EMPOWERING LIVES WITH PURPOSE:
Guest writer: Cindy Jacob Southworth- Certified Relationship coach- WWL’S Leadership Coach and VOT Contributor.
Let’s be real: marriage can be hard. Some days I wonder if we even have anything left to talk about. That’s when I know it’s time to refocus my attention on the one God has given to me to love and cherish. I know that we need to spend time nurturing our spiritual connection with one another.
How can we nurture a strong spiritual connection with our spouse? Ephesians 5:19 tells us to “speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit.” (NIV) We build a great spiritual connection in marriage when we worship and study God’s Word regularly together and talk about how we can apply it to our daily lives. Grab a devotional and read it together. Share with one another what God is speaking to your heart. Tell him how much you enjoy sharing this time with him.
We can also encourage our spouses by honoring them in front of others, particularly our children, and rendering verbal affirmations. The Apostle Paul says, “Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves.” (Romans 12:10, NIV) We take joy in knowing that our spouse is our greatest cheerleader, so light a fire in your relationship by telling him something that you truly appreciate about him.
I Thess. 5:11 (TPT) tells us, “Encourage the hearts of your fellow believers and support one another.” Your spouse needs to know that you will be with him through the good times and bad. A good wife provides a soft place for her husband to land after a difficult day. Invite him to sit down after a long day of work and share his joys and his sorrows with you.
When conflicts occur, be the first one to offer forgiveness. Ephesians 4:31-32 tells us, “to lay aside bitter words, temper tantrums, revenge, profanity, and insults. But instead, be kind and affectionate toward one another. Has God graciously forgiven you? Then graciously forgive one another in the depths of Christ’s love.” (TPT) When we take God seriously about resolving our conflicts, it deepens our love for one another, knowing that we can forgive our spouse because God has forgiven us. Is there something you need to forgive him for? Talk to God about it, and trust Him to pour that forgiveness through you to the one He has given you to love, and this will help you strengthen your spiritual connection with one another.