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Love and War Devotional for Couples: The Eight-Week Adventure That Will Help You Find the Marriage You Always Dreamed Of
This is a previously-published edition of ISBN 9780307729934.
A Realistic Guide to the Marriage You’ve Always Dreamed Of
Is your relationship with your spouse far from the union you’d hoped it would be? John and Stasi Eldredge know about the realities of marriage—and they know why it’s so important to take hold of the dreams you once had and see God fulfill them.
In this eight-week devotional, John and Stasi will guide you and your spouse to see God’s heart for your marriage more clearly. This life-changing guide includes new insights, encouraging Scriptures, and practical exercises that will help you develop a personal plan for a vibrant marriage.
As John and Stasi write, “We learn to love moment by moment. Day by day. Week by week. Our marriages grow and become what God intended and what we ultimately long for in the same way. We are, all of us, learning to love.”
A Realistic Guide to the Marriage You’ve Always Dreamed Of
Is your relationship with your spouse far from the union you’d hoped it would be? John and Stasi Eldredge know about the realities of marriage—and they know why it’s so important to take hold of the dreams you once had and see God fulfill them.
In this eight-week devotional, John and Stasi will guide you and your spouse to see God’s heart for your marriage more clearly. This life-changing guide includes new insights, encouraging Scriptures, and practical exercises that will help you develop a personal plan for a vibrant marriage.
As John and Stasi write, “We learn to love moment by moment. Day by day. Week by week. Our marriages grow and become what God intended and what we ultimately long for in the same way. We are, all of us, learning to love.”
- GenresMarriageDevotional
144 pages, Hardcover
Published October 5, 2010
About the author
John Eldredge
238 books2,014 followersJohn Eldredge is an American author, counselor, and lecturer on Christianity. He is known for his best-selling book Wild at Heart.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
December 25, 2019
Having read love and war, this devotional book was a nice way to refresh myself and hubby with the material.
December 28, 2010
After reading their book "Captivating" and really getting a lot out of it, I was excited to dive into the "Love and War Devotional" by John & Stasi Eldridge with my husband. I knew that they would be able to impart a lot of wisdom and encouragement through their writing, and I was not disappointed.
The devotional begins with an introduction explaining the purpose of the book and detailing out the plan. The "plan" is a reading plan of 5 days of devotionals that close out with an "exercise" for you as a couple to participate in and lasts for 8 weeks. The devotionals were short, engaging, and spoke honestly about where room for God is in our marriages. Each devotional began and closed with a brief, applicable passage from scripture and also included a prayer asking God to speak into your marriage in a way that is in line with the devotional of the day.
The closing exercise is usually discussion-based, but can sometimes take the form of an action that you can perform for your spouse. These are meant to help you work on deepening your relationship and expressing your love for each other in tangible ways. The exercises were well explained and easy to do, which is good - especially since we were reading through our devotional at the end of the day and would need to remember it the next day or be able to engage in deep conversation at bedtime.
Overall we enjoyed going through this devotional together and now that we've finished I feel like a part of our nightly routine is missing. For us it was the first devotional we went through as a couple and I think that because John & Stasi write so honestly (a few times they reference their own struggles in marriage) it makes these devotionals easy to read and relate to. We often found that the devotional of the day was immediately applicable to what was going on in our marriage at that time. I enjoyed this enough that I would read through it again after a period of time (say, same time next year or something) so that it becomes fresh again; it will always be applicable.
I definitely recommend this to any couple who is looking for a basic devotional to read through together. It was easy to read, immediately applicable, and just about any couple that has a desire for continuous improvement and growth in their marriage would be able to relate to this devotional.
*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the Waterbrook Multnomah Blogging for Books book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”*
The devotional begins with an introduction explaining the purpose of the book and detailing out the plan. The "plan" is a reading plan of 5 days of devotionals that close out with an "exercise" for you as a couple to participate in and lasts for 8 weeks. The devotionals were short, engaging, and spoke honestly about where room for God is in our marriages. Each devotional began and closed with a brief, applicable passage from scripture and also included a prayer asking God to speak into your marriage in a way that is in line with the devotional of the day.
The closing exercise is usually discussion-based, but can sometimes take the form of an action that you can perform for your spouse. These are meant to help you work on deepening your relationship and expressing your love for each other in tangible ways. The exercises were well explained and easy to do, which is good - especially since we were reading through our devotional at the end of the day and would need to remember it the next day or be able to engage in deep conversation at bedtime.
Overall we enjoyed going through this devotional together and now that we've finished I feel like a part of our nightly routine is missing. For us it was the first devotional we went through as a couple and I think that because John & Stasi write so honestly (a few times they reference their own struggles in marriage) it makes these devotionals easy to read and relate to. We often found that the devotional of the day was immediately applicable to what was going on in our marriage at that time. I enjoyed this enough that I would read through it again after a period of time (say, same time next year or something) so that it becomes fresh again; it will always be applicable.
I definitely recommend this to any couple who is looking for a basic devotional to read through together. It was easy to read, immediately applicable, and just about any couple that has a desire for continuous improvement and growth in their marriage would be able to relate to this devotional.
*Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the Waterbrook Multnomah Blogging for Books book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”*
July 13, 2011
A truly powerful, life-changing devotional for couples who seek to have the marriage they always wanted is what you'll find in Love and War Devotional for Couples: The Eight-Week Adventure That Will Help You Find the Marriage You Always Dreamed Of.
In this moving devotional filled with Bible-based advice, Scripture, prayer and exercises, couples can spend time working toward the marriage they have always longed for; a marriage destined and encouraged by God.
What the reader will find in Love & War is a small book that is packed with tons of encouragement and inspiration. Small enough to slide into your purse or a laptop bag, the enormous value of this book shouldn't be discounted. Broken down over eight weeks, couples explore different aspects of their marriage.
