Awesome Marriage Podcast

What do you do when intimacy and connection in your marriage start to fade? How can you rekindle the spark, or better yet, keep it burning strong? In this episode, we talk about practical and biblical ways to nurture intimacy in all its forms. When you intentionally protect and prioritize closeness with your spouse, you not only build a marriage you truly enjoy, but you also guard your relationship against the dangers of emotional affairs. Episode Highlights: Identify the different types of intimacy shared within marriage. The wholeness of your marriage matters. All forms of intimacy must be invested in. Boundaries keep your marriage protected. Quotes from this episode: Your sex life is a thermometer, not a thermostat—it reflects the health of your relationship, but it can't set it. When couples neglect emotional and spiritual intimacy, their physical relationship becomes hollow—a beautiful house with no foundation. Sooner or later, the cracks will show. Without emotional intimacy, sex loses its power to truly bond you together. Without spiritual intimacy, you miss God's vision for marriage—a reflection of Christ and the Church. If you wouldn't say, do, or share it with your spouse present, don't do it. That's your boundary—protect it fiercely. If you have nothing to hide, living transparently should be easy—openness is the glue of trust in marriage. Couple's Conversation Guide: When you think about intimacy in your marriage, which type (physical, emotional, spiritual, or relational closeness) feels the strongest right now? Which could use more attention? How do you personally feel most connected to me—through words, actions, time together, or something else? What boundaries do we need to set (personally and as a couple) to guard our marriage against the threat of emotional affairs? What's one thing you'd love for us to do together that would bring more joy, fun, or connection into our marriage? Mentioned in this Episode: Awesome Marriage is on Instagram! This month's resource targets all the major pain points of communication: Fix Communication Breakdowns Bundle Want an opportunity to dig into God's Word with your spouse? Find Awesome Marriage on YouVersion. Fight the chaos of culture and keep your marriage grounded in Biblical truth. Check out 4 Days to Growing Gratitude in Marriage If you haven't browsed our site, you've GOT to check out the marriage resources we have over at AwesomeMarriage.com, and browse our online courses at AwesomeMarriageUniversity.com ! Sign up for Dr. Kim's Marriage Multiplier email for practical weekly marriage tips! Now is the perfect time to join our Marriage Changers program. Enjoy every resource of the month plus bonus content from Dr. Kim and Mrs. Nancy. Join now, just in time to receive our Fix Communication Breakdowns Bundle

What do you do when intimacy and connection in your marriage start to fade? How can you rekindle the spark, or better yet, keep it burning strong? In this episode, we talk about practical and biblical ways to nurture intimacy in all its forms. When you intentionally protect and prioritize closeness with your spouse, you not only build a marriage you truly enjoy, but you also guard your relationship against the dangers of emotional affairs. Episode Highlights: Identify the different types of intimacy shared within marriage. The wholeness of your marriage matters. All forms of intimacy must be invested in. Boundaries keep your marriage protected. Quotes from this episode: Your sex life is a thermometer, not a thermostat—it reflects the health of your relationship, but it can't set it. When couples neglect emotional and spiritual intimacy, their physical relationship becomes hollow—a beautiful house with no foundation. Sooner or later, the cracks will show. Without emotional intimacy, sex loses its power to truly bond you together. Without spiritual intimacy, you miss God's vision for marriage—a reflection of Christ and the Church. If you wouldn't say, do, or share it with your spouse present, don't do it. That's your boundary—protect it fiercely. If you have nothing to hide, living transparently should be easy—openness is the glue of trust in marriage. Couple's Conversation Guide: When you think about intimacy in your marriage, which type (physical, emotional, spiritual, or relational closeness) feels the strongest right now? Which could use more attention? How do you personally feel most connected to me—through words, actions, time together, or something else? What boundaries do we need to set (personally and as a couple) to guard our marriage against the threat of emotional affairs? What's one thing you'd love for us to do together that would bring more joy, fun, or connection into our marriage? Mentioned in this Episode: Awesome Marriage is on Instagram! This month's resource targets all the major pain points of communication: Fix Communication Breakdowns Bundle Want an opportunity to dig into God's Word with your spouse? Find Awesome Marriage on YouVersion. Fight the chaos of culture and keep your marriage grounded in Biblical truth. Check out 4 Days to Growing Gratitude in Marriage If you haven't browsed our site, you've GOT to check out the marriage resources we have over at AwesomeMarriage.com, and browse our online courses at AwesomeMarriageUniversity.com ! Sign up for Dr. Kim's Marriage Multiplier email for practical weekly marriage tips! Now is the perfect time to join our Marriage Changers program. Enjoy every resource of the month plus bonus content from Dr. Kim and Mrs. Nancy. Join now, just in time to receive our Fix Communication Breakdowns Bundle

