Best Ways To Fall In Love Again As Couples – Part 3. This is the conclusion of our discussion in the last three days.
8. Respect each other’s space
You have to respect each other’s space. Let your spouse be. Sometimes back, my husband was quite busy putting our services online and doing other ministry stuff to meet a particular schedule. Then he finished his work and all the tension seem to have disappeared, so he wanted to play.
It was however a wrong time for me to play. I was praying and studying. He did play for some time but he respected my time to study and pray. We respected each other’s space and were willing to understand and help each other grow.
9. Be each other’s friend
Being each other’s friend has to do with everything including being gist partners, cheerleader, number 1 fan, critic, prayer partner, jester, teaser, confidant, gossip, gist partner, teacher, mentor, leader, you just name it.
Just focus on each other. Do things that please each other. Love each other. Follow the guiding words of 1 Corinthians 13. Love each other genuinely.
Did you miss out on yesterday’s devotional, we’ve got you covered kindly go HERE. For KHC video Devotionals kindly go HERE
10. Be your unique self
Your uniqueness remains your best selling point that endears you to your spouse. Of cause, try to be an improvement of who you are but don’t lose your flavor. Your flavor is the taste your spouse can never get anywhere else.
Do things that your spouse can remember with only you. Avoid nagging, being unfriendly, cold, harsh, or abusive. Try also not to be lazy because it takes hard work to build a marriage.
God bless your marriage.
CONFESSION FOR THE DAY I refuse to be a lazy spouse
PRAYERS FOR THE DAY Pray for a closer bonding with your spouse
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY After all, we don’t want to unwittingly give Satan an opening for yet more mischief – we’re not oblivious to his sly ways! (2Co 2:11 MSG)
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Take out time to bond with your spouse
A lovely day it is to once again look into our topic, building a happy and lasting marriage.
It takes a conscious effort to build anything. Jesus showed us how to build. He says we must dig deep and lay the foundation on the rock, on solid principles that are void of sentiments. Build with godly principles that will outlive the test of time.
Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. – Luk 6:47- 48
5. Be polite to each other
This is very crucial if you must build a lasting marriage where both spouses are happy. Most of the time, the husband’s ego makes it difficult to be polite to his wife. He feels why should I say sorry, thank you, or please. If he says it at all, he does so once in a while.
Did you miss out on yesterday’s devotional, we’ve got you covered kindly go HERE. For KHC video Devotionals kindly go HERE
If the wife mentions it, he says ‘I am the husband’. In marriage, we don’t take each other for granted. Later than sooner, there will be reactions. Respect should be reciprocal.
6. Always listen attentively to your spouse.
Make it a habit to always listen when your spouse is talking. When the spouse senses that you are not listening, it gives a feeling he/she is not so important to you. You must make your spouse feel like they are the most important person in this world to you because really they are.
Stop looking at your phones, iPad, laptop or watching the news, or reading a book when your spouse is talking to you.
The best communication skill you can develop is listening. Be quiet and patient while your spouse is speaking and you can now express your opinion. Look straight into his/her eyes when he /she is talking to you. That will make them feel you are interested in what they have to say.
7. Communication
This is the key to your relationship. Talk like lovers and friends. Most couples have lost friendship and some were never friends. You need to make amends where necessary because you can’t build a lasting marriage where you are not each other’s friends.
Don’t grow apart. There should be no fear whatsoever in expressing yourself. Deal with the root of whatever is causing fear. Ask yourself; am I easy to talk with? Does my spouse find me easy to talk with? Don’t answer yourself, ask your spouse. Don’t let your spouse guess what you are thinking about.
I will stop here for now.
God bless your marriage.
CONFESSION OF THE DAY I seek to understand my spouse
PRAYER FOR THE DAY Lord I receive grace to understand my spouse more
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY 1Pe 3:8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous
ACTION PLAN FOR THE DAY Be patient to understand your spouse
Do you know how to live with integrity? Taiwo wasn’t really interested in helping Ola with her mathematics assignment. She had consented to it while they were amongst friends and didn’t want to look uncool. The others had clapped for her, Taiwo never felt this good.
Now, Ola was coming over to Taiwo’s house with the assignment, any minute from now. Oh boy! Taiwo suddenly wished she had not agreed to it in the first place. Her favorite show would be coming on the television soon and she didn’t want to miss it.
‘Why the worry?’ Taiwo’s mom asked her. ‘You are wearing out the rug.’
‘I promised to help Ola with her assignment but can’t anymore. I want to watch my favorite show on television.’ Taiwo answered.
‘Now what did Jesus say about that?’ she asked.
‘We should keep our promises?’ Taiwo said.
‘Exactly!’ said her mom.
Jesus said we should not be too hasty to make a promise. Making a quick decision without first thinking it through could be a problem for us like Taiwo is in right now.
But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation. – James 5:12, KJV
Keeping promises is very important as they help to build our integrity and credibility.
‘So what are you going to do?’ Taiwo’s mom asked her again.
‘I guess I can watch the show next week. Ola won’t be happy if I don’t help her as promised. I have to keep my promise.’ Taiwo said.
I am so proud of you.’ said her mother, clapping for Taiwo.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me to keep my promises so I can be a person of integrity and credibility. Also, make me wise enough to not make hasty decisions or promises in your mighty name I pray. Amen.
Action plan: Are there promises you have made to others and you didn’t keep? Pray about them and ask Jesus to help you keep them. Also, ask for forgiveness from these people.
Declaration: My yes is yes. I will not be double-minded.
Ponder on who your friends are. Everyone has friends. They can be a great asset or a source of regret, bad influence, and the whole fireworks.
People you associate with can either make or break you. Their influence is very strong. That’s why you have to review your 2021 in terms of your relationship.
You do this by asking questions
Questions to ask include:
1. Who are your friends?
2. Are they from Christian homes and attend to the things of God with honour?
3. Do they tell lies?
4. Do they say vulgar jokes?
5. Do they encourage you to do good or bad?
Look at the questions and truthfully answer them. This helps you to know who to cut off from your side.
May God keep and bless you with good friends. Amen.
Prayer: Lord, make me a better companion and bless me with good company.
Action point: Make a list of all your friends and start to examine your friendship.
Declaration: I make better decisions this year in Jesus name.
Hanging out with your friends can be a great way of having fun, especially if they are friends that bring out the best in you and help you to smile when you feel down.
You also have to be a good friend to others. If you make hanging out with you interesting, then you will probably have loads of friends wanting to be friends with you.
Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
Prov 27:17, KJV
There are cool ways to have a great time with your friends. One of such is playing bible games with them.
There are loads of games you can get from the bible. It’s a book filled with many characters that did some fabulous and not too fabulous things.
You could try learning the books of the bible alphabetically and say what each book is about. For example, the book of Proverbs talks about wisdom, Genesis is about creation and how man began to fill up the earth.
You could also have a game of bible heroes- discussing what these heroes did, how they did it, where it happened and so much more.
Another fun game from the bible is searching for who said what in the bible, why they said it, and what it meant.
Acting out events from the bible is also a great way of having fun. Think of the story of David and Goliath – you could act that out with your friends. What about the story of Elijah, Elisha, Gideon, and loads of other characters? Think of costumes, props, lights, and action.
You are not only having fun by doing this, but getting to know your bible back to front, and learning the bible in a fun way.
Also, you are acquiring more knowledge about God.
You are learning about how things were in the bible, how people dressed, what they ate, what they did, and more.
It’s also a good way of bringing unbelievers closer to God. Think of it as a mini form of evangelizing.
So, the next time your friends come around or you go visit them, how about suggesting one of these games to them?
