7 Ways to Grow Your Marriage: Wife EditionSample

Today’s One Thing: Fight selfishness in your marriage. Pray for God to help you to willingly and lovingly serve your husband today!

I have said many times that the number one problem in marriage is selfishness. Think about your selfishness and how it contributes to problems in your marriage. Note this: I didn’t ask you to think about your husband’s selfishness. I know from personal experience that it’s not easy to look in the mirror. I try to serve Nancy every day, but there are many days when I miss the mark big-time.

When I’m tired or not feeling great, I honestly don’t really want to serve her. Instead, I want her to serve me, and I don’t want to have to give anything back. James 3:16 (NIV) says that “where you find envy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder.” I have tried to break this selfish pattern, but have not had any consistent success. I want to commit to working harder on becoming more selfless in my marriage. This is what I plan on doing: I am going to pray every day for God to help me serve my wife and to help me keep my selfishness under control.

I realize that I cannot do this on my own and that I need help—but not just any help. I am a sinful human, and this is a God-sized project. I challenge you to join me by committing to pray Psalms 119:36 (NIV) that the “Lord will turn your heart toward His statutes.” Pray daily for your own marriage. Ask God each day to help you willingly and lovingly serve your spouse. Ask Him today, ask Him again tomorrow, ask Him again the next day. . . Just keep praying.

Prayer Focus: Lord, help me to repent from any selfishness in my marriage. Show me where I am falling short and help me to repent. Turn my heart toward you and help me to walk in your ways.

Reflection Question: What is one way you can serve your husband today?