In this five‑minute devotional video recorded on January 4 2020, Rafael and Shakeeta Torres share a faith‑centered call to make 2020 a year of marriage restoration. They urge couples to return to the basics that initially drew them together—gratitude for each other’s strengths, rekindling romance, and focusing on the love that built the relationship. The couple emphasizes that marriage is a "first ministry" that must be prioritized over church leadership duties, work, or other ministries, warning that neglect can lead to negativity and conflict. Practical advice includes setting aside time for dates, modeling healthy relationships for children, and avoiding using kids as leverage in arguments. They stress allowing the Holy Spirit to guide the relationship, offering a joint prayer for healing, abundance, and Christ‑like love. The video concludes with a brief promotion of a "Doing It for the Kingdom" t‑shirt and a blessing for viewers.
Chapters
Good afternoon, good evening, good morning, whatever it may be on your part of the world, your time. For us, it's January 4th, 2020, and we are the Torres family. Yes, Rafael, Shakeeta, and we just want to put out what the Lord has given us so far. So the other day I was speaking with the Lord and he gave me that 2020 is the year for marriages to be restored, renewed, and back to the basics of what got you and your spouse together in the first place. You can get that love back strong, that foundation, um, back to where it used to be, rekindle, um, rekindle the motion, the love, the way you used to look at each other, the little giggles, little butterflies, you know, used to get inside, things like that. You need to get back to what got you your spouse.
Absolutely. Yes, I definitely agree, and I just thank God for that because, um, it's definitely a need. Um, it's so easy to look at your spouse's flaws, the thing that, you know, they don't do right per se, versus looking at what they do do right. And so I'm sure the good outweighs the things that you don't like about them at that particular time. Um, but just being grateful and just allowing God to remind you of what your spouse brings to the table. Um, I know for me in the past, that's how I'm going to God, thinking about my husband. I'm like, Lord, he ain't doing this, what's going on with that? And the Lord reminded me, don't forget you got issues too.
You do? What? I thought you were perfect.
Oh my gosh. I said, oh, so don't forget the times he's been there you. I forget the times he's covered you, um, all of the above. And so he checked me really quickly, okay? Um, so with that being said, allow God and the Holy Spirit to be in the midst of your relationship. Um, it is so easy to focus on the negative. It's so easy to get caught up in arguing, on, you know, being about self. It's not all about you anymore, right? When you get married, it's about the both of you guys, about your marriage. Your marriage comes first. And as he was saying about, um, God restoring the marriages— but he told me this earlier tonight, I'm eating dinner with our girls, and, um, I started to think about— God was like speaking to me, really. I'm just saying, you know, your marriage is your first ministry. Don't forget that. Um, this is definitely for leaders who are in church and are in leadership positions. It's so easy to get caught up in work It's so easy to come up with ministry at your church, outside of church, or wherever God has placed you. And we lose sight of our first ministry, which is your marriage. Your marriage and your family is your first ministry. I know I'm guilty of being a workaholic in the past, and the Lord had to sit me down and he had to tell me, okay, you have a family. You can't do all of the above. Like, I'm a go-getter, which is not a bad thing, but if it's getting in the way of my family, then Guess what? I'm out of order. So anything else you want to add?
Well said, Shakeeta Torres. I appreciate that. And, um, yeah, just take in, have an open mind, um, stop being so stubborn, bullheaded men especially, and, uh, just allow the Holy Spirit and that the love that built your relationship to come back full strength and just really embrace each other, um, at the beginning of this year. And just watch how your relationship gets better, um, throughout the rest of the winter into the spring. It's gonna be blossoming into like wonderful feelings for each other again. You're gonna want to go out on your dates. You got to take your time with each other and just really rekindle, rekindle things for, uh, yourselves, for your own well-being. And then you're— if you have kids, they see that and they're like, oh my God, look at that. You're setting an example for your children. So always think about that. If you're arguing in front of your kids, you're wrong. If you get into this—
using your kids as a ploy to get back at your spouse, you're wrong. And being vindictive, that's wrong.
So just some correction, um, please receive it. And as well for ourselves, this word goes full circle. So yeah, um, yeah, we try to keep them at 5 minutes, so, um, we're going on 5 minutes now. So, uh, I pray that y'all receive this. And, um, if you like the shirts, Doing It for the Kingdom, yeah, on Teespring.
We're not planning to wear these shirts, these shirts for this video. We didn't, okay, we just happen to have them on. It might be backwards to you guys, but I'll post the link at the below of the t-shirt where you can buy it from. Um, very inspirational. I'm very proud of the, the designer who did it. He did an awesome job. Um, so anywho, anything else you want to add?
God bless. Have a wonderful January.
Yes, do good things, right? Do you want to pray? I pray about our marriages.
Yes. Okay, go ahead.
You want to pray? You want me to pray?
We can, we can tag team this thing.
Okay. All right.
You do your part and tag me in.
I, I get up in there and close it out. Tag you in. Okay. Um, dear Heavenly Father, we just thank you. We thank you, God, for, um, every marriage, God, that has been ordained by you, Father. Father, we just pray that, that this year, God, that all of these marriages just walk into abundance, Lord God. Walk into healing, walk into restoration, God, and just get back to the basics, God, which is putting you first and loving each other, God, like Christ loves the church, Lord. And so, God, we thank you, Lord God, that marriage is ordained by you, Lord. And that God, you have a purpose and a plan, God, for all marriages, God, for all couples, Lord God. And God, we just love you. We thank you for allowing us to be able to be a vessel for your people, Lord. Go ahead.
Yes, Lord, I just thank you, Lord, for these marriages, Lord, for we, we pray that they came into the partnership, uh, correctly, Lord God, and knowing that you are the head followed by the spouse, children, and and ministry, Lord. We know that you are the foundation. We know that we need to build upon what you have given us, Lord God. We just thank you that we apply this, this correction, this word, Lord God, for 2020, Lord, and, and for here on out, Lord God. Not just a new, new thing this month. It's something that we have to remember what you bestowed upon us for marriage, Lord. It is a big covenant, Lord God. And we just thank you, Lord, for what you're doing in this season for these marriages, Lord God. Uh, we thank you for best friend that, uh, we have in each other, Lord. And we just, uh, just so grateful for what you're doing in this season, Lord. We, uh, we honor you, we glorify your name, Lord, and we just thank you. Jesus' name we pray, amen.
