfulness matters.

Let’s talk about what to do when you're walking this path solo—and how to keep going without giving up.

💡 In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• What Scripture says about standing firm when your spouse won’t engage
• The difference between enabling and faithfully loving
• How to keep your heart soft when you're tempted to shut down
• Encouragement to pursue connection with God when your spouse feels far away
• Healthy boundaries, grace-filled hope, and the power of persistent prayer

📖 Scripture Encouragement:

• Galatians 6:9 – “Let us not grow weary in doing good…”
• 1 Peter 3:1 – “...that they may be won over without words…”
• Isaiah 41:10 – “I will strengthen you and help you…”
• Romans 12:12 – “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”

🙏 Free Prayer Resources:

Whether you're a wife or husband standing in the gap, persistent prayer can change the atmosphere in your home—even before anything else does.

🧡 Join the 30-Day Praying for Your Husband Challenge
💙 Join the 30-Day Praying for Your Wife Challenge

These guided prayer journeys will give you daily direction, encouragement, and a reminder that you're not in this alone.

https://expeditionmarriage.org/podcast/ep-142-when-youre-fighting-for-your-marriage-alone

❤️ Episode CTA:

If you're fighting for your marriage alone, take heart: your prayers are powerful, your love is not unseen, and God is with you in the waiting.

Let this be the week you surrender your spouse to God and recommit to loving them through His strength, not just your own. And don’t forget to grab one of our 30-day prayer challenges to support you on the journey.

If this episode encouraged you, share it with someone else who may feel alone in their marriage too.

Have you ever felt like you’re just done waiting for things to get better in your life or marriage? Maybe you’ve been praying —but nothing seems to be changing. In this episode, we’re talking about what to do when your patience runs out and how to restore wonder, faith, and trust in God’s timing.

You’ll discover how to wait well, what scripture teaches about patience and frustration, and how to keep your heart soft instead of bitter while you’re in the middle of the “not yet.”

Because God isn’t just working on your spouse—He’s doing something in you, too.

💡 In This Episode, We Cover:

• What losing patience can reveal about our expectations and fears
• Why wonder matters in marriage (even when things feel stuck)
• Biblical wisdom for waiting well and walking in faith
• How to hold on to hope without trying to force change
• Practical steps for renewing your mindset and heart in the waiting

📝 Download the Free Self-Reflection Guide:

Want to dig deeper this week? We’ve created a companion PDF guide with reflection and prayer prompts to help you reconnect with God and your heart during this season.

👉 [Click here to download the self-reflection guide]
https://expeditionmarriage.org/podcast/ep-141-learning-to-wait-well-patience-faith-and-gods-timing-in-marriage/

📖 Scripture Mentioned:

• Proverbs 19:11
• Ecclesiastes 3:1
• Romans 8:25
• Galatians 6:9

❤️ Episode CTA:

Don’t give up. Don’t check out. Your waiting season might just be where God is doing His most beautiful work. Download the reflection guide, spend time with the Lord, and invite Him to restore your wonder again.

And as always—share this episode with a friend who might be growing weary in their own marriage journey.

Have you ever reacted to your spouse in a way that felt a little too big for the moment? Maybe something small set you off, or a simple disagreement left you feeling anxious, shut down, or angry—and you didn’t know why.

Chances are, your implicit memory was doing the talking.

In this episode, we’re diving into what implicit memory is, how it quietly shapes your responses, and how it can impact your marriage—especially when it goes unrecognized. But don’t worry—we’re also talking about how healing and understanding can take its place.

