Since waking up this morning, I have been married for four years.

I can't remember if I've ever written about marriage - if I did, then it was a while ago and I'm certainly more experienced to comment on it now than I was then!

While some reading this may have been married for decades, I'm aware that others may be dating/engaged/newlyweds, so I wondered whether a couple of points of wisdom might be helpful at this four year milestone...I guess they'll be applicable if you're at 40 years as well.

1- Pray together everyday: As obvious or not as this sounds, it REALLY makes a difference. It unites and strengthens against all kinds of attacks and arguments, even if you're in a rush and the prayers are short. Do it everyday, no matter how tired you're feeling and you'll find you talk more openly and discuss the important things in life a lot more too.

2 - Be expectant of big things: We're always encouraged to dream big and ask big expectant things from God. Well, I guess it makes sense for that to start at home, first and foremost. Ask Him for a vision for your relationship, no matter how far in you are through the journey. Imagine the amazing things He still has for you and the people He plans to impact with your marriage and then start praying that these people are brought to your home.

3 - Serve: Serve each other, serve others with your marriage, serve at church alongside your wife/husband. Serve, serve, serve. Whether you feel like it, whether you're bogged down with the rest of life, no matter what: make serving the everyday culture of who you are as a couple. You'll find you fight less, love more, worship together, give your money better and enjoy times of chilling out together more. Trying to out-serve the other is something that we've done from the beginning and it really works - it's not false and competitive, it just makes you active and more loving and considerate toward the other person.

4 - Have a date night! Monday nights are normally untouchable. This is when we make nice arrangements, ignore the phonecalls and block out everything else - just for a few hours. Making room for this is one of the most important things I think we do/have ever done. Even if it's just a meal and a DVD, Monday night is the key to setting us up for the rest of the week. Be imaginative, be spontaneous, be silly... I guarantee that this point is as important as the other 3!

There are probably heaps more points that I could mention, but to be honest, I have a date to get ready for, so these are the top four for now.

I'm already punching well above my weight as it is, so I don't want to keep her waiting!