10 Commandments of a Christian Marriage: Keeping Date Night Sacred

"Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it." — Exodus 20:8-11

Reflection

God, in His wisdom, set a rhythm of work and rest not just as a rule, but as a gift. When He commanded the Sabbath, He was inviting His people to pause, breathe, and remember what truly matters. In marriage, sacred rhythms like a regular date night can function much like the Sabbath—drawing us away from the chaos of our routines and into a space of intentional connection. Just as the Sabbath was set apart for God, a date night set apart for your marriage is an act of faith, trust, and love.

When life is busy and responsibilities pile up, it’s easy to let intentional time with your spouse slip to the bottom of the list. Work deadlines, children’s needs, ministry obligations, and even well-meaning social events can crowd out the very relationship God has called you to prioritize. Yet, just as neglecting Sabbath rest leads to weariness and spiritual dryness, neglecting sacred time together can leave a marriage vulnerable to distance, misunderstanding, and fatigue.

Keeping date night sacred means treating it as more than a routine or another box to check. It’s a spiritual discipline, a way of saying, "This relationship is worth protecting." When you honor this rhythm, you’re not just investing in your marriage—you’re also honoring God’s design for rest, renewal, and intimacy. The time you set apart becomes a sanctuary for laughter, deep conversation, and the kind of closeness that can only grow in the soil of undistracted presence.

The challenges are real. There will always be urgent demands and unexpected interruptions. But just as God calls us to guard the Sabbath—even when life is hectic—He invites us to guard the sacred space in our marriage. The spiritual and relational benefits are profound: renewed joy, deeper trust, and a love that reflects God’s faithfulness. In the end, making date night sacred is less about the activity and more about the heart behind it—a heart that chooses relationship over routine, presence over productivity, and love over busyness.

Personal Application

Protecting date night starts with a decision to prioritize your marriage, even if it means letting some things wait or saying no to lesser commitments. Schedule your time together just as you would an important meeting or ministry event, and honor that appointment as sacred. Communicate with your spouse about what would make your time meaningful—maybe it’s a quiet dinner, a walk in the park, shared prayer, or just uninterrupted conversation at home.

If obstacles arise, be creative. Swap childcare with another couple, plan a simple picnic after the kids are in bed, or take turns planning surprise evenings for each other. The goal isn’t perfection, but intentionality. Invite God into your date nights—pray together, express gratitude, and ask Him to use these moments to strengthen your bond. Over time, you’ll find that these sacred pauses bring new energy, joy, and intimacy to your marriage, equipping you to face life’s challenges as a united team.

Thought-Provoking Questions

1. What typically gets in the way of keeping date night sacred in your marriage, and how can you address those obstacles?
2. How does setting aside intentional time together impact the spiritual and emotional health of your relationship?
3. In what ways can you invite God into your rhythms of rest and connection as a couple?
4. If you were to treat date night with the same importance as the Sabbath, what practical changes might you make?

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for the gift of marriage and the sacred rhythms You designed for our good. Help us to honor You by setting apart regular time to connect, rest, and delight in one another. Give us wisdom to protect our time together from distractions and courage to say no when needed. Fill our date nights with joy, honesty, and Your presence, so that our marriage might reflect Your love and faithfulness. May these sacred moments draw us closer to each other and to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

***The Ten Commandments of Christian Marriage Devotions are not intended to serve as definitive commandments on marriage; rather, they should be regarded as constructive guidelines founded upon biblical principles, designed to safeguard and strengthen your marriage and its enduring legacy.***