7 Ways to Grow Your Marriage: Wife EditionSample

Today’s One Thing: Use one of the prompts below to think of something extra kind to say to your husband today to encourage him. Pray over what you would fill in the blank and then trust God to guide you.

• I am so proud of you for ______.
• One way I’ve seen you grow is ______.
• This is how I see you impacting our family positively ______.
• One thing I really appreciate about you is ______.

I’m a natural encourager. It’s nothing for me to encourage my children, grandchildren, and the couples in my small group. But can I confess something? Sometimes I forget to encourage my wife. The woman I appreciate the most, and sometimes, in the hustle and bustle of life, I overlook. To help combat this, I set reminders in my calendar to “encourage Nancy today.” God’s Word says in Proverbs 25:11 (NIV), "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver," and in Proverbs 16:24 (NIV), "Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones."

There’s something unique about how our spouses’ words affect us. They’re the person who knows you better than anyone else in the world. The person whom God has placed you with in the closest relationship two people can have on earth. That’s why your words have such an impact on your husband.

Your husband needs to hear from you! He needs your words of encouragement and affirmation. He needs to hear you respect him. Your words hold more weight and power than anyone else’s and can serve to heal and restore, strengthen and refine.

It was Paul’s encouragement to the church of Thessalonica in 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NIV), "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing," and it’s my encouragement to you today. Use these prompts I’ve written today to encourage your husband. Make sure to be really specific! Specific encouragement is the most impactful.

Prayer Focus: God help me to encourage my husband today. Holy Spirit, talk to me and show me the exact way to encourage my husband today. Give me insight into what he needs. Help me build him up.

Reflection Question: What would it look like for you to practically set a rhythm of encouraging your husband regularly?