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499-Sinful v. Holy Fierce Intimacy (Re-Release)

Delight Your Marriage

Release Date: 09/05/2025

500 Episodes! Your Influence & Joining DYM's in Our Next Decade show art 500 Episodes! Your Influence & Joining DYM's in Our Next Decade

Delight Your Marriage

When I hit “record” on the very first Delight Your Marriage podcast 10 years ago, my mic stand was a Quaker Oats container.  I had a dream, a story, and a hope that I thought could help others.  I just had a few loaves and fishes to offer—with a world in need. Now—500 episodes later—we’ve seen Him do it: hundreds marriages restored in our programs directly, many thousands of families transformed through our podcast, lives healed all over the world.  And yet, this milestone isn’t just about what God has done at Delight Your Marriage—it’s about what He wants to...

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499-Sinful v. Holy Fierce Intimacy (Re-Release) show art 499-Sinful v. Holy Fierce Intimacy (Re-Release)

Delight Your Marriage

499-Sinful v. Holy Fierce Intimacy I was confused. There I was a new bride, having saved myself for marriage… only to find out that my new husband wanted me to do SINFUL things. Where did he get all this “inspiration” anyway? Oh, I knew: sinful places. So, of course, I refused. And of course, it brought mutual anger (covering each of our hurt). What’s your story? If it’s even remotely like mine, I needed to change the lens in which I was viewing sex. I wasn’t viewing sex from a biblical standpoint. I was viewing sex from a sexually perverted lens. (Even though I saved my sex for...

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498-Creating Better Habits for a Better Marriage: Michael's Story show art 498-Creating Better Habits for a Better Marriage: Michael's Story

Delight Your Marriage

Creating Better Habits for a Better Marriage: Michael's Story You love your wife. You love your family. And you’d do anything for them. But if you’re honest… things don’t feel quite the same as they used to. Maybe you’re exhausted from work, the baby, or the endless list of responsibilities. Maybe your evenings with your wife now look more like two roommates collapsed on the couch—silent, tired, and just hoping tomorrow will be better. That’s exactly where Michael found himself. A good man. A loving husband. A dad who adored his toddler son. And yet—he noticed the spark in his...

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497-Living a Life of No Regrets in Marriage and Faith show art 497-Living a Life of No Regrets in Marriage and Faith

Delight Your Marriage

497-Living a Life of No Regrets in Marriage and Faith [Re-Release] (Previously Titled: Changing OURSELVES in Light of Eternity) Hello, listeners! As we continue to work on our recording our very first in-person trainings, we hope you will enjoy some of the re-releases from the past few years of the Delight Your Marriage podcast (It has certainly been sweet to us to re-listen and share some of our favorites with you!) For this week, we hope you will enjoy a little bit of Christmas in the summertime as we talk about living life in light of eternity. Christmas is certainly a wonderful time to...

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496-Abiding in God’s Love by Living a Life of Surrender show art 496-Abiding in God’s Love by Living a Life of Surrender

Delight Your Marriage

Abiding in God’s Love by Living a Life of Surrender (Formerly Titled: Real Love Takes Sacrifice) We know the Bible says “God is love” (1 John 4:8) and that He loved us first. But if we’re honest, many of us spend more time wondering, “Does God really love me?” than asking the deeper, more revealing question: “Do I truly love Him?” That’s the heart of today’s message. God’s love for you is unshakable, unchanging, and eternal. The real question is whether your love for Him is genuine—and if it’s showing up in your life the way true love always does: through sacrifice....

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495-Years of Counseling Didn’t Help, But Now After 35 Years They’re Better Than Ever show art 495-Years of Counseling Didn’t Help, But Now After 35 Years They’re Better Than Ever

Delight Your Marriage

After nearly four decades of marriage, Kim and Russ had done the hard work. They had raised five children, invested in professional counseling, read marriage books, and sought spiritual guidance. And still, something was missing. The breakthrough moments they experienced through the years never seemed to last. They still longed for a deeper connection and the kind of love they had always dreamed of. The Pain of “Almost” Fixing It Kim felt emotionally unsafe for far too long. Arguments were frequent, and intimacy had become something to endure rather than enjoy. She said, “We spent tens...

