11 Practical Suggestions for Being a Good Wife
I remember before I got married, hearing stories of couples ending up in the marriage counselor's office because the husband left his socks and underwear on the bedroom or bathroom floor and the wife was upset because she always was having to pick them up! Or she was upset because he left the news paper in a heap by the couch or God forbid....he squeezed the toothpaste in the middle!
I used to snicker about these stories until I got married and realized Rick didn't always do things as I thought he should. So I set about to change him. I told him what I thought about the way he did things. I nagged. I fussed. You know what? It didn't help matters at all. Instead it only caused tension between us.
1 Peter 3:1-4 says, "In the same manner, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the behavior of the wives, while they behold your chaste conduct coupled with fear, whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of braiding the hair and of wearing of gold or of putting on of apparel, but let it be that hidden man of the heart in that which is not corruptible even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price."
God showed me that while trying to change my husband only made matters worse, allowing God to change me made a whole lot of difference!
God showed me that while trying to change my husband only made matters worse, allowing God to change me made a whole lot of difference!
One of the most important things you can do to help your relationship with your husband is to develop a meek and quiet spirit.
Webster says meek means patient, mild, gentle, kind, not inclined to anger or resentment.
Quiet means unobtrusive, quiet manner, calmness, stillness, freedom from turmoil or agitation, not easily excited or disturbed, not forward. A quiet spirit would be that character quality that remains calm in the face of overwhelming odds.
After 24 years of marriage, God still has me in boot camp to learn these character qualities. I believe it is something that takes much practice and believe me, if you ask God to help you develop these in your life, He will arrange the circumstances for you to learn them!
I'd like to share eleven practical suggestions that God has shown me over the years to help develop a meek and quiet spirit.
1. Spend regular, daily quiet time reading God's Word.
Psalm 119:15 I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways. I have found that when I do this first thing in the morning, I am better able to handle the frustrations that come my way that day.
2. Develop a constant attitude of prayer and communion with God.
1 Thessalonians 5:17 Pray without ceasing. Of course, we need to set aside time specifically for prayer, and that might be best done at the same time you spend reading His Word. But a constant awareness of God's presence in your life and constantly talking to God through out your day is so important. When things are going great, just thank Him as you go about your daily routines. When things are getting tough, talk to Him where you are.
3. Develop friendships with godly women with whom you feel free to share your innermost struggles and be that kind of friend to someone else. Make sure it’s a friend who won’t just fuel fires of resentment in you toward your husband.
1. Spend regular, daily quiet time reading God's Word.
Psalm 119:15 I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways. I have found that when I do this first thing in the morning, I am better able to handle the frustrations that come my way that day.
2. Develop a constant attitude of prayer and communion with God.
1 Thessalonians 5:17 Pray without ceasing. Of course, we need to set aside time specifically for prayer, and that might be best done at the same time you spend reading His Word. But a constant awareness of God's presence in your life and constantly talking to God through out your day is so important. When things are going great, just thank Him as you go about your daily routines. When things are getting tough, talk to Him where you are.
3. Develop friendships with godly women with whom you feel free to share your innermost struggles and be that kind of friend to someone else. Make sure it’s a friend who won’t just fuel fires of resentment in you toward your husband.
Proverbs 27:9 Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart; so doth the sweetness of a man¹s friend, by hearty counsel.
Proverbs 27:17 ³Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
Proverbs 27:17 ³Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend.
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You will want to check out my Bridal Shower Talk Resource book to read the rest of the devotional.....
