5 Intentional Ways To Grow Closer to Your Spouse This Summer
Strengthen your connection—emotionally, spiritually, and yes, even playfully—through meaningful conversations, shared prayers, and the kind of fun that reminds you you’re best friends, too.
When life speeds up, intimacy can quietly fade into the background. But summer’s slower rhythm and warmer days give you space to pause, lean in, and remember what brought you together—not just through physical closeness, but through listening well, laughing often (and loudly), praying together, and being intentional with your time. This season is an invitation to reset, reconnect, and grow even closer.
Here are five ways to be more intentional in your marriage this summer—and have fun doing it!
1. Make time to laugh and talk about more than logistics.
It’s easy to slip into a rhythm of talking only about what’s for dinner, what needs fixing, and what’s going on with the kids. When was the last time you had a real conversation that made you laugh or feel seen?
Try this: Grab a set of Convo Cards for Couples. They look like a game (because they are!), but the beauty is in how they spark conversations you might not have thought to start on your own. Whether you’re newly married or decades in, they remind you that your spouse is worth rediscovering.
2. Take your dates a little more seriously (in a fun way).
Sure, a dinner out is nice. But sometimes, the most meaningful moments come from low-key, thoughtful dates when you’re present, creative, and intentional—like a round of indoor neon putt-putt, a game night after a fun trip to the store to grab your favorite snack and drink, or baking something sweet together and then cuddling up for a cozy movie night. It’s less about the plan and more about the connection.
Try this: Use Dates on a Dime to mix things up. They’re full of ideas that make dating your spouse feel doable—even on a budget. Plus, it’s not about the money spent but the connection made.
3. Play together, on purpose.
Play helps us let our guard down. It reconnects us to the lighter side of marriage and builds emotional intimacy without pressure.
One of my favorite ways to connect with my husband Peter is through playing games. We are both competitive, which means there’s always a lot of laughter, playful trash talk, and the occasional dramatic victory speech.
Try this: Break out Spouse-ology or Ferret Flush Couples Edition. These two games are a great way to enjoy one another again. Yes, they’re silly—but they open the door to remembering you’re not just parents, teammates, or roommates. You’re still each other’s favorite person.
4. Invite God in—through prayer and shared devotions.
One of the most intimate things you can do as a couple is invite God into your everyday moments—praying not just for each other but with each other. It builds trust and unity and reminds you that you’re part of something bigger than just the two of you.
My husband, Peter, and I have been feeling the weight of this season—balancing his PhD, intentionally parenting a sweet and busy toddler, and caring for each other and our home well. Lately, even small things have caused tension, and we sense the enemy trying to divide us. A prayer we often return to is for God’s protection over our day and for supernatural grace, patience, and strength. I also ask Him to keep at the forefront of our minds that we’re on the same team.
Try this: Start with something simple and intentional. Use the Lifting My Wife/Husband Through Prayer cards to guide your prayers for one another. Or pick a short couples devotional, like The Story of Us or Drawn Together, to read together a few times a week. It doesn’t have to be long to be meaningful—it just needs consistency. You’ll be surprised how much it softens your hearts toward one another and invites God into your connection.
5. Refocus on what your marriage is really about.
It’s easy to lose sight of the big picture day-to-day. But God designed your marriage for more than coexisting. He’s using it to grow you, shape you, and even reach others.
Try this: Go through a couple’s study, such as Art of Marriage or Vertical Marriage. These studies open up honest conversations and recenter your marriage on God’s design. They’ll challenge you in the best way—and remind you that you’re not in this alone.
Ready to get started?
Don’t wait for intimacy to “just happen.” Choose to pursue it—with purpose, with joy, and with God at the center.
Copyright © 2025 by FamilyLife. All rights reserved.
Bethany Kuetzing is the brand marketing manager for FamilyLife’s resources. Before working for FamilyLife, she worked in marketing for a counseling ministry. Bethany lives in Ann Arbor, Michigan, with her husband, Peter, and son, Theodore. Bethany and Peter first met when they were 16 and have been married since 2019.