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494-Don't Waste the Great Gift of Influence (Re-Release) show art 494-Don't Waste the Great Gift of Influence (Re-Release)

Delight Your Marriage

Don't Waste the Great Gift of Influence (Formerly titled: Don't Waste Your Impact) It’s easy to underestimate just how much weight your words, actions, and attitudes carry—especially in your marriage. But the truth is, your spouse is the person you impact most in this life. And that impact can either build up or break down. It can draw them closer to Jesus—or push them further away. Whether you're aware of it or not, you are influencing every day. The real question is: how are you using that influence? In today’s episode, we’re exploring what Scripture and research say about the...

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494-Don't Waste the Great Gift of Influence (Re-Release) show art 494-Don't Waste the Great Gift of Influence (Re-Release)

Delight Your Marriage

Don't Waste the Great Gift of Influence (Formerly titled: Don't Waste Your Impact) It’s easy to underestimate just how much weight your words, actions, and attitudes carry—especially in your marriage. But the truth is, your spouse is the person you impact most in this life. And that impact can either build up or break down. It can draw them closer to Jesus—or push them further away. Whether you're aware of it or not, you are influencing every day. The real question is: how are you using that influence? In today’s episode, we’re exploring what Scripture and research say about the...

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493- Fall in Love With Your Spouse Again: Kay’s Story show art 493- Fall in Love With Your Spouse Again: Kay’s Story

Delight Your Marriage

Fall in Love With Your Spouse Again: Kay’s Story Marriage is one of God’s most beautiful gifts—and one of His most powerful tools for growth and sanctification. But even after decades of love and commitment, many couples find themselves asking the quiet question: What happened to us? Maybe you're feeling distant from your spouse. Maybe you’re still under the same roof—but it feels like you're living parallel lives. Maybe you’ve stopped hoping things can change. That’s where Kay was after 33 years of marriage. But her story is a powerful reminder: It is possible to fall in love...

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492-Forgiveness is Key to Better Relationships: Interview with Brian & Heather Mayer show art 492-Forgiveness is Key to Better Relationships: Interview with Brian & Heather Mayer

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Forgiveness is Key to Better Relationships: Interview With Brian & Heather Mayer Forgiveness can feel like the most unfair, unnatural thing in the world. When someone has wounded you—especially someone who was supposed to love you—choosing to forgive may feel like letting them off the hook. But Brian and Heather Mayer’s story reminds us: forgiveness isn’t about the other person’s worthiness—it’s about God’s mercy. And it's the path to freedom, not just for them… but for you. Why Christian Marriages Struggle With Forgiveness Heather didn’t realize how deeply...

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499-Sinful v. Holy Fierce Intimacy

I was confused.

There I was a new bride, having saved myself for marriage…

only to find out that my new husband wanted me to do SINFUL things.

Where did he get all this “inspiration” anyway?

Oh, I knew: sinful places.

So, of course, I refused. And of course, it brought mutual anger (covering each of our hurt).

What’s your story?

If it’s even remotely like mine, I needed to change the lens in which I was viewing sex.

I wasn’t viewing sex from a biblical standpoint.

I was viewing sex from a sexually perverted lens. (Even though I saved my sex for marriage, I certainly received messages from the world that perverted the purity and unashamedness that is meant to be in the bedroom.)

I was thinking about a sinful visual I had, at some point, encountered that I knew was wrong. Instead of recognizing the COMPLETELY different and HOLY context of my marriage, I decided the act was associated with my experience that was not God’s will.

Maybe you’ve gone through something profoundly tragic, if so, my heart goes out to you. And now you’re married and there are so many things that feel hard to move towards because of the past. There is hope. Hope for healing and even hope for desire.

Be washed by truth. That’s my aim in this conversation. That you will realize that our God is a God of intimacy and freedom in your marriage.

