Willpower, a weapon from God
In real life, love does not stand on feelings alone; it stands on will. God does not leave us helpless before fatigue, stale habits, or screens that eat our evenings. He gives us a real will — the ability to choose one small step today. Will is not harshness; it is a humble strength that chooses love when emotion is absent. It is a weapon God places in our hands to serve, repair, and persevere.
“For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.” (Philippians 2:13, NIV)
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” (Colossians 3:23, NIV)
Two sturdy truths: God plants in us both the will (inner drive) and the act (practical capacity), and the most ordinary tasks can become worship — even cooking dinner together.
What will actually changes in a marriage
Will turns “we’ll see tomorrow” into “five minutes now.” It turns “you should…” into “I’ll start.” It turns pride into quick repair: “I’m sorry for my tone. Can we try again?” It turns ordinary gestures into a daily liturgy: setting the table, blessing, listening, saying thank you.
Will is not a January sprint; it is a step each evening. It does not deny fatigue; it organizes it — we adjust expectations, simplify, and keep one small commitment we can repeat tomorrow. With this realism, will becomes a holy habit, and habits reshape a home’s climate.
This week’s challenge — Cook together (at least 3 times)
Decide to cook together at least three times this week. Not to impress, but to choose each other in the ordinary. Keep it simple and repeatable:
Set the stage (5 minutes)
Pick three realistic nights (e.g., Mon/Wed/Fri). Put phones away. Soft music. Say out loud: “We’re a team.”
While cooking: turn ordinary into bonding
Clear roles: one chops, one sautés; one seasons, one plates.
Building words: one line of encouragement and one specific thank-you each.
Micro-prayer before eating: “Lord, thank you for this meal. Give us patience and joy. Amen.”
Afterward: mark a small win
Take a mental photo of your simple table and say, “We kept our commitment.” Note one improvement for next time (fewer steps, earlier start, even simpler recipe).
Plain truths to keep going
Small and regular > big and rare: a simple dish repeated three times builds more closeness than an annual feast.
Name fatigue: “I’m at 60% tonight” helps adjust without hurting.
Loving repetition: the same short prayer and structure calm nerves and steady hearts.
Fast repair: if a jab slips out, stop, repair immediately, resume gently.
Final prayer
“Lord, You work in us to will and to act. Give us the humble will to choose love tonight as we cook together. Let our kitchen become a place of peace, service, and gratitude. Amen.”