The 5-Day Valentine Challenge

This past winter, my daughter and I started something new–we lit a candle every night leading up to Christmas.

The reason I did this with my daughter instead of Michael is because we’re always the ones who are up later than everyone else, and besides that, it was something we started together.

Let’s just say that we were inspired by Max Lucado’s book-turned-movie, “The Christmas Candle.”

Each and every night before blowing out the candle, we held hands and prayed together. I even slipped a few prayer requests I had written down under the base of the candle for safe keeping.

There was nothing magical about the candle itself, but to us it was symbolic. The presence of the flame in our home was a reminder that God’s faithfulness is ever present in our lives.

But I don’t want to talk about Christmas today, at least not for another nine months. I want to talk about Valentine’s Day. In particular, “The 5-Day Valentine Challenge for Couples.”

Each day this week leading up to Valentine’s Day, I’m going to challenge you to do one special thing for your marriage. For those of you who want to do this challenge with your husband–that’s awesome. But those who can’t get their husbands on board with the idea, can still take most of the challenge alone. Except for the date night, that might be tough. *wink*

These are the five challenges we’ll be looking at this week:

Monday – Light a prayer candle
Tuesday – Write a letter to each other
Wednesday – Have an electronic-free night
Thursday – Bless someone else with a Valentine’s surprise (a widow? a single person?)
Friday (or Saturday) – Have a special date night either inside or outside the home.

As we go through each challenge I’ll give you a few more details, but for today, let’s start with the candle. Light a candle in your home each day leading up to Valentine’s Day. Before blowing it out each night, pause to pray together. If you have a special request, you might want to jot it down on the little piece of paper and keep it under the candle for the entire week.

If you’re doing the challenge alone, you can still be praying for your marriage. The candle will be an awesome reminder that God is at work in your lives.

And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night: – Exodus 13:21

See you tomorrow!

You are loved by an almighty God,

Darlene Schacht
The Time-Warp Wife

Pick up a copy of my book, Messy Beautiful Love: Hope and Redemption for Real-Life Marriages.

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