Love Your Spouse While You Have Them

By Harold Gillogly

We see how we appreciate things once we do without them for some period of time. Consider how you feel when the electric power comes back on after spending hours or days without it. Or if you are so thirsty for a long time, how wonderful is it to then get that refreshing drink?

Let’s treat our spouse like that – WITHOUT losing them for ANY period of time!

• Let us make our love obvious every day. Is your love obvious to your spouse? Are you romancing them as if you were courting again?  Continuous courting demonstrates your love continually.
• Never let hurts or wrongs fester but rather talk through them thoroughly and truly forgive each other. See Ephesians 4:32 NLT “Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you.”
• Let us engage them heart to heart – talking about our feelings – what is causing them and what passions are behind them. Please go see our webinar on how to do this.  It is free for a month starting now: How to Listen on the Right Wavelength
• Let us love and serve our mate with a willing spirit. You may have to ask God for help on this one as it is hard to bluff your mate. The true “willing spirit” can only be achieved through reliance on the Holy Spirit residing in us. See Galatians 5:22&23 NLT “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!”
• Let us honor them – not just on their special days – Honor and respect should be your “modus operandi” everyday (See 1 Corinthians 13:4-7). There will never be enough Birthdays or Anniversaries.
• Let us love them unselfishly, not expecting a return favor. We might do little acts of love simply with the hope of getting something in return. Please watch the webinar Real Love Walking.
• Share in regular devotions together discussing how to apply the Scripture to their lives. If God’s Word contains everything we need for life, marriage, parenting, friendship, and even how to treat even our enemies, we should become intent on studying it diligently. See 2 Timothy 3:16,17 NLT “All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.”
• Pray together and make a current list of the needs of the people in your life – Matthew 18:20 NLT “I also tell you this: If two of you agree here on earth concerning anything you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. For where two or three gather together as my followers, I am there among them.” We need the joy of marking off answered prayers.  Who has a good enough memory to recount all the answered prayers from years past?  A notebook with a written record lets you see how God is answering your prayers.