With each year, Christian couples get the opportunity to grow in the Lord together, as well as work towards fulfilling the call that God gave to them. As such, husbands and wives should set their hearts on following Christ harder with every new year that comes.

Dear reader, it will be good for all of us married men and women to make the right goals for 2018 even before it comes. Planning right and setting right goals will make sure we go towards the direction we are meant to go. I am writing this article to help with that.

Are you excited to make 2018 the best year for you and your spouse? If so, here are some faith goals every Christian couple should consider.

1) Commit to denying the self more in pursuit of Christ

In Matthew 16:24-25, we find one of the most important principles we must apply in our lives if we are to follow Christ:

"Then Jesus said to His disciples, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.""

Christian husbands and wives will do well to urge each other to deny themselves in order to give precedence to Christ Jesus. We and our spouses can help each other do this by encouraging each other, being honest with one another in the areas we all need to deny ourselves, and praying for one another.

2) Commit to give more time to Bible study and prayer as a couple

Married couples can further their relationship with God and each other by committing to spend more time for prayer and Bible reading together.

When husbands and wives get entangled in the daily grind of work and family, most often the time given to the Lord in personal prayer and Bible reading and study becomes affected. Oftentimes it is sidelined in favor of the other things. Married couples can help each other get back on track by praying together and reading the Bible together.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 proves true, especially in this point.

"Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. but woe to him who is alone when he falls, for he has no one to help him up."

3) Commit to give more time to serve and be of help to others, in and out the church

Lastly, married couples should desire to be of service to others as they both follow God. I know that most married couples are now busy with their work and their kids, but it would be good to at least be of service to others even in small things.

Truth be told, it would be good for us to realize that God had a bigger purpose for marriage than the marriage itself. Adam and Eve weren't married just for themselves - they were brought together for the purposes of God (see Genesis 1:26-28). Where they failed (see Genesis 3:6), Christ is able to make us succeed (see Titus 2:11-14).