Best devotionals for married couples in 2026: Christian picks to strengthen your marriage

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Explore the 10 best devotionals for married couples in 2026. These top Christian picks will help strengthen your marriage and draw you and your spouse closer to God.

This curated list will help you select a daily or weekly marriage devotional and help by:

  • Strengthening marriage through faith

  • Building intimacy with God and your spouse

  • Taking a Gospel-centered approach to marriage

  • Developing a regular prayer habit with your spouse

  • Growing closer as husband and wife

There are many great Christian devotionals, and the truth is that any devotion you do together will draw you closer to each other and to Christ.

But sometimes, it’s helpful to choose a devotional book for a specific reason or season.

Even if all you can manage is once a week, finding time for a devotion in a busy schedule is absolutely worth it.

➡️ Keep reading to learn about my personal journey in starting a devotional habit with my husband, as well as the top 10 books for husband and wife devotionals.

Our personal journey with devotions for married couples: Building Faith and Connection

My husband and I have benefited from regular devotional time together.

Even if we don’t get into deep theological and relational conversations right then, it’s created a common connection point we often refer back to during the week.

Starting was a challenge, however!

So if you’re feeling frustrated about getting a marriage devotional going with your spouse, you’re not alone.

Picking a time together

We struggled to find devotional time together.

Mornings were already too early and too hectic. That wasn’t going to work.

Evenings are rarely the same week to week or month to month.

We had decided to do a Bible in a year study together, but as January progressed, we fell further and further behind.

I didn’t want to feel like I was nagging, so I told him I would just do the daily reading by myself.

Man, was he upset!

And boy, was I confused!

Consistency, not perfection

Looking back, that tiff was the spark we needed.

His reaction made me realize how much doing a devotional together meant to him.

And that meant a lot to me!

We talked about what we needed.

He needed help starting (something I’m good at).

And I didn’t want to feel like I was falling behind the daily reading plan.

A friend was doing the same plan and was already further along!

She was texting me, and I didn’t want to admit I was already behind, so I was trying to “catch up.”

Ugh!

Why do I do this to myself?

I put pressure on myself to meet a rigid and — honestly — unrealistic expectation for the season of life we are in.

Consistency, not perfection

Over the years, I’ve learned I need to let go of external expectations and pressure (even if they’re good things, like doing a Christian devotional with your spouse!)

In my experience, letting go of guilt is an intentional decision and practice.

Guilt is not from God.

As I prayed through it, I realized that the goal wasn’t getting it done.

The goal was connection.

Connection with God, and connection with my husband.

We agreed to:

  • Connect our devotional time to other habits. We’d do the devotion after dinner and before television, with no set time (one of my tips for building a devotional habit with a busy schedule)

  • Set a phone alarm for the latest ‘ideal’ time we could do the devotional, because I don’t want to feel like I’m nagging, and also, we have a busy schedule. Sometimes I forget!

  • To not worry about “keeping up” with my friend. Even though it would have been great if we could move at the same pace, and I felt guilty for suggesting it to her, she doesn’t really care. She’s in a different season of life and understands!

  • To offer myself and my husband grace. That means we’re currently on the “Bible in two-to-three years” plan!

It’s not perfect. But perfection isn’t the goal.

Perfection is impossible anyway.

Building intimacy with my husband and God is the goal, and that’s what matters.

➡️ Struggling to build a habit of devotionals with your husband or wife? Our guide to how to do devotions despite a busy schedule can help.

Top 10 devotionals for married couples to start the new year

Below is a curated list of the 10 best devotionals for married couples. These selections will help strengthen your marriage, cultivate a daily prayer habit with your husband or wife, and build intimacy with God by taking a Gospel-centered approach to marriage.

 

1. ‘The Love Dare’ by Alex Kendrick and Stephen Kendrick

“The Love Dare: A 40-Day Challenge for Husbands and Wives to Understand and Practice Unconditional Love” by Alex Kendrick and Stephen Kendrick is a bestselling devotional about marriage.

This devotional challenges couples to practice the daily challenges of unconditional love.

Written specifically to build off the Christian movie “Fireproof,” the brothers are filmmakers and pasters who wanted to more widely share and help couples apply concepts from the movie.

Readers say: They have benefited from a renewed sense of intimacy, improved communication, and stronger bonds with their spouse.

Some said this devotional saved their marriage by providing practical steps to love their spouse unconditionally.