I'm so thankful for this conversation with Stephanie Broersma about her brand-new resource: Reclaimed: A Course to Guide You Through Betrayal and Infidelity Trauma. This powerful resource is designed for those walking through the trauma of betrayal, offering hope, healing, and a path forward. In our conversation, Stephanie shares how the course helps you stay connected to the Lord in the midst of grief, while also providing practical next steps and long-term rhythms to move toward restoration. She reminds us that your spouse's decisions do not define your worth and that there is a real enemy fighting against both your marriage and your identity in Christ. If you've been hurting, this conversation will point you back to truth, hope, and healing. Episode Highlights: What fires together, wires together. You have options when triggers begin to surface. Triggers don't equate to a lack of forgiveness. There's no need to rush. Give yourself time to get your emotions regulated before making a major decision. Allow the Lord the space to work in the midst of the grief and in the midst of the stillness and heaviness. Quotes from Today's Episode: Give yourself time to grieve and heal the right way. -Dr. Kim God designed emotions to inform us about our world. They are not bad. They give us language to express what we are feeling.- Stephanie Triggers point you to an experienced trauma in your life and then you have an option. You have a choice. What am I going to do with this trigger?-Stephanie As you heal, the triggers become less damaging. -Dr. Kim Sexual addiction, at its deepest level, is a spiritual issue. A disorder of worship, not to God but to self.- Stephanie Healing does not happen in isolation. You are not meant to be alone in this journey.-Stephanie Forgiveness is a posture of surrender that says, 'I can't fix him. I don't want to fix him.'- Stephanie Your spouse does not define you or your future. As long as God leaves, as long as you get that breath, God's got a plan for you.- Dr. Kim If you're going to get healthy, there has to be boundaries in place. And they have to be consistent.- Dr. Kim Hope chooses faith even in the mess. Questions for Reflection: In what ways have you been tempted to let someone else's choices define your worth, and how can you replace those lies with God's truth about your identity? What is one practical rhythm you can begin this week to stay connected to the Lord as you process pain or grief? How can you recognize the enemy's attempts to attack your marriage or identity, and what steps can you take to guard against them? Mentioned in this Episode: Check out Reclaimed Ministry Stephanie is on Instagram! Reclaimed: A Course to Guide You Betrayal and Infidelity Trauma This month's resource targets all the major pain points of communication: Fix Communication Breakdowns Bundle Want an opportunity to dig into God's Word with your spouse? Find Awesome Marriage on YouVersion. Fight the chaos of culture and keep your marriage grounded in Biblical truth. Check out 5 Marriage Lies to Defeat with Biblical Truth. If you haven't browsed our site, you've GOT to check out the marriage resources we have over at AwesomeMarriage.com, and browse our online courses at AwesomeMarriageUniversity.com ! Sign up for Dr. Kim's Marriage Multiplier email for practical weekly marriage tips! Now is the perfect time to join our Marriage Changers program. Enjoy every resource of the month plus bonus content from Dr. Kim and Mrs. Nancy. Join now, just in time to receive our Fix Communication Breakdowns Bundle

This is such an incredible conversation to wrap up our Fridays in the Fall, Wider Lens series. Jerry Flowers is bringing encouragement about the patterns of your life and posture of your heart as we talk through his new book Heart Rehab: Finding the You God Created You to Be. Lean into the discomfort, create disciplines for preparedness, and surrender your need for control in order to step into your true calling as a son or daughter of the Lord Almighty. He loves you, he is for you, and we can trust him with our hearts! Episode Highlights: Stop blaming everyone else. Take time for self reflection. If we invite God in, He can use all seasons for our good and growth. Intimacy with the Lord allows us to grow into the people God created us to be. Discipline and preparation go hand in hand. The more disciplined you are, the more prepared you are for what God has next. Culture influences us to mislabel our fears, thoughts and anxieties. Make sure you are labeling them correctly. Strong core beliefs help us combat the lies of society and satan. Quotes from Today's Episode: I recognize many times, our placement in life isn't just because of problems, it's because of patterns. -Jerry Flowers Patterns reveal character. -Jerry Flowers Patterns are one of the ushers to certain seasons. -Jerry Flowers We want to blame the enemy, but we have to look at ourselves too. -Jerry Flowers Be aware of the enemy, for sure. But I think sometimes that keeps us from taking responsibility for our part. -Jerry Flowers It may not make sense right then, but later it'll make sense. -Jerry Flowers I see things that God put me through, before we got married, that helped me when I got married. -Dr. Kim We want to be whole enough where the Lord can pour into us and we can pour back out.