40 Day Challenge: Fireproof Marriage
This article covers 40 steps based on the Fireproof movie to restore your marriage and avoid a divorce.
Every day I receive e-mails from mothers and even fathers asking for help and advice to save the marriage and it saddens me as I am the child of separated parents and I know how unpleasant this is for a child.
When my parents separated, I promised myself that I would do everything to show them that it was possible to have a marriage with a happy ending. And throughout my life, to keep that promise, one of the things I did was read a lot about relationships.
The idea of the love challenge came after watching the movie “Fireproof” on NetFlix (If you have NetFlix at home, watch it). The film portrays a couple who are separating and before getting out of divorce, the man receives from his father a book with 40 challenges to do over 40 days. Challenges that could save his marriage.
He did the challenge alone, without the woman knowing, and he did it for 43 days!
No, you don’t need your partner to start the challenge! In fact, the challenge is to do it alone. If it’s done as a couple, it’s very good too, but in my opinion, it’s no longer a “challenge”.
It’s 40 days! Be firm and independent of your spouse’s reaction during this time, DON’T GIVE UP. I remember that in the movie the husband did it for 43 DAYS, and the wife didn’t know! I know it’s a movie, but it portrays real life VERY GOOD.
It probably won’t be easy, but it will be well worth it.
It is worth noting that your marriage does not need to be in crisis to enter the challenge.
Editing note: The challenge is based on the 40 steps from the book of the movie The Challenge to Love. In order not to infringe copyright, we only cite the subtitles and one of the scriptures contained in each challenge. For complete explanations of each day of the challenge and how to apply them to your day-to-day routine, purchase the book by clicking here.
DAY 1: LOVE IS PATIENT
It’s better to hold your tongue than say something you might regret later. Be all ready to listen, slow to speak and slow to anger.
DAY 2: LOVE IS KIND
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God forgave you in Christ.
DAY 3: LOVE IS NOT SELFISH
For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there is confusion.
DAY 4: LOVE IS ANNOUNCED
How precious are your thoughts to me… How great is the sum of them! If I counted them, they would be more than the grains of sand.
DAY 5: LOVE DOESN’T MURDER
The blessing given by shouting early in the morning, like a curse, is received.
DAY 6: LOVE IS NOT EASILY ANNOYED
Better a patient man than a warrior, better controlling his spirit than conquering a city.
DAY 7: LOVE ALWAYS BELIEVES IN THE BEST
[Love] believes everything, everything waits.
DAY 8: LOVE DOESN’T BURNS IN JEALOUSY
For love is as strong as death, and jealousy is as unyielding as the grave. His embers are blazing fire, they are flames of the Lord.
DAY 9: LOVE MAKES GOOD IMPRESSIONS
Greet one another with the kiss of holy love.
DAY 10: LOVE IS UNCONDITIONAL
But God demonstrates his love for us: Christ died for us while we were still sinners.
11th DAY: LOVE TAKES CARE
So are husbands to love their own wives as their own bodies
DAY 12: LOVE LET THE OTHER WIN
Do not look at each one only for what is his, but each one also for what belongs to others.
DAY 13: LOVE IS FAIR
If a house divides against itself, that house cannot stand.
DAY 14: LOVE FEELS PLEASURE
Enjoy life with the woman you love, every day of your vain life.
Give me your heart… and let your eyes delight in my ways.
DAY 15: LOVE IS NOBLE
Likewise, you husbands, live with them with understanding, giving honor to the woman, as they are heirs with you of the grace of life.
DAY 16: LOVE INTERCESSES
Beloved, I wish you well in all things, and that you have health, as well as your soul.
DAY 17: LOVE BRINGS INTIMACY
He who covers an offense promotes love, but whoever throws it in the face separates good friends.
DAY 18: LOVE SETS TO UNDERSTAND
Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who acquires understanding.
DAY 19: IS IT IMPOSSIBLE TO LOVE?
Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.
DAY 20: JESUS CHRIST IS LOVE
For, when we were still weak, Christ died in his time for the ungodly.
DAY 21: LOVE IS SATISFED IN GOD
The Lord will guide you constantly; he will fulfill his wishes.
DAY 22: LOVE IS FAITHFUL
And I will betroth thee to me in fidelity, and thou shalt know the Lord.
DAY 23: LOVE ALWAYS PROTECTS
[Love] everything suffers
DAY 24: LOVE VS. GREED
The world and its covetousness pass away, but he who has done God’s will remains forever.
DAY 25: LOVE FORGIVES
Which I also forgave, if anything I have forgiven, for your sakes I did it in the presence of Christ
DAY 26: LOVE IS RESPONSIBLE
When you judge, . . . you condemn yourself in what you judge another; for you who judge do the same.
DAY 27: LOVE ENCOURAGES
Guard my soul, and deliver me; let me not be ashamed, for in Thee I take refuge.
DAY 28: LOVE SACRIFIES
Christ gave his life for us; and we must lay down our lives for the brothers.
DAY 29: THE MOTIVATION OF LOVE
Serving willingly as the Lord and not as men.
DAY 30: LOVE BRINGS UNITY
Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you gave me, that they may be one, just as we are.
DAY 31: LOVE AND MARRIAGE
Therefore shall a man leave his father and mother, and unite her with his wife, and they shall be one flesh.
DAY 32: LOVE MEETS SEXUAL NEEDS
A husband must fulfill his marital duties to his wife, and likewise a wife to her husband.
DAY 33: LOVE COMPLETES EACH OTHER
Also, if two sleep together, they will warm up; but how will one only be warm?
DAY 34: LOVE CELEBRATES GOD
[Love] It does not rejoice in injustice, but rejoices in the truth.
DAY 35: LOVE IS ACCOUNTABLE
Plans fail for lack of advice, but they succeed when there are too many advisers.
DAY 36: LOVE IS THE WORD OF GOD
A lamp to my feet is your word, and a light to my path.
DAY 37: LOVE AGREES IN PRAYER
“If two of you agree on earth on any matter upon which you ask, it will be done for you by my Father who is in heaven.”
DAY 38: LOVE MAKES DREAMS
Delight in the Lord, and he will fulfill your heart’s desires.
DAY 39: LOVE REMAINS
Love never perishes.
DAY 40: LOVE IS AN ALLIANCE
For wherever you go, I will go; and wherever you land, there I will land; your people will be my people, your God will be my God.
Consider this journey a challenge coming from those who have accepted it before you.
Source:familia.com.br
