5 Ways to Grow Spiritually as a Couple (Without the Awkwardness)

“The Bible is meant to be bread for daily use, not cake for special occasions.” — Unknown

You know spiritual intimacy matters in your marriage. You want to grow closer to God together. But maybe you’ve never learned how to actually do faith as a couple, so it feels a little awkward to start.

Spirituality is deeply personal, but when you share it with your spouse, it creates a strong and intimate bond unlike anything else.

Let’s change the way you think about growing spiritually together.

Don’t Leave Spiritual Intimacy to Chance

Before diving into the five strategies for stronger spiritual intimacy, you need one non-negotiable: intentional time together.

• Start with 15 minutes, once a week (seriously, that’s enough)
• Pick a specific day and time that works for both of you
• Put it on both calendars and protect it like any important appointment
• Already connecting spiritually? Add another day or extend your time

As you get comfortable, you’ll naturally crave more of these moments. That’s when you know it’s working.

5 Ways to Grow Spiritually as a Couple

Now that you’ve set aside time, here are a few ways to connect intentionally. The key is choosing an approach that feels natural to both of you and building from there.

Don’t try to incorporate all five of these at once. Start with 1-2, make it work for you, and then add in more strategies if you want.

1. Take Turns Reading the Bible or a Devotional

Reading something together is a common approach for strengthening spiritual intimacy. If you want to give it a shot, discuss the following together:

• Reading the Bible? Decide how you’ll read. Will you go beginning to end or start with a specific book?
• Trying a devotional? Look for marriage-focused devotionals, interactive formats, or specific lengths (example: 30 days, 90 days).
• How much each time? Usually one chapter of the Bible or a short devotional excerpt can be read within 15 minutes.
• Where will you read? Whether at the kitchen table, your bedroom, or somewhere else, keep all your materials (Bible/devotional, notebook, pens, highlighters) in the same place so you can dive right in.

Don’t overthink this. The best material is what you’ll actually use consistently.

2. Connect with a Faith Community

Spiritual growth happens in community. When you worship and learn alongside other couples, it strengthens your own marriage.

Here are some ways to participate in spiritual communities together:

• Attend church regularly: Make it a non-negotiable part of your week as a couple.
• Join a couples small group: Find a group focused on marriage, Bible study, or life stages.
• Participate in church events: Attend marriage workshops, volunteer, or join service projects.
• Find marriage mentors: Connect with older couples who share your values and can help hold you accountable.

It’s okay to start small. If church feels overwhelming, begin with one service per month or try a community group first.

3. Serve Together

Put your faith into action as a team by serving others together. Here are some ideas to help you give back and live out your values:

• Community service: Food banks, shelters, community clean-up projects
• Volunteer at church: Greet visitors, help with events, serve communion together
• Get involved in missions work: Sponsor a child, participate in mission trips, host missionaries

Serving side-by-side strengthens your bond while living out your faith practically. You’ll see each other’s heart for others and create meaningful memories together. This can be a great way to strengthen your spiritual intimacy if one or both of you is hesitant to dive into the Bible or attend church.

4. Share What Resonates

Whether you read together, attend church, join a group, or choose to serve, share what new lessons are standing out to you. Here are some easy ways:

• Shared notebook: Write your favorite verses and what they mean to you.
• Digital document: Create a running list of “a-ha moments” you both can access.
• Text verses randomly: Send your spouse a meaningful Bible verse or spiritual quote during their workday.
• Highlight and discuss: Mark passages in your Bible/devotional and talk about why it stood out to you.

The goal of this approach is to create a collection of verses and insights that become your spiritual foundation as a couple.

5. Pray Together 

This is where spiritual intimacy gets deeply personal and powerful. Try focusing on these topics as you pray out loud:

• Ask for guidance: How does your current reading or learning apply to your lives right now?
• Pray for each other: Use what you’ve learned to pray specifically for your spouse.
• Marriage-focused prayers: Ask God to strengthen your relationship through His word.
• Gratitude and confession: Share thankfulness and areas where you need growth.

Need help getting started? Check out these customized prayer guides for couples:

• 10 Prayers for My Wife
• 10 Prayers for My Husband

Take Action for Stronger Intimacy

You’ve got everything you need to strengthen your spiritual intimacy:

• Time scheduled and protected
• Material chosen
• Simple routine decided
• Sacred space prepared

Now what? Meet each other and start building your spiritual intimacy. It’s that simple.

“The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God will stand forever.” (Isaiah 40:8)

Ready to Transform Every Area of Your Marriage?

Spiritual intimacy is just one of the 6 Pillars of Intimacy® that create extraordinary marriages. If you want to strengthen emotional intimacy, sexual connection, financial partnership, and more (all while building the spiritual foundation you’re working on), Intimacy Mastery gives you the complete roadmap.

Inside Intimacy Mastery, you’ll get:

• Monthly LIVE workshops with practical tools for every pillar
• Library of exclusive marriage resources you won’t find anywhere else
• Private community chat with other couples on the same journey
• Personalized assessment to identify your marriage’s unique strengths and growth areas

Join thousands of couples who’ve transformed their marriages with our proven framework.

Start your Intimacy Mastery membership today.