How To Keep The Spark Of Sexual Intimacy Alive In Your Marriage

 

Sexual intimacy and enjoying a healthy sex life are important parts of marriage. God designed sex and gifted it to us to be enjoyed within a marriage relationship.

Many marriages see a decline in sexual passion and satisfaction over time. Sexual excitement, passion, pleasure, and satisfaction do not have to dwindle with time. Sexual passion if properly nurtured, can last for decades in the life of married couples. 

The joy of sexual union between husband and wife is part of being married, and part of the role of the hussband and wife involves sexual intimacy.

 The benefits of sexual intimacy in marriage:

Sexual intimacy help couples to be physically and emotionally healthy. Studies have shown that married people enjoy better health if the relationship between the couple is healthy and satisfying.

Sexual intimacy help couples to manage life stressors more effectively and become supportive of each other in the process.

If you are struggling to agree or get along in other areas, sexual intimacy can help your marriage.

During periods of strain in a relationship or tumultuous times, sexual intimacy helps to keep the marriage together for some couples.

Sexual intimacy promotes healthy self-esteem, and will help you in other areas of your life.

When you have a healthy intimate relationship with your partner, your career, your parenting abilities, and your friendship will be better.

 God's Design for sexual intimacy

1Corinthians 7:1-6

7 Now for the matters you wrote about: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.” 2 But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband. 3 The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. 4 The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his wife. 5 Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. 6 I say this as a concession, not as a command.

The Scripture encourages us to:

✓ Maintain a balanced and fulfilling

sex life (Vs. 2) . The husband and

wife decide on the frequency and

rhythm with which they enjoy

sexual intimacy. Sexual life must

be fulfilling, rewarding, and

satisfying to both.

✓ Sex must be enjoyed with

mutuality, each seeking to satisfy

the other (Vs. 3) . The husband

seeks to satisfy his wife, and wife

seeks to satisfy her husband. For

example,in sexual intimacy, the

husband is not just looking for

personal release and

gratification. He needs to engage

with his wife with the intent of

satisfying her,ensuring she enjoys

pleasure as well.

✓ Sex is an opportunity for the

husband and wife to enjoy each

other’s bodies and must not be

used to “hold something back”

(Vs. 4) . Do not use your body as a

weapon against your spouse by

withholding sex.

✓ The husband and wife can agree to

abstain from sex for a short period

of time for prayer and fasting(Vs.5) .

✓ The devil uses the areas of

sexuality as an area of attack, and

hence we need to be onguard in

this area. Enjoying a fulfilling sex

life is one important way to keep

the husband and wife secure in this

area (Vs.5) .

Keeping the Spark of Sexual Intimacy Alive in Your Marriage

Sexuality in Marriage can  change over time, but don't have to get boring. 

There are ways to prioritize marriage sexuality and keep it exciting.

Here are 10 tips to help you keep the spark of sexual intimacy alive in your marriage:

1. Set the mood in advance.

Start the foreplay in the morning if you want to have good sex at night. Send signals during the day,like hugs,texts, phone calls,or other flirtatious gestures to build excitements.

2. Hold hands and show affection. 

Studies shows that holding hands,hugging, and touching causes a calming sensation. Something as simple as long embrace,kiss,hand or foot massage can help you connect and build intimacy and signal to your partner that you are in the mood.

3. Communication. 

In marriage a healthy, and active sex life is anchored in communication. Share your innermost thoughts and feelings regularly. This might include talking about a sexual experience that you enjoy, or other things you might want to explore. True intimacy through communication can make marriage sexually great. 

4. Separate sexual intimacy from other issues. 

Sexual arousal loose excitement when we are distracted or streesed. So, avoid talking about relationship problems in the bedroom. 

5. Vary the kind of sex you have. 

Change your sex routine and try new things as sexual needs arise. Have gentle, tender, intimate and highly erotica sex. Experiment with new ways to bring pleasure to each other. 

6. Be emotionally vulnerable during sex. 

Share your fantasies, desires, and innermost wishes with your partner.

7. Make out time to spend with your partner. 

Enjoy courting and practice flirting with your partner as a way to ignite  sexual desire. Engage in a variety of activities that bring you both pleasure. 

8. Build up tension during romantic dates. 

Our brains tend to experience more pleasure when anticipated reward is delayed before we receive it. Take your time during foreplay, share fantasies and make sex more romantic. 

9. Foster emotional intimacy. 

A good sexual relationship is built on emotional intimacy, closeness and connection that allows you to share your thoughts and feelings without judgment and rejection. Focus on meeting your partner's needs and share your own needs in a loving and respectful way. 

10. Be intentional. 

Being intentional in this case means, consistently make time for sexual intimacy.