Once upon a time, two brooms fell in love and decided to get married. Just before the ceremony, the bride broom informed the groom broom that she was expecting a little whisk broom. The groom was aghast. “How is it possible?” he asked. “We've never swept together.”

For married couples, becoming one includes sleeping together, but it also includes becoming one emotionally, intellectually and spiritually. What happens in the bedroom is often a difficult thing for couples to talk about. But it is possible to develop a healthy, God-honouring understanding of sex.

In Ephesians 5:31-32, the Apostle Paul notes that when two people marry, “a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the Church.” When two people become “one flesh,” there is a spiritual dimension that should be affirmed.

In a previous column I talked about “leaving” as the first step in becoming one. I was not suggesting that newly married people must give up important relationships or meaningful pursuits, but rather that they should find an appropriate balance between their former lives and life with their spouse.

The second part in becoming one is being united or “cleaving” to your partner. The goal here is to establish mutual commitment. In the Greek New Testament, cleaving means to cement together, to stick like glue, or to be welded together so that the two cannot be separated without damage to both. Cleaving is a love that will not let go.

Having established that your spouse is your number-one priority through leaving and cleaving, you can move to physical intimacy without shame. Physical intimacy is much more than sex. It's sharing love through warm hugs, kisses, holding hands, relaxing massages, foot rubs and snuggling. A variety of intimate moments weave together to make a healthy sex life.

In the busyness of life, couples become emotionally and intellectually intimate by carving out regular times for sharing. The “when” is not as important as creating a relaxed environment to focus on each other. Spiritual intimacy is built in private times together, reading the Bible, praying, developing spiritual gifts, and attending a home group and church.

Knowing your spouse emotionally, intellectually and spiritually is key to a fulfilling sex life

In his book, Tender Love, Bill Hybels writes, “Only when a man and wife relate to one another at the level of heart, mind and soul, in a permanent, trust-filled, open, safe, vulnerable, loving, passionate kind of way, does sexual intercourse represent what it was meant to represent: ultimate unity.”

Hints to a Fulfilling Sex Life
• Understand the differences in how men and women approach sex. Men are stimulated by sight, while women are more aroused by feelings, touch and words. Husbands, remember that women respond to what they feel, so make frequent deposits in her emotional bank account. Wives, keep in mind that men respond to what they see. Paying attention to your appearance will encourage him to connect with you sexually.

• Someone has said, “Sex begins in the kitchen.” Intimacy and desire are built up continually throughout the day. They don't automatically happen when you fall into bed. Meaningful nonsexual touching, along with emotional, intellectual and spiritual connecting, all work together to set the stage for physical intimacy.

• Be a student of your mate. Ask what gives him or her pleasure and satisfaction. Be sensitive to differences. Designed to be a mutually enjoyable experience, sex expresses and strengthens the unity of the wife-husband relationship.

• Deal with any outstanding issues that might prevent you from enjoying physical intimacy. Past experiences or current unresolved anger toward your spouse can cause lack of desire.

• Be open to learning. Patience and understanding go a long way as you explore and learn how to meet each other's physical needs and desires.

• Take care of yourself. Keeping your body in good physical condition not only enhances sexual performance and enjoyment but boosts your overall sense of well-being.

• Sex is powerful. Avoid using it as a weapon against your spouse. Also, be careful not to mistake sex for emotional intimacy. The physical act is not a substitute for the emotional closeness that ongoing communication and shared experiences bring.

Major Bob Armstrong and his wife, Penny, are the corps officers of The Willows, a community church of The Salvation Army in Langley, B.C. The parents of three young men, Bob and Penny have ministered as a team for 26 years in various capacities: pastors, church planters, facilitators of reconciliation, counsellors, educators and conference speakers. Both are registered clinical counselors and authors of the Couple Care Pre-Marriage Manual, Along the Way and Broken Church Restored. Along the Way: A Practical Guide to Help Couples can be purchased for $12 plus shipping by emailing Bob_Armstrong@can.salvationarmy.org.