Introduction

Spiritual alignment is the most critical attribute of a successful marriage, being the foundation on which all other elements of a healthy partnership stand. Many relationships begin with genuine affection or ‘falling in love’ with one another, only to struggle, crumble or even break up along the way, simply because the spiritual aspects of their partnership were ignored, taken for granted or overlooked. When two people are guided by different spiritual authorities, their lives gradually move in different and often conflicting directions. A lasting marriage requires shared spiritual anchoring that guides a couple’s thoughts, conduct and purpose. As an individual, one must be spiritually devoted and directly well connected to God before she or he can successfully be spiritually aligned with a partner or spouse.

In this chapter, I will briefly share how spiritual alignment works in our marriage. Then, using the fictitious story of Donald and Harriet, alongside the biblical account of Joseph and Mary, we will illustrate key principles for evaluating a prospective partner’s spiritual alignment, and how to develop such an alignment as you wait.