About the authors:

Alex and Stephen Kendrick are brothers, filmmakers, and authors known for creating faith-based films with strong Christian messages.

The Kendrick brothers also wrote “The Love Dare Day by Day: A Year of Devotions for Couples,” another popular choice for devotionals about marriage.

➡️ Buy on Amazon

 

2. ‘Devotions for a Sacred Marriage: A Year of Weekly Devotions for Couples’ by Gary Thomas

“Devotions for a Sacred Marriage: A Year of Weekly Devotions for Couples” by Gary Thomas is a 52-week devotional about marriage that focuses on how it creates a path to holiness and knowing God.

It talks about adopting a perspective shift: From “happy marriage” to “holy marriage.”

It’s often cited as one of the best devotions for married couples.

Readers say: They benefit from how the devotional helps them reframe their views as spiritual growth opportunities and feel closer to God as well as their husband or wife.

About the author: Thomas wrote this marriage devotional based on his “Sacred Marriage” book as a weekly tool to help couples grow closer to God and each other.

Thomas is a Christian author and speaker specializing in marriage and spirituality. He serves as writer in residence at Second Baptist Church in Houston, Texas.

➡️ Buy on Amazon

 

3. ‘The Meaning of Marriage: A Couple's Devotional: A Year of Daily Devotions’

“The Meaning of Marriage: A Couple's Devotional: A Year of Daily Devotions” by Timothy Keller and Kathy Keller is a year-long, 365-day devotional that focuses on biblical marriage principles, Scriptures, and prayers.

Timothy Keller is known for his bestselling books on theology and apologetics, which makes this devotional about marriage unique.

He includes gospel-centered wisdom along with his wife’s perspective.

Readers say: They found the insights the Kellers share about God’s design for a long, lasting, and rewarding marriage inspiring and insightful.

They also enjoyed discussing each day’s prompts, which fostered conversations (sometimes turning lively) and appreciated the book's wisdom despite some repetition.

About the authors: The Kellers are long-time pastors who wrote the book “The Meaning of Marriage” to provide daily application for couples.

Timothy Keller was a Presbyterian pastor and author who founded Redeemer Church in New York. Kathy is a theologian and author.

➡️ Buy on Amazon

 

4. ‘Mr. & Mrs.: 366 Devotions for Couples Enrich Your Marriage and Relationship’ by Rob Teigen and Joanna Teigen

“Mr. & Mrs.: 366 Devotions for Couples Enrich Your Marriage and Relationship” by Rob Teigen and Joanna Teigen weaves Scripture, inspiration, and prayers.

Readers say: This daily devotional is great for strengthening marriages through faith and building intimacy with God.

In addition, many say they enjoy giving this marriage devotional as a wedding gift, as it encourages newly married couples to create a daily habit of prayer and connection together.

It’s written with the relatable back-and-forth of a husband and wife; this devotional is warm and relatable.

About the authors: The Teigens draw on their personal experiences guiding young couples toward deeper intimacy with God and each other.

They focus on encouraging relationships through humor and faith-based insights. They’ve been married for more than 30 years and have five children,

➡️ Buy on Amazon

 

5. ‘Celebrate Your Marriage: 365 Daily Devotions for Busy Couples’

“Celebrate Your Marriage: 365 Daily Devotions for Busy Couples” by Jay Laffoon and Laura Laffoon is a daily devotional written for busy couples seeking a short, uplifting, inspirational message.

It’s written for time-crunched couples who want a daily devotional to do with their spouse.

Readers say: They love the humor-infused encouragement, which takes a lighter-hearted approach to a devotional for married couples.

It combines practical wisdom with simple application steps, and couples say they love how humor is infused in the message.

About the authors: Jay and Laura Laffoon are husband-wife speakers who founded Celebrate Your Marriage ministry.

They’re known for using humor to help busy couples build stronger bonds.

➡️ Buy on Amazon

 

6. ‘Night Light: A Devotional for Couples’ by Dr. James Dobson and Shirley Dobson

“Night Light: A Devotional for Couples” by Dr. James Dobson and Shirley Dobson is published by Focus on the Family.

This devotional is an often-recommended resource for marriage and family tools, and features daily readings with stories, Scripture, reflection questions, and prayers.

Readers say: They benefit from building intimacy with God and their spouse with this Gospel-centered approach to marriage.