- Jerry Flowers If you want results, you lean into discomfort.- Jerry Flowers What changed for me is realizing that my mind can lie to me. -Jerry Flowers A Wider Lens: Questions for Self Reflection Look at your daily life and identify one unhealthy pattern you've grown comfortable with. What one discipline could you start practicing to combat this pattern and prepare for what God has next? Identify an area of your life you haven't fully surrendered to the Lord. Choose a Scripture verse to meditate on as you commit to trusting Him completely. Mentioned in this Episode: Website: Jerryflowersministries.com ; redefinedtv.net Facebook: facebook.com/JerryFlowersMinistries ; facebook.com/@redefinedtv Instagram: instagram.com/jerryflowers.jr ; instagram.com/redefinedtv YouTube: youtube.com/@Beredefined TikTok: tiktok.com/@jerryflowers.jr Heart Rehab: Finding the You God Created You to Be

In this episode, Dr. Kim and John West discuss "Stockholm Syndrome Christianity" and how cultural captivity can pull Christians away from biblical truth. They explore the impact of these influences on marriage, from weakened faithfulness to the generational effects of broken promises on children. The conversation highlights the need for intentionality in guarding our hearts, shaping our children's worldview, and staying rooted in truth. Listeners will be encouraged to build marriages that mutually support, advocate, and thrive in a world that often pulls in the opposite direction. Episode Highlights: As believers, what we are consuming directly affects how boldly we live out our faith. Too many believers aren't prioritizing biblical truth and their relationships reflect their culture more than their faith. The church has not been immune to cultural influences. Culture tells us that feelings trump biblical truth. Quotes from Today's Episode: If you live your life oriented towards God's truth, it's designed for our flourishing.- John West Every spouse needs to be their partner's biggest advocate.- John West The impact on kids from broken marriages is traumatic. - John West If you have a certain feeling, you don't have to act it out. - John West If you're listening to a never-ending stream of lies, you're going to become very reticent about speaking up or living based on your Christian beliefs.- John West What I saw in the christian community is a lot of christians being culturally captive. - John West If you're a christian, especially in industries, you spend a lot of your life around cultural captors. Many christians have adopted this secular view that sex isn't to be reserved for marriage.- John West If you have a diet in your entertainment consumption for you and your kids, that everyone's doing it- it's normalized, it's going to affect how you live. -John West It's really important to be in the world, not of the world. -Dr. Kim You need to be wise enough and intentional enough to know that putting that stuff inside of you is going to have an impact- and impact your kids.- John West The number 1 thing is you need to ask yourself- who is really raising your kids? Couples' Conversation Guide: As you reflect on your marriage relationship, where do you see culture influencing you the most? Are there biblical truths you've found harder to live out in today's world? Why? Do you believe there are any "outdated" parts of the Bible? Who or what has the largest influence on your marriage? Who or what has the largest influence on your children? Mentioned in this Episode: Learn more about the Discovery Institute and John West. Find Awesome Marriage on Instagram! Money issues don't have to be an issue for your marriage. Check out this free course from Centsei. 4 Budgeting Mistakes Couples Make + How To Fix Them FREE Class 💸 This month's resource gives you the opportunity to show your spouse the appreciation they long for: 28 Fill in the Blank Thank You Notes Want an opportunity to dig into God's Word with your spouse? Find Awesome Marriage on YouVersion. Fight the chaos of culture and keep your marriage grounded in Biblical truth. Check out 5 Marriage Lies to Defeat with Biblical Truth. If you haven't browsed our site, you've GOT to check out the marriage resources we have over at AwesomeMarriage.com, and browse our online courses at AwesomeMarriageUniversity.com ! Sign up for Dr. Kim's Marriage Multiplier email for practical weekly marriage tips! Now is the perfect time to join our Marriage Changers program. Enjoy every resource of the month plus bonus content from Dr. Kim and Mrs. Nancy. Join now, just in time to receive our 28 Fill in the Blank Thank You Note Prompts.

