Edifying relationships bring forth nourishing fruit in the relationship. A happy spouse is a happy house! Being full of the goodness God has for us can allow our marriage to thrive through even the hardest of times!
E – Encourage: Be kind and gentle.
D – Delight: Delight in one another.
I – Involve: Active listening & talking.
F – Fulfill: Help each other to reach the greatest potential.
Y – Yield: Live in a yielded, forgiving state.
Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing. ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:11
Love each other by edifying each other in the BEST way will give your relationship the best chance at survival!
- Building each other up
- Encouraging one another
- Supporting one another
- Trusting God through it all
Wouldn’t it be great if we could do this for our wife or husband?
Love always and in all ways!
Love your spouse – even when you don’t feel like it. Feelings are fleeting, they come and they go. Make the decision to love your spouse in spite of how you feel and act on that vow. Start with kindness and move forward, focusing your attention on the relationship. Tell your spouse, “I love you.” and then list the ways you do.
Talk about the future with encouragement. Use the past as an illustration. Focus on all the ways God has helped you both to keep moving forward and to thrive. Remind one another that God is bigger than your problems. God’s strength gives hope in your future together.
Trust God and live like you believe it. It’s not enough to talk about having faith. Act on it! Strengthen your spouse with the way you live out your faith – the way you clothe yourself in God’s Word – the way you’re surround yourself in fellowship with other disciples of Christ. Ponder Acts 2:42 – and behave that way. Do this not only individually but together as a couple.
Ask God to bless your house and your spouse. Work through a monthly challenge to pray for your spouse in specific ways, a different way each day. Be creative. Pray differently – try journaling, and lifting up your marriage in your small groups. Ask, seek, and knock, (Matthew 7:7,8) and wait on the Lord. Pray without ceasing and fight on your knees for your spouse. (1Thessalonians 5:17) Invite your spouse to pray with you – let him or her hear you pray in specific, concrete ways for her/him – not just once, but continually.
Practice love in a practical ways. When was the last time you did something for your spouse? A cup of coffee can make a difference. (or a favorite anything) Schedule time together. Make it a priority. Your willing attitude can create a dent in the impossible. Sometimes words are cheap, and taking action turns the tide. (Proverbs 3:27) If there’s something that is in your power to do – just do it!
Do this and Both of you can claim victory and a happy house with your happy spouse!