It emphasizes a “three-person” marriage with God at the center.

About the authors: The Dobsons wanted to create a resource for busy couples who are exhausted or feeling overwhelmed with their schedules or the fast pace of life.

Dr. James Dobson is a psychologist and founder of Focus on the Family. Shirley, his wife, chairs the National Day of Prayer Task Force and co-authors family books.

➡️ Buy on Amazon

 

7. ‘Bulletproof Marriage: A 90-Day Devotional’

“Bulletproof Marriage: A 90-Day Devotional” by Adam Davis and Lt. Col. Dave Grossman is a daily devotional specifically written for military or first responders.

With first-hand knowledge of the high-stress lifestyle of police officers, firefighters, paramedics, and service members, this devotional focuses on marriage durability and resilience.

They take a practical approach to the long hours and the impact of witnessing or experiencing trauma or cultural isolation in a polarizing political environment.

Readers say: They appreciate this devotional’s focus on the shared experiences and prioritizing building resilient and faith-based relationships.

About the authors: Lt. Col. Dave Grossman is a retired Army Ranger and psychologist known for warrior mindset books,

Adam Davis is a former law enforcement officer writing on faith and resilience.

➡️ Buy on Amazon

 

8. ‘#Staymarried: A Couples Devotional’

“#Staymarried: A Couples Devotional” by Michelle Peterson features weekly meditations on faith and joy in marriage.

She offers Biblical wisdom, tools, and research as she looks authentically at the question: “What does it take to stay married?”

Readers say: They’ve benefited from Peterson’s practical and relatable stories of growth and felt renewed in their commitment to each other.

It’s a modern twist on the traditional devotional about marriage with a weekly structure that asks only 30 minutes of your time each week.

About the author: Peterson hosts a popular blog and podcast with her husband. Together, they started the #staymarried movement.

She wrote this devotional after noticing so many friends were divorcing after only five years of marriage.

➡️ Buy on Amazon

 

9. ‘The Marriage Devotional: 52 Days to Strengthen the Soul of Your Marriage’

“The Marriage Devotional: 52 Days to Strengthen the Soul of Your Marriage” by Levi Lusko and Jennie Lusko is a weekly devotional to strengthening marriage through faith.

The authors want readers to build intimacy with God and their spouse with a practical and Gospel-centered approach.

That includes the challenges of navigating married life, from navigating finances, emotional hurts and hangups, and the chaos of a busy family life.

Readers say: This devotional is refreshing, as it provides tools for married couples navigating real-world issues after the “honeymoon” phase wears off.

About the authors: Levi Lusko is a pastor and author who founded Fresh Life Church in Montana. Jennie Lusko, his wife, co-authors and speaks on faith, marriage, and overcoming challenges.

➡️ Buy on Amazon

 

10. ‘The Marriage Gift: 365 Prayers for Our Marriage’

“The Marriage Gift: 365 Prayers for Our Marriage” by Aaron Smith and Jennifer Smith offers daily prayers focused on marriage and marriage transformation.

What’s unique is how “The Marriage Gift” is entirely based on prayer.

They challenge readers to a 1-year prayer challenge to pray daily as husband and wife. They believe the challenge will radically transform your relationship.

Readers say: They’ve benefited from praying daily with their spouse and enjoy the encouragement, inspiration, and guidance the devotional shares.

Couples say it radically shifted and even saved their marriages as they prayed boldly together.

About the authors: The Smiths run the Marriage After God blog and podcast. The author's devotionals focus on God-centered relationships for couples.

➡️ Buy on Amazon

 

Discover more Christian books

If you’re looking to grow closer to your boyfriend, finacé, or husband, consider our curated guides to devotionals you can do together.

➡️ Seriously dating? Here are the 7 best devotions for dating couples

➡️ Looking to grow your relationship? These are the best couples devotionals

➡️ Married? Discover the  10 best devotionals for married couples

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Mackenzie Ryan Walters is the author of Faith Storytellers: Unleash the Power of Your Story,” which shares Christian testimonies and stories, as well as curated lists about Christian books, gifts, and more. A national award-winning education journalist who’s covered a presidential campaign and been inside NASA, Mackenzie now edits the Faith Storytellers website and is passionate about lifting up and sharing the story God is writing in the world.

 

This post contains affiliate links. By using these links to make a purchase, you’re helping Faith Storytellers continue to share inspiring stories of God’s work in the world.

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