💡 In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• What implicit memory is and why it matters in marriage
• How your past (even the unspoken parts) shows up in your present relationship
• Why your spouse’s reactions may not be about you—and how to not take them personally
• Biblical encouragement for healing and renewing your mind
• Practical steps to move from triggered to transformed

🛠️ Helpful Tools:

• Recognize your “emotional cues” and learn how to pause before reacting
• Grow in compassion—for your spouse and yourself
• Learn how to bring your past to the Lord and invite Him into your healing

📖 Scripture Encouragement:

• Romans 12:2 – “Be transformed by the renewing of your mind…”
• Psalm 139:23–24 – “Search me, God, and know my heart…”
• 2 Corinthians 10:5 – “Take every thought captive…”

❤️ Episode CTA:

If something from your past is showing up uninvited in your marriage, it’s not too late to understand it—and heal. You’re not broken. You’re human. And there is so much hope when we bring our whole selves, past included, to Jesus.

📝 Consider journaling or praying through this week:

“Lord, show me where I’m reacting from my past instead of responding with Your truth.”

And if this episode blessed you, share it with a friend—or your spouse—and start the conversation together.

https://expeditionmarriage.org/podcast/ep-140-when-the-past-shows-up-uninvited-understanding-implicit-memory-in-marriage

If you're tired of repeating the same arguments, feeling stuck in old habits, or just wondering how to truly grow together as a couple—this episode is for you.

We're discussing what it really means to renew your marriage God's way—not just through behavior change, but through heart transformation. Straight from Ephesians 4:22–24, we’re walking you through God’s process of:

1. Taking off the old
2. Renewing your mind
3. Putting on the new

This is God's design for lasting change—and it's not just for individuals, it's for marriages too.

💡 In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• Why lasting change in marriage can’t happen by simply “trying harder”
• What it means to take off the old self—and how to recognize what needs to go
• How to replace lies and toxic patterns with truth from God's Word
• Practical ways to “put on the new” and walk in unity, grace, and love
• Why skipping the renewing your mind step will always leave you stuck

📝 Download Your Free Printable:

Want to walk through this process step-by-step? We created a companion printable worksheet just for you!

👉 [Download the Marriage Renewal God’s Way worksheet here]
https://expeditionmarriage.org/podcast/ep-139-out-with-the-old-in-with-the-new-how-to-renew-your-marriage-gods-way

Use it during your next quiet time—or better yet, sit down and do it together as a couple.

📖 Key Scripture:

• Ephesians 4:22–24
• Romans 12:2
• Colossians 3:12–14
• James 1:22

❤️ Episode CTA:

Don’t just settle for a better mood in your marriage—go for a renewed mind and a transformed relationship. Take this episode to heart, download the free worksheet, and start letting go of the old to step into the new... together.

And if this episode encouraged you, would you take a second to share it or leave a review? It helps us keep pouring into couples like you every week!

Have you ever said something in the heat of the moment that you immediately regretted? You’re not alone—and you’re not without hope.

In this episode, we’re diving into what it means to respond with wisdom instead of reaction in your marriage—especially during those emotionally charged conversations. We’ll walk through several Proverbs that offer practical, biblical guidance for communicating in ways that build connection instead of tearing it down.

Whether you struggle with anger, defensiveness, or just don’t know what to say when tensions rise, this episode will help you pause, reflect, and choose the way of wisdom.

🔑 What You’ll Learn:

• • Why tone, timing, and self-control matter in communication

• What the book of Proverbs teaches us about responding rather than reacting
• How to catch your breath and check your heart in real time
• The power of slowing down before you speak—and the damage of careless words
• How godly wisdom strengthens your marriage even in conflict

📖 Scriptures Mentioned:

• • Proverbs 15:1 – “A gentle answer turns away wrath…”

• • Proverbs 18:21 – “The tongue has the power of life and death…”

• • James 1:19 – “Be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry.”

• • Proverbs 29:11 – “Fools give full vent to their rage, but the wise bring calm in the end.”

📥 Grab Your Free Resource:

Want to take this conversation further with your spouse?
Download our free 7 Proverbs for Better Communication handout + couples discussion guide to help you apply biblical wisdom to the way you speak and listen in marriage.