Kent Evans, Executive Director of Manhood Journey and author, shares insights from his book, Don't Bench Yourself. He discusses how men often self-withdraw from relationships due to fear, shame, and criticism. Kent emphasizes the importance of taking risks and confronting issues head-on to thrive in marriage and parenting. He champions aiming for faithfulness over perfection and highlights the necessity of welcoming feedback for personal growth. The conversation inspires listeners to re-engage and trust in God's perfect timing.

Nancy and I are back together to discuss a topic that frequently shows up in our inbox: one-sided marriages. These are spouses who reach out because, even in the midst of disconnect and hurt, they still desire a healthy, God-honoring marriage, but feel like they're the only one who cares or the only one willing to put in the work. How do you reconcile and reconnect? That's the focus of our conversation today. I'm praying this episode encourages those who feel alone and offers hope and next steps for fighting for your marriage. Episode Highlights: Love like Christ without enabling. Communicate with curiosity, not accusation. Persevere in prayer and faithful action. Seek God's glory above all else Quotes from Today's Episode: Fighting for your marriage as a Christian means pursuing Christ-like love even when it's not reciprocated This isn't about becoming a doormat or enabling destructive behavior, but rather embodying the gospel in your relationship. Approach with curiosity rather than accusation: "I've noticed you seem really tired lately. How can I support you?" Continue showing love through actions without demanding emotional reciprocation. Don't take the bait to defend yourself constantly or prove your spouse wrong—this keeps you stuck in an unhealthy cycle. But remember, you can't force insight or repentance—that's between them and God. Humility doesn't mean accepting mistreatment or pretending everything is fine. Your humble confidence in who God created you to be can actually challenge your spouse to rise up rather than settle. Standing in the gap means interceding in prayer, maintaining hope when your spouse has lost it, and continuing to live out your marriage vows even when they're not. The goal is always God's glory and following His heart, which deeply desires reconciliation. Couples' Conversation Guide: How connected do you feel to your spouse on a scale of 1-10? Do you feel like you are trying to shoulder the burden of your marriage alone? Are there unhealthy patterns in your marriage that need to be addressed? Are there areas of your marriage that you've settled for mediocrity or disconnect? Mentioned in this Episode: Find Awesome Marriage on Instagram! Money issues don't have to be an issue for your marriage. Check out this free course from Centsei. 4 Budgeting Mistakes Couples Make + How To Fix Them FREE Class 💸 Want an opportunity to dig into God's Word with your spouse? Find Awesome Marriage on YouVersion. Need some encouragement to keep fighting for your marriage? You'll love this FREE YouVersion plan: Fighting for Your Marriage If you haven't browsed our site, you've GOT to check out the marriage resources we have over at AwesomeMarriage.com, and browse our online courses at AwesomeMarriageUniversity.com ! Sign up for Dr. Kim's Marriage Multiplier email for practical weekly marriage tips! Now is the perfect time to join our Marriage Changers program. Enjoy every resource of the month plus bonus content from Dr. Kim and Mrs. Nancy. Join now, just in time to receive our 28 Fill in the Blank Thank You Note Prompts

Nancy and I are back together to discuss a topic that frequently shows up in our inbox: one-sided marriages. These are spouses who reach out because, even in the midst of disconnect and hurt, they still desire a healthy, God-honoring marriage, but feel like they're the only one who cares or the only one willing to put in the work. How do you reconcile and reconnect? That's the focus of our conversation today. I'm praying this episode encourages those who feel alone and offers hope and next steps for fighting for your marriage. Episode Highlights: Love like Christ without enabling. Communicate with curiosity, not accusation. Persevere in prayer and faithful