When you wash your mind with the truth of His design within the marriage bed, may you slowly wade (or dive in) into the waters of marital intimacy and find out it’s nice and warm (with your spouse 🙂 )

Biblical Sexual Boundaries: What God Says Clearly

God’s Word is not silent on sexuality. We’re called to flee sexual immorality (1 Corinthians 6:18), honor marriage and keep the marriage bed pure (Hebrews 13:4), and rejoice in the wife (or husband) of our youth (Proverbs 5).

What does that mean practically? It means saying no to adultery, fornication, pornography, and lust outside of marriage. But it also means saying a big yes to intimacy within marriage.

God designed it. He delights in it. And He calls it holy.

Christian Sexual Freedom in Marriage

Here’s the good news: within the covenant of marriage, you are FREE. Passion, tenderness, variety—when it’s just the two of you, it’s not dirty or off-limits.

Too often, we add rules God never wrote. We act like Pharisees in the bedroom, burdening ourselves with shame. But Scripture doesn’t say you have to find every position or practice word-for-word in the Bible. It says to stay within God’s boundaries.

That’s it.

Inside those boundaries, freedom is His gift.

Masculine vs. Feminine Sexuality in God’s Design

I often talk about a helpful framework: feminine sexuality tends to be calming, connective, tender—while masculine sexuality is passionate, fierce, and energetic.

Neither is wrong! In fact, both are needed! But here’s the key: most wives won’t feel safe to enjoy masculine passion until the feminine is deeply honored.

Gentle connection lays the foundation for fierce intimacy. When both are present, intimacy becomes the oneness God intended.

One Flesh Marriage Meaning

When Scripture says the two become one flesh (Matthew 19:5), it’s not talking about shared bank accounts or chore charts. It’s talking about the mystery and beauty of sexual union.

That oneness is not only for procreation—it’s also for pleasure, connection, and spiritual unity.

You were designed to be “naked and unashamed.” That’s God’s original intention for your marriage.

Repentance and Sexual Purity

Here’s the challenge: what you consume shapes what you expect.

If your eyes are fixed on media that glamorizes lust, adultery, or pornography, your heart will follow. Jesus warned us—lust in the heart is adultery (Matthew 5:28).

But repentance is always available. God’s kindness leads us to turn back (Romans 2:4). His grace washes us clean and empowers us to start again. Inside His boundaries, intimacy is safe, holy, and life-giving.

Healing and Hope for Your Marriage Bed

If intimacy feels impossible for you—whether because of past sin, abuse, shame, or just exhaustion—please don’t give up.

You can heal.
You can rediscover joy.
You can learn how God wired you for intimacy, and how to give and receive love in your marriage bed.

I want you to know: fierce intimacy is possible, for men and women. And it is holy. Within God’s design, it’s not just permitted—it’s celebrated.

Final Thoughts

Friend, don’t let the enemy steal your freedom by pushing you into guilt—or into sin. God’s Word draws the boundaries, and inside them, He invites you to DELIGHT.

We are rooting for you.

Blessings,

The Delight Your Marriage Team

PS - Ready to take the next step? Schedule a free call with one of our Clarity Advisors today. This free Clarity Call will give you insight into the health of your marriage and your best next step. Whatever is hindering you from taking your next step, you are not too far gone. Sign up here for your free Clarity Call!

PPS - Need a little extra coaching on this whole holy fierce intimacy thing? Well, the timing could not be better! Our very own Belah Rose is a keynote speaker for Date Your Spouse's 2025 Sex Seminar. All the nitty-gritty questions, all the understanding and support. Check out this link to register for this seminar and catch not only Belah's teaching, but other intimacy experts as well! 🔥 (Want to catch up on the Sex Seminars from previous years? You got it. Click here to register for access for this year's panel AND previous years!)

PPPS - Here is a quote from a recent graduate:
"Before DYM, there was a lot of tension and stress in our marriage and disconnect. My husband had affairs and these were replayed constantly in my head even though one of them occurred 25 years ago... After going through the program, the stress is gone... I told him I have forgiven him and intimacy is something I desire now and enjoy with my husband. We are both so much happier in our marriage! I have also started back on my spiritual journey with God, that I have been away from for many years."