Yesterday I had the privilege of attending a seminar handled by my national coordinator in the person of Dr. Mfon Ineme and it was indeed a rewarding moment. Below are the taking points from the lecture.

If you fail in marriage, you have failed in life but if you succeed in marriage then you have invariably succeeded in life. If you have a good marriage, you have finished but if you have a bad marriage, you are finished. Marriage was originally instituted by God to be a sweet and beautiful experience but nowadays, the reverse is the case. We happen to see a lot of people who want out of their marriages and there are many regretting their marriage.

So, if you are yet to marry and you don't want a situation where you would be regretting your marriage, pay attention to the following.

There are four phases in marriage and there are

The Preparatory Phase
The On Your Mark Phase
The Get Set Phase
The Running Phase

THE PREPARATORY PHASE OF MARRIAGE

This is the phase of absolute singleness. It is a very important phase before marriage. These are some of the things one should be doing in this phase:

pray for your marriage
have a personal and cordial relationship with the initiator of marriage.
learn to manage and control your emotions.
determine to be the best spouse. Don't look for the best spouse.
Remain single while you are single.
be serious with God's business. Don't wait to be followed up.
learn to cut your cloth according to your clot not your size. Don't stretch beyond your resources.
control your appetite
identify and deal with negative trends
Don't plan to go.

THE ON YOUR MARK PHASE

Have a personal need for a spouse. Don't marry because the society wants you to. Don't marry for anybody but yourself.
Go to someone from God's family
Understand that you are not desperate or frustrated. Look good always. Because you are not married today doesn't mean you won't marry tomorrow.
Don't marry as though you are doing someone a favour.
Enquire about the person you want to marry.
Be specific about your intentions.
Be sincere from the onset. Don't pretend about anything. Say things the way there are.

THE GET SET PHASE

Understand that this person is not yet your spouse. Matthew 1:18-19
Understand that the relationship might not end up in marriage. So give what you can let go.
Accept and go for someone you can respect.
Complain about the things you don't like.
Give things you're ready to miss.
Your wedding must not be the best in town. Marriage does not attend weddings.