BUILD BUILD BUILD

• Build Up or Tear Down

In regard to your relationship with your spouse on a daily basis do we build up or tear down with our words and our actions?

Proverbs 14:1 says

The wise woman builds her house, But the foolish pulls it down with her hands.

 This minute applies to both husband and wife.

• Affirm Him

Because our husband’s top need is respect, affirming him with positive words and actions goes a long way to help him feel loved and appreciated. If all we do is point out what he did wrong, how he disappointed us or what he didn’t do, it tears him down. It’s a defeating thing for him. Building up makes him want to be a better man. Encouraging words bring life and build up. Our husband wants to please us. Let’s look for the good, the things he does right. Let’s affirm the person they are.

• Affirm Her

Husbands, are you critical or sarcastic regarding the way your wife drives or cooks, the job she is doing, or what she needs to be doing that she is not? Think about flipping the script. Think about turning negativity into positivity. What is she doing right? Women actually flourish when they are continually praised and affirmed. You can actually see on a woman’s countenance if they are being well loved and affirmed.

• Harmony or Discord

We can bring harmony & peace or discord and strife. We can be our spouse’s greatest supporter and biggest cheerleader. Our home should be a safe and happy place to be celebrated, respected and built up.

• Room for Improvement

Are you already doing well in this area?  That is excellent! Still here is always room for improvement.

Are you struggling with this? Ask the Lord to bridle your tongue and see your spouse as God does!

 It’s not that we can’t address issues constructively, but let’s learn to sandwich the issues.

• Challenge for this week 

Devotional: Use scripture to study and discuss with your spouse how you can improve in the area of building each other up.

Action: Determine this week to build and watch the fruit that is produced.

Gal 5: 22-23

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.

Eph 5: 4

neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.

Phil 4:8-10

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.  The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these DO, and the God of peace will be with you.

When you become a place of complete acceptance (like the Father), it is like a well-tended garden that flourishes.

Prayer: Father, help me to guard my mouth and actions to line up with what your word says about loving and affirming my spouse in Your name I pray. Amen.