7 Ways to Grow Your Marriage: Husband EditionНамуна

Day 2: Uplift your wife with words of encouragement.

I’m a natural encourager. It’s nothing for me to encourage my children, grandchildren, and the couples in my Bible study. 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: "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver," and in Proverbs 16:24: "Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones."

Your wife needs to hear from you! She needs your words of encouragement and affirmation. 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: "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 wife.

Make sure to be really specific! Specific encouragement is the most impactful.

Today’s One Thing Challenge: Today, use one of the prompts below to think of something extra kind to say to your wife to encourage her. 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 ______.