"No one realizes how beautiful it is to travel until he comes home and rests his head on his old, familiar pillow." ~Lin Yutang

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

are you still encouraging?!

i'm halfway done with the 30-day husband encouragement challenge.  here are some words for encouragement to YOU for this challenge:
"Let your speech always be with grace." (Colossians 4:6a)
Focus today on how you represent your husband in your home, your church, and your community. In this challenge to encourage, ask: "If everything my family and friends knew about my husband came from a filter of what I've said about him, what would they think of my husband?" Do you need to change the filter?
Do you speak positively about your husband to others, or do you complain and criticize? Your speech should reflect 1 Corinthians 13 love. Your words should be kind, and should never "rejoice in iniquity" (v. 6). Refrain from listing your husband's faults to others. Satan likes to trick us in this area; be wary of sharing barbed "prayer requests."
Remember, "Love will cover a multitude of sins" (1 Peter 4:8b). Present your husband before others today in a strong, positive manner. Slip in a "good word" for your spouse. Resist the urge to correct or belittle him in front of others. Some of what you say may come back to him, and you want your words to be sweet, building him up and never tearing him down.
Don't forget: you are always criticizing--or encouraging--before an audience. God hears your conversations when you are alone with your husband in your own home. May your speech be always seasoned with grace.
While you are considering how your speech can reflect the grace of the Lord in your husband's life, don't forget that your words can also encourage others. When you share what God is doing in your life through this "30-Day Husband Encouragement Challenge", others will be blessed. Perhaps other wives will be moved to take up this challenge.

a good book to read:  "For Women Only" by shaunti feldhahn  ---it's one of those life-changing books. 

Try to remember, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

Is that a really old book? Or is there a recent version of "for women only?"