action. Seek God's glory above all else Quotes from Today's Episode: Fighting for your marriage as a Christian means pursuing Christ-like love even when it's not reciprocated This isn't about becoming a doormat or enabling destructive behavior, but rather embodying the gospel in your relationship. Approach with curiosity rather than accusation: "I've noticed you seem really tired lately. How can I support you?" Continue showing love through actions without demanding emotional reciprocation. Don't take the bait to defend yourself constantly or prove your spouse wrong—this keeps you stuck in an unhealthy cycle. But remember, you can't force insight or repentance—that's between them and God. Humility doesn't mean accepting mistreatment or pretending everything is fine. Your humble confidence in who God created you to be can actually challenge your spouse to rise up rather than settle. Standing in the gap means interceding in prayer, maintaining hope when your spouse has lost it, and continuing to live out your marriage vows even when they're not. The goal is always God's glory and following His heart, which deeply desires reconciliation. Couples' Conversation Guide: How connected do you feel to your spouse on a scale of 1-10? Do you feel like you are trying to shoulder the burden of your marriage alone? Are there unhealthy patterns in your marriage that need to be addressed? Are there areas of your marriage that you've settled for mediocrity or disconnect? Mentioned in this Episode: Find Awesome Marriage on Instagram! Money issues don't have to be an issue for your marriage. Check out this free course from Centsei. 4 Budgeting Mistakes Couples Make + How To Fix Them FREE Class 💸 Want an opportunity to dig into God's Word with your spouse? Find Awesome Marriage on YouVersion. Need some encouragement to keep fighting for your marriage? You'll love this FREE YouVersion plan: Fighting for Your Marriage If you haven't browsed our site, you've GOT to check out the marriage resources we have over at AwesomeMarriage.com, and browse our online courses at AwesomeMarriageUniversity.com ! Sign up for Dr. Kim's Marriage Multiplier email for practical weekly marriage tips! Now is the perfect time to join our Marriage Changers program. Enjoy every resource of the month plus bonus content from Dr. Kim and Mrs. Nancy. Join now, just in time to receive our 28 Fill in the Blank Thank You Note Prompts

Nancy and I are back together to discuss a topic that frequently shows up in our inbox: one-sided marriages. These are spouses who reach out because, even in the midst of disconnect and hurt, they still desire a healthy, God-honoring marriage, but feel like they're the only one who cares or the only one willing to put in the work. How do you reconcile and reconnect? That's the focus of our conversation today. I'm praying this episode encourages those who feel alone and offers hope and next steps for fighting for your marriage. Episode Highlights: Love like Christ without enabling. Communicate with curiosity, not accusation. Persevere in prayer and faithful action. Seek God's glory above all else Quotes from Today's Episode: Fighting for your marriage as a Christian means pursuing Christ-like love even when it's not reciprocated This isn't about becoming a doormat or enabling destructive behavior, but rather embodying the gospel in your relationship. Approach with curiosity rather than accusation: "I've noticed you seem really tired lately. How can I support you?" Continue showing love through actions without demanding emotional reciprocation. Don't take the bait to defend yourself constantly or prove your spouse wrong—this keeps you stuck in an unhealthy cycle. But remember, you can't force insight or repentance—that's between them and God. Humility doesn't mean accepting mistreatment or pretending everything is fine. Your humble confidence in who God created you to be can actually challenge your spouse to rise up rather than settle. Standing in the gap means interceding in prayer, maintaining hope when your spouse has lost it, and continuing to live out your marriage vows even when they're not. The goal is always God's glory and following His heart, which deeply desires reconciliation. Couples' Conversation Guide: How connected do you feel to your spouse on a scale of 1-10? Do you feel like you are trying to shoulder the burden of your marriage alone? Are there unhealthy patterns in your marriage that need to be addressed? Are there areas of your marriage that you've settled for mediocrity or disconnect? Mentioned in this Episode: Find Awesome Marriage on Instagram! Money issues don't have to be an issue for your marriage. Check out this free course from Centsei. 