👉 Download it here: https://expeditionmarriage.org/podcast/ep-138-when-fools-rush-in-what-proverbs-teaches-us-about-conflict

💌 Stay Connected:

🎯 For more resources, counseling options, and weekly marriage encouragement:

• Newsletter: https://expeditionmarriage.org/newsletter
• Marriage Counseling Info: https://expeditionmarriage.org/marriage

Have you ever found yourself feeling angry, anxious, or just plain discouraged in your marriage—and then wondered what it really means? In this episode, we’re taking a closer look at those tough emotions that show up in marriage and what they’re actually trying to tell you.

You’ll learn how:

• Anger often signals a blocked goal
• Anxiety often reflects an uncertain or insecure goal
• Depression may indicate you’re chasing an impossible goal

These emotions aren’t random or shameful—they’re invitations to examine your expectations, bring your desires before God, and lean into trust instead of control.

Through biblical truth and real-life examples, we’ll help you identify what’s really going on beneath the surface so you can respond productively, not just react in frustration.

📖 Scriptures Mentioned:

• James 4:1–2
• Ephesians 4:26–27
• Philippians 4:6–7
• Isaiah 26:3
• Proverbs 13:12
• Matthew 11:28
• Psalm 37:4–5
• 2 Corinthians 10:5

💬 Key Takeaways:

• Your emotions are signals, not enemies
• Unmet expectations often fuel conflict in marriage
• God wants to meet you in your emotional pain—not condemn you for it
• Surrendering unrealistic or uncontrollable goals leads to peace and connection

🛠️ Don’t Miss This Free Resource:

Grab our printable handout, “What Your Emotions Are Telling You in Marriage,” and start processing what you're feeling and why—together.

👉 Download it here: https://expeditionmarriage.org/podcast/ep-137-feeling-angry-anxious-or-discouraged-in-your-marriage-lets-talk-about-it/

💌 Stay Connected:

Need more support in your marriage?
👉 Learn more about counseling: https://expeditionmarriage.org/marriage
👉 Sign up for our weekly encouragement email: https://expeditionmarriage.org/newsletter

*Disclaimer: The information discussed in this podcast is meant for entertainment purposes and is not meant to replace counseling or working with a trained healthcare professional.

Have you ever found yourself stuck in the same frustrating cycle with your spouse—arguing over the same thing, reacting the same way, or saying, “Here we go again…”?

You might be caught in one of the “games people play” in relationships.

In this episode, we explore some of the unconscious patterns couples fall into and how these games sabotage intimacy and connection. We’ll show you how to recognize these patterns, understand the emotional needs beneath them, and shift toward healthier communication.

You’ll walk away with greater self-awareness and biblical insight on how to stop playing games—and start building trust and connection.

https://expeditionmarriage.org/podcast/ep-136-games-people-play-in-marriage-breaking-free-from-relational-patterns/

🧠 Key Topics Covered:

• What “relational games” are and how they show up in marriage
• The emotional payoffs that keep us repeating unhealthy patterns
• Practical steps to move from reaction to restoration
• What Scripture teaches about honest, grace-filled communication

📖 Scriptures to Reflect On:

• Ephesians 4:25 – “Speak the truth in love…”
• Proverbs 15:1 – “A gentle answer turns away wrath…”
• Galatians 6:2 – “Carry each other’s burdens…”
• James 1:19 – “Be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry.”

🎧 Ready to Break the Cycle?

If you and your spouse find yourselves stuck in the same arguments or disconnected because of poor communication, it may be time to hit pause and start fresh. The L.O.V.E. Your Way Through Conflict Course is a powerful, Christ-centered resource to help you move from frustration to understanding.

💥 Use code COUPLE50 for 50% off the course!
👉 Start the course here

💌 Stay Connected:

Want more tools and encouragement for your marriage?
📬 Sign up for our weekly newsletter: https://expeditionmarriage.org/newsletter
👥 Learn about counseling: https://expeditionmarriage.org/marriage