Day 16 Love Intercedes

Day 16

Love intercedes

Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers. –3 John:2

Begin praying today for your spouse’s heart. Pray for three specific areas where you desire God to work in your spouse’s life and in your marriage.

Today’s Questions:

Have you experienced the power of prayer in the past? What did you choose to pray about? Was it easy for you, or did it feel foreign to you?

If anyone is God-fearing and does His will, He listens to him. (John 9:31)

For insight into the keys of effective prayer see Appendix.

Yesterday’s Dare:

I did my best to show honor to Tommy by listening to him intently. Even though I did not feel up to going I went with him to his grandmothers to see some family and Wal-Mart last night. I ended up buying him a Bible. It’s a very nice one and he seems happy with it. I am glad. It would be nice to see him use it as well.

Day 15 Love Is Honorable

Day 15

Love is honorable

Live with your wives in an understanding way . . . and show her honor as a fellow heir of the grace of life. –1 Peter 3:7

Choose a way to show honor and respect to your spouse that is above your normal routine. It may be holding the door for her. It might be putting his clothes away for him. It may be the way you listen and speak in your communication. Show your mate that he or she is highly esteemed in your eyes.

Today’s Questions:

How did you choose to show honor? What was the result? What are some other ways you could demonstrate honor in the coming days?

I will also honor them and they will not be insignificant. (Jeremiah 30:19)

Yesterday’s Dare:

I gave up doing anything that wasn’t something Tommy wanted to do, besides work. We watched a movie together and later we went and hung out with our friend at . . . dun dada dun . . . Wal-Mart. Lol we are ssoo weird. I had a lot of fun. I relearned all the little things that Tommy likes, well really what he likes to laugh at. He loves comedy and has a great sense of humor, though sometimes I don’t appreciate it like I should. Most of the time he will try to lighten the situation with a joke of some kind and I will get mad because I don’t think it’s appropriate. Well isn’t that something that I found attractive about him in the first place. Yes, it is so it shouldn’t bother me. I will do my best to laugh more with him. J

Day 14 Love Takes Delight

Day 14

Love takes delight

Enjoy life with the wife you love all the days of your fleeting life. – Ecclesiastes 9:9 HCSB

Purposefully neglect an activity you would normally do so you can spend quality time with your spouse. Do something he or she would love to do or a project they’d really like to work on. Just be together.

Today’s Questions:

What did you decide to give up? What did you do together? How did it go? What new thing did you learn (or relearn) about your spouse?

Give me your heart . . . and let your eyes delight in my ways. (Proverbs 23:26)

Yesterday’s Dare:

Tommy was very helpful when establishing our rules of engagement. At first all he said was ok, like he wasn’t sure how it was gonna go or help and he actually helped come up with literally half of the rules. I wrote the rules for myself before I knew if Tommy would help so my rules are the same as the ones for us. I will work on the “me rules” though, and I plan to print out our rules and frame them on our wall so we can see. I know of either of us I am the one who will break the rules the most; it’s mostly things I do. L

Day 13 Love Fights Fair

Day 13

Love fights fair

If a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. –Mark 3:25

Talk with your spouse about establishing healthy rules of engagement. If your mate is not ready for this, then write out your own personal rules to “fight” by. Resolve to abide by them when the next disagreement occurs.

Today’s Questions:

If your spouse participated with you, what was their response? What rules did you write for yourself?

Be of the same mind toward one another. (Romans 12:16)

Yesterday’s Dare:

Tommy and I fight about Rocky more than we do anything else; we have different training and discipline styles. I told him yesterday that I would give in to the fight over Rocky. It didn’t really cost me anything except I will have to change the way I handle him which is a hard thing to do. It will help tremendously though because now that we ‘agree’ on how to train him it should get done and much faster at that. It will also take away our ‘reason’ for fighting so much, which was stupid and inconsequential to begin with.

Day 12 Love Lets The Other Win

Day 12

Love lets the other win

Do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. –Philippians 2:4

Demonstrate love by willingly choosing to give in to an area of disagreement between you and your spouse. Tell them you are putting their preference first.

Today’s Questions:

What issue did you choose? What did giving in cost you? How will this help you in the future?

If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. (Romans 12:18)

Yesterday’s Dare:

Yesterday’s need filled was one of intimacy. I had offered to rub Tommy’s back after I got home and things just took another turn. J Maybe I’ll give him that back rub today.

Day 11 Love Cherishes

Day 11

Love cherishes

                                                                                    

Husbands ought also to love their own wives as their own bodies. –Ephesians 5:28

What need does your spouse have that you could meet today? Can you run and errand? Give a back rub or foot massage? Is there housework you could help with? Choose a gesture that says, “I cherish you” and do it with a smile.

Today’s Questions:

What did you choose to show that you cherish your mate? What did you learn from this experience?

Answering him, Jesus said, “What do you want Me to do for you?” (Mark 10:51)

Yesterday’s Dare:

My original plan was to get Tommy’s favorite dessert, cheesecake, but I was unable. I let Tommy sleep in yesterday while I gathered his clothes and things for church. Then later in the day we visited my parents. We stayed for a while and left when he was ready with no argument at all, not even a single delay. Usually I do not want to leave and refuse to until I am ready, but I chose to make him happy. I am hoping that today I can at least make up for not having his dessert yesterday. 

Day 10 Love Is Unconditional

Day 10

Love is unconditional

God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. –Romans 5:8

Do something out of the ordinary today for your spouse–something that proves (to you and them) that your love is based on choice and nothing else. Wash her car. Clean the kitchen. Buy his favorite dessert. Fold the laundry. Demonstrate love to them for the sheer joy of being their partner in marriage.

Today’s Questions:

Has your love in the past been based on your spouse’s attributes and behavior, or on your commitment? How can you continue to show love when it’s not returned in a way you hoped for?

He who trusts in the Lord, loving-kindness shall surround him. (Psalm 32:10)

Yesterday’s Dare:

I woke Tommy up with a soft touch and kiss that morning and told him I love him and it was time to get up. He smiled and said, “Good morning, beautiful. I love you, too.” J  That made me smile. I am determined to always smile I see him and give him a kiss (when appropriate) and tell him I love him. I love it when he is happy and if that all it takes then I will do it.