As the authors admit, marriage is hard. Love and passion attracts us to each other, but we need something else to build on to develop a life-long marriage. It's hard work, but God wants this for us, just as much as we want to have it--maybe more. It talks about the Fall and how hard it was even for Adam and Eve who didn't come with all that baggage that we do and did not know sin, to have a relationship with God and with each other. Love & War encourages the reader not to seek his/her happiness from a spouse, but from the only One who can truly provide it. By doing so, we are free to love our spouses more fully.
This book explores the high calling of marriage and what an honor it is when it is bestowed upon us, but it also talks about the costs. It discusses how men and women were created as opposites, but how despite that, Jesus, who came to save what was lost will help couples along the way.
I could go on and on about how wonderful Love & War is. I'm not certain if I can get my husband to go through this book with me, but I am going to try. Though we don't have any problems right now, we can all use a little building up in our marriage. I'm glad the Lord led me to it.
If your marriage is floundering or if you want to be reminded how precious your marriage is, read this devotional together.
In this moving devotional filled with Bible-based advice, Scripture, prayer and exercises, couples can spend time working toward the marriage they have always longed for; a marriage destined and encouraged by God.
What the reader will find in Love & War is a small book that is packed with tons of encouragement and inspiration. Small enough to slide into your purse or a laptop bag, the enormous value of this book shouldn't be discounted. Broken down over eight weeks, couples explore different aspects of their marriage.
As the authors admit, marriage is hard. Love and passion attracts us to each other, but we need something else to build on to develop a life-long marriage. It's hard work, but God wants this for us, just as much as we want to have it--maybe more. It talks about the Fall and how hard it was even for Adam and Eve who didn't come with all that baggage that we do and did not know sin, to have a relationship with God and with each other. Love & War encourages the reader not to seek his/her happiness from a spouse, but from the only One who can truly provide it. By doing so, we are free to love our spouses more fully.
This book explores the high calling of marriage and what an honor it is when it is bestowed upon us, but it also talks about the costs. It discusses how men and women were created as opposites, but how despite that, Jesus, who came to save what was lost will help couples along the way.
I could go on and on about how wonderful Love & War is. I'm not certain if I can get my husband to go through this book with me, but I am going to try. Though we don't have any problems right now, we can all use a little building up in our marriage. I'm glad the Lord led me to it.
If your marriage is floundering or if you want to be reminded how precious your marriage is, read this devotional together.
November 12, 2012
Together, John and Stasi Elridge wrote an honest and brave depiction of Marriage. Love and War is a unique look at marriage from the perspectives of the husband and the wife. The authors share with the reader the challenges of marriage that they faced and they cleverly use their experiences to tie in biblical truths.
John and Stasi teach readers how to discern that there is an enemy that strives to stop love in all its forms. They explain how to handle differences and accept our styles of relating. They encourage readers to know their spouse’s life story with the goal of better understanding their spouse’s personality and to help explain their spouse’s reactions. They explain their path to healing hurts of the past and becoming vulnerable and open. This healing task allows for a deeper relationship and makes room for our genuine honesty, where we are how God designed us and not the people we hoped to reshape. Love and War tackles issues like expectations and the pressures that we place on our marriage. Readers learn to fight for their marriage. Yes it’s hard, but it’s worth it.
Love and War is a book you’ll want to read, think about, and discuss as a couple. The transparency in Love and War is refreshing and insightful.
John and Stasi teach readers how to discern that there is an enemy that strives to stop love in all its forms. They explain how to handle differences and accept our styles of relating. They encourage readers to know their spouse’s life story with the goal of better understanding their spouse’s personality and to help explain their spouse’s reactions. They explain their path to healing hurts of the past and becoming vulnerable and open. This healing task allows for a deeper relationship and makes room for our genuine honesty, where we are how God designed us and not the people we hoped to reshape. Love and War tackles issues like expectations and the pressures that we place on our marriage. Readers learn to fight for their marriage. Yes it’s hard, but it’s worth it.
Love and War is a book you’ll want to read, think about, and discuss as a couple. The transparency in Love and War is refreshing and insightful.
February 26, 2011
I really enjoyed the books Captivated and Wild at Heart by this same couple so I looked forward to this devotional. As a wife I am always looking for new studies and devotionals to do with my husband. As a Pastor's wife and teacher I am always on the search for something new to recommend to others. This is an wight week daily devotional. Meaning each week covers one topic for 5 days with the last day ending with an "exercise" to do for the remaining 2 days. Although I enjoyed reading it I prefer a little more meat to what I am doing. This is too much reading and too little scripture with no meaningful discussion for couples. If you are looking to spend a few minutes each night reading a nice story to each other this is the book for you. If you are looking for a devotional that will drive you into the study of scripture and true spiritual growth with your spouse you might invest in another study. I would further suggest the book by this same title over the purchase of this devotional. It will cost you about the same and you will have more to read to each other and maybe learn a little more.
Thank you Waterbrook/Multnomah for this review copy.
Thank you Waterbrook/Multnomah for this review copy.
February 21, 2011
a 134 pg. 8-week devotional that champions its readers to remember that married love is worth fighting for. What sets Love & War apart from other marriage devotionals is that it focuses on the fact that couples participate in a modern day love story that is set in the midst of war therefore they must first allow God to mend their brokenness and then find their completeness in Him, not one another. Doing this will then help husbands and wives find what the authors call "generosity of spirit", the ability to let the little things go and become more adept at giving love. Love & War: Devotional For Couples is an excellent resource that is chock full of scriptures and wisdom for busy couples to embrace and use to spark spirituality and intimacy in their relationship.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews