Day 30 Love Brings Unity

Day 30

Love brings unity

Father, keep them in Your name, the name which You have given Me, that they may be one even as We are. –John 17:11

Isolate one area of division in your marriage, and look on today as a fresh opportunity to pray about it. Ask the Lord to reveal anything in your own heart that is threatening oneness with your spouse. Pray that He would do the same for them. And if appropriate, discuss this matter openly, seeking God for unity.

Today’s Questions:

Did the Lord open your eyes to anything new that might be giving fuel to this point of disagreement? How do you intend to respond? What do you hope to see God do in your spouse as well?

The Lord is our God, the Lord is one! (Deuteronomy 6:4)

Yesterday’s Dare:

This will help bring Tommy and me closer together. I am motivated to be a better wife, listen and learn to control my anger, and to stop considering just myself and my feelings.

Day 29 Love's Motivation

Day 29

Love’s motivation

Render service with a good attitude, as to the Lord and not to men. –Ephesians 6:7 HCSB

Before you see your spouse again today, pray for them by name and for their needs. Whether it comes easy for you or not, say “I love you,” then express love to them in some tangible way. Go to God in prayer again, thanking Him for giving you the privilege of loving this one special person –unconditionally, the way He loves both of you.

Today’s Questions:

How will this change of motivation affect your relationship and reactions? What does this inspire you to do? What does it inspire you to stop doing?

As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. (Joshua 24:15)

Yesterday’s Dare:

I cause most if not all of Tommy’s stress. L When I offered to help him he seemed relieved and happy. I asked him if he needed any other help and he said no but I’ll keep looking anyway. 

Day 28 Love Makes Sacrifices

Day 28

Love makes sacrifices

He laid down His life for us. We should also lay down our lives for our brothers. –1 John 3:16 HCSB

What is one of the greatest needs in your spouse’s life right now? Is there a need you could lift from their shoulders today by a daring act of sacrifice on your part? Whether the need is big or small, purpose to do what you can to meet then need.

Today’s Questions:

How much of your mate’s stress is caused by your lack of concern or initiative? When you expressed a desire to help, how did they receive it? Are there other needs you could meet?

Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ. (Galatians 6:2)

Yesterday’s Dare:

When I place high expectations on Tommy that he doesn’t feel internally motivated to attain it tells me that I am more selfish than I ever realized. I need to start doing what I expect him to do.

Day 27 Love Encourages

Day 27

Love encourages

Guard my soul and deliver me; do not let me be ashamed, for I take refuge in You. – Psalm 25:20

Eliminate the poison of unrealistic expectations in your home. Think of one area where your spouse has told you you’re expecting too much, and tell them you’re sorry for being so hard on them about it. Promise them you’ll seek to understand, and assure them of your unconditional love.

Today’s Questions:

When you place high expectations on your spouse that they don’t feel internally motivated to attain, what does that tell you about yourself? What are some better ways to deal with these disconnects?

Let us consider ho to stimulate one another to love and good deeds. (Hebrews 10:24)

Yesterday’s Dare:

Tommy needs to see that I have learned from my mistakes and wont do them again before he will truly believe that they are not just words coming out of my mouth.

Day 26 Love Is Responsible

Day 26

Love is responsible

When you judge another, you condemn yourself, since you, the judge, do the same things. –Romans 2:1 HCSB

Take time to pray through your areas of wrongdoing. Ask for God’s forgiveness, then humble yourself enough to admit them to your spouse. Do it sincerely and truthfully. Ask your spouse for forgiveness as well. No matter how they respond, make sure you cover your responsibility in love. Even if they respond with criticism, accept it by receiving it as counsel.

Today’s Questions:

What does your mate need to see in order to believe that your confession was more than just words?

Each one must examine his own work . . . in regard to himself alone. (Galatians 6:4)

Yesterday’s Dare:

I have always forgiven Tommy and he has never done anything worth holding a grudge, so there really isn’t anything for me to forgive him for. Other people are a different story. For some people I have been holding a grudge so long I don’t know what its like to have an actual conversation with them. If I let this go and forgive and leave it all to God, I will feel better, and God will open my heart that much more and come in. Which would allow me to be the Christian I am supposed to be. 

Day 25 Love Forgives

Day 25

Love forgives

What I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, I did it for your sakes in the presence of Christ. –2 Corinthians 2:10

Whatever you haven’t forgiven in your mate, forgive it today. Let it go. Just as we ask Jesus to “forgive us our debts” each day, we must ask Him to help us “forgive out debtors” each day as well. Unforgiveness has been keeping you and your spouse in prison too long. Say from your heart, “I choose to forgive.”

Today’s Questions:

What did you forgive your spouse for today? How long have you been carrying the weight of it? What are the possibilities now that you’ve released this matter to God?

Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing. (Luke 23:34)

Yesterday’s Dare:

The thing I covet more than anything else is a baby. Tommy and I have fought over this subject countless times. I would love to be a great wife and mother but I need to learn to be the wife before I become the mother. From this point on I am committing to be the best wife and Christian I can be by the will of God. 

Day 24 Love VS Lust

Day 24

Love vs. Lust

The world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God lives forever. –1 John 2:17

End it NOW. Identify every object of lust in your life and remove it. Single out every lie you’ve swallowed in pursuing forbidden pleasure and reject it. Lust cannot be allowed to live in a back bedroom. It must be killed and destroyed –today –and replaced with the sure promises of God and a heart filled with His perfect love.

Today’s Questions:

What did you identify as and area of lust? What has this pursuit cost you over time? How has it led you away from the person you want to be? Write about your new commitment to seek Him –and to seek your spouse –rather than seeking after foolish desires.

Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil. (1 Peter 2:16)

Yesterday’s Dare:

I threw out all time on the computer that is not needed for work or school and doing the love dare. I can’t promise I will blog after the forty days are up. I don’t watch TV anymore so this is really the only thing that I have hindering my relationship with Tommy. On occasion I will read a novel and be consumed by it I am hoping to be able to come up with a balance for that the next time I find something suitable to read.