And He said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. (Matthew 22:37-38, ESV)

Before I fell in love with God, I viewed life through a foggy glass. But after the love of Jesus invaded my heart, everything became clear. That clarity was because I found the singular purpose of living; to Love God and make His love known.

This revelation is the entry point into everything you are called to be. Outside of His love, you find those who are unforgiving, unloving, slandering others and having no self-control (2 Timothy 3:3 NLT).

Your relationship with God is VITALY important as you prepare for your future marriage.

There is no love without a choice. Many ask why did God put the tree of knowledge of good and evil in the Garden of Eden if he knew Adam and Eve would be tempted to eat from it?

If we were not given the ability to make decisions, we would not have the freedom to choose love. God did not make robots, for we are His creation, given free will.

Our commitment to not only love Jesus, but choose Him every day, is the beginning of understanding true commitment in relationships.

Related: Here are 3 specific ways to draw closer to God when you’re single.

My relationship with Jesus taught me how to love my wife because I saw how He loved me. The more you cultivate and go deeper in your love for Christ before your spouse arrives on the scene, the easier it will be to choose and love your spouse unconditionally each day.

This is the single most important decision you will ever make in your life. Having a right relationship with God will protect you from falling for someone that is not suitable for your life.

Here are two ways to establish your relationship with God before you get married.

Establish a Consistent Devotional Life

When you get married, this will be one of the most attacked areas of your walk with God. You will be tempted, due to the excitement of the new season of marriage, to neglect your time with God. It is so dangerous to get into a relationship and not have this component nailed down.

When you get the revelation that the person you are is because of Him, then you know your entire life is dependent upon a growing relationship with God. I am the man I am today because of the history I built with God during my years of being single.

Go on Spiritial Retreats

The first lesson I learned in marriage in regards to my relationship with God was my wife is the greatest threat to it. Let me explain. When I was single, I did not have someone waiting to spend quality time with me when I got home from work, so it was easy to retreat and have alone time with God. After getting married, everything changes.

Related: Is God keeping you single or keeping you together?

Bob Sorge, best-selling author of The Secret Place, teaches to have a yearly, blocked off weekend where you go away to be with God. This makes way for you to reignite your relationship with God, attain perspective for your current and upcoming season, and make intercession for those closest to you.

My wife and I schedule time to go away with God for a period of refreshing with Him. Learn to do this now for it will be a blessing to you and your future spouse.

As you continue your journey to the altar, be encouraged that Christ is with you, and is preparing you for the season of marriage.

BMWK Singles, How else can you strengthen your relationship with God before you get married?

BMWK Marrieds, What are you doing to strengthen your relationship with God now that you are married?