4 Budgeting Mistakes Couples Make + How To Fix Them FREE Class 💸 Want an opportunity to dig into God's Word with your spouse? Find Awesome Marriage on YouVersion. Need some encouragement to keep fighting for your marriage? You'll love this FREE YouVersion plan: Fighting for Your Marriage If you haven't browsed our site, you've GOT to check out the marriage resources we have over at AwesomeMarriage.com, and browse our online courses at AwesomeMarriageUniversity.com ! Sign up for Dr. Kim's Marriage Multiplier email for practical weekly marriage tips! Now is the perfect time to join our Marriage Changers program. Enjoy every resource of the month plus bonus content from Dr. Kim and Mrs. Nancy. Join now, just in time to receive our 28 Fill in the Blank Thank You Note Prompts

Nancy and I are back together to discuss a topic that frequently shows up in our inbox: one-sided marriages. These are spouses who reach out because, even in the midst of disconnect and hurt, they still desire a healthy, God-honoring marriage, but feel like they're the only one who cares or the only one willing to put in the work. How do you reconcile and reconnect? That's the focus of our conversation today. I'm praying this episode encourages those who feel alone and offers hope and next steps for fighting for your marriage. Episode Highlights: Love like Christ without enabling. Communicate with curiosity, not accusation. Persevere in prayer and faithful action. Seek God's glory above all else Quotes from Today's Episode: Fighting for your marriage as a Christian means pursuing Christ-like love even when it's not reciprocated This isn't about becoming a doormat or enabling destructive behavior, but rather embodying the gospel in your relationship. Approach with curiosity rather than accusation: "I've noticed you seem really tired lately. How can I support you?" Continue showing love through actions without demanding emotional reciprocation. Don't take the bait to defend yourself constantly or prove your spouse wrong—this keeps you stuck in an unhealthy cycle. But remember, you can't force insight or repentance—that's between them and God. Humility doesn't mean accepting mistreatment or pretending everything is fine. Your humble confidence in who God created you to be can actually challenge your spouse to rise up rather than settle. Standing in the gap means interceding in prayer, maintaining hope when your spouse has lost it, and continuing to live out your marriage vows even when they're not. The goal is always God's glory and following His heart, which deeply desires reconciliation. Couples' Conversation Guide: How connected do you feel to your spouse on a scale of 1-10? Do you feel like you are trying to shoulder the burden of your marriage alone? Are there unhealthy patterns in your marriage that need to be addressed? Are there areas of your marriage that you've settled for mediocrity or disconnect? Mentioned in this Episode: Find Awesome Marriage on Instagram! Money issues don't have to be an issue for your marriage. Check out this free course from Centsei. 4 Budgeting Mistakes Couples Make + How To Fix Them FREE Class 💸 Want an opportunity to dig into God's Word with your spouse? Find Awesome Marriage on YouVersion. Need some encouragement to keep fighting for your marriage? You'll love this FREE YouVersion plan: Fighting for Your Marriage If you haven't browsed our site, you've GOT to check out the marriage resources we have over at AwesomeMarriage.com, and browse our online courses at AwesomeMarriageUniversity.com ! Sign up for Dr. Kim's Marriage Multiplier email for practical weekly marriage tips! Now is the perfect time to join our Marriage Changers program. Enjoy every resource of the month plus bonus content from Dr. Kim and Mrs. Nancy. Join now, just in time to receive our 28 Fill in the Blank Thank You Note Prompts