'I Do' Today and Tomorrow and Forever: Staying Intentional with Chelsea Smith Ep. 706

25 snips

Dec 2, 2025

Chelsea Smith, an author and church leader, shares insights from her book, 'I Do Today.' She emphasizes the importance of intentionality in marriage, highlighting how daily, small habits can strengthen relationships. Chelsea discusses the vital role of intimacy, service, and maintaining curiosity about one's spouse. She also touches on how prayer can deepen emotional ties and the need to adapt marital connections through life changes. With practical advice, she encourages couples to recognize that a fulfilling marriage is both attainable and requires ongoing effort.

Ask episode

AI Snips

Chapters

Books

Transcript

Episode notes

INSIGHT

Everyday Habits Matter Most

Small, consistent habits shape the long-term health and joy of a marriage more than occasional grand gestures.
Chelsea Smith designed a 52-week plan to build those daily habits into marriage life.

ADVICE

Think, Talk, Then Act Weekly

Do a weekly focused practice: think about a topic, talk about it, then do a related activity together.
Use Chelsea Smith's 52-week prompts to convert conversations into lasting habits.

INSIGHT

Resistance Can Confirm Progress

Intentional marital growth often provokes opposition, which can indicate you're doing meaningful work.
Chelsea reframes resistance as confirmation to persist and deepen commitment.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Get the app

No matter what season of marriage you're in, intentionality is essential. It's what keeps the spark alive, rekindles romance, and helps you withstand the temptations and pressures of everyday life. Chelsea Smith joins me to talk about her new book, "I Do" Today: A 52-Week Guide to the Marriage You've Been Waiting For. This conversation will encourage you, inspire you, and challenge you to pursue a marriage marked by purpose, growth, and joy because you were never meant to settle for anything less than an awesome marriage.

Episode Takeaways:

A healthy sex life is vital for a healthy marriage.

Serving your spouse before you feel like they deserve it will change your perspective and the atmosphere of your marriage.

Never settle for what you know about your spouse- stay curious.

Only God's design for marriage leads to the true fullness He intended for your relationship.

Quotes from this episode:

"Marriage is the hardest and most rewarding relationship we have in this life." - Dr. Kim

"We can't do it on our own." - Chelsea Smith

"The best gift we can give our children is a healthy marriage." - Chelsea Smith

"Our marriages are the strongest evangelistic tool we have." - Chelsea Smith

"Sex is different in a Christian marriage because there's a spiritual component." - Dr. Kim

"The marriage of your dreams isn't a fantasy." - Chelsea Smith

"The power of thoughts towards your spouse can change everything." - Chelsea Smith

"The marriage of your dreams is not difficult; it's work." - Chelsea Smith

"I want people to know that we still work at it. We've been through tough times too, but it's worth it." - Dr. Kim

"You can't just put them in a box and set aside. A lifetime is not long enough to learn everything there is about your spouse." - Dr. Kim

Couples Conversation Guide

On a scale of 1–10, how intentional have you been about investing in your marriage in this season?
What's one thing you could do today to move that number closer to a 10?
Are there any resentments, assumptions, or unspoken expectations that might be clouding how you see your spouse?
Does an "awesome marriage" feel attainable to you right now? If not, why—and what steps could you and your spouse take to move toward it together?

Mentioned in this Episode:

Chelsea Smith is on Instagram
"I Do" Today: A 52 Week Guide to the Marriage You've Been Waiting For.
We gathered all 665 answers, organized them into the top 10 themes, and added 1 practical step for each theme so wives can better meet their husband's needs. 10 Things Husbands Want Their Wives to Understand

Want an opportunity to dig into God's Word with your spouse? Find Awesome Marriage on YouVersion. God's design for marriage is the best blueprint for an awesome marriage, His Mission, Our Marriage: Building a Christ-Centered Marriage will challenge you to remember your marriage is on mission for the Kingdom.
If you haven't browsed our site, you've GOT to check out the marriage resources we have over at AwesomeMarriage.com, and browse our online courses at AwesomeMarriageUniversity.com !
Speaking of being intentional! Sign up for Dr. Kim's Marriage Multiplier email for practical weekly marriage tips!
Now is the perfect time to join our Marriage Changers program. Enjoy every resource of the month plus bonus content from Dr. Kim and Mrs. Nancy. Join now, just in time to receive our 10 Things Husbands Want.