Peace over Perfection

Challenge
-Surrender to God and your husband.  

You don't know what God is using in your husbands life.  

Even if your husband makes what you think is a bad decision, let God teach him.  

It is not your place to nag, rebuke, correct, nudge, suggest, or question your man about his choices.

If he asks for your advice, give it to him honestly.

If he does not ask you, or even seem to consider you at all in his decision, surrender and submit.

God is in charge.

Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord.

Eph 5:22 (KJV)

 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Phil 4:6-7 (KJV)

Expectations

Challenge

-Try to find out what your husband expects when he comes home and apply what you know to please him the next time he arrives

e.g. no clutter, the radio on/off, a meal on the table, the kids greeting him, the kids playing quietly in another room, his favorite channel on t.v., candles burning, you busily getting dinner ready, you not doing anything and just sitting with him, etc.

Give him time to think about it if you ask him.

If he gives you no answer, just focus on trying to please him and his 5 senses.  

My Hero...

Challenge
-Write down 3 things that you can dwell on to help make you think of your husband as your hero.  e.g. He desires to provide well for you, he is chosen by God to be your leader, he bought you _____, he listened that one time when you really needed to talk to someone, he lets you stay home with the kids, he lets you work in your desired field, he lets you put your cold feet on him, he still loves you, etc.

Love suffers long and is kind

-Challenge
-Even after suffering long, in little trials or huge fiascoes, BE KIND.

BFF's

Challenge
-Be his best friend today.  Whatever he is doing, you do it too.  Laugh at his jokes, listen to his stories, make his favorite meal, buy his favorite junk food and eat it with him after the kids go to bed, cheer on his sport's team with him, make a fort and make love in it, watch his favorite movie, etc.  
Be spontaneous and be fun!

Gussy Up

Challenge
-Do three things to your appearance that you know your would husband would enjoy

If you can't say anything nice...

Challenge
-Do not say anything negative to your husband all day.  
Do not complain about the children, the home, your work, the finances (or lack thereof), the food, the weather, illness, pets, internet, other people, his annoying habits, traffic, a company, etc. 
Do not make digs or hints.
Do not criticize anyone's decisions, especially his.

What if...

What if you feel like you have been trying so hard to be a good wife, but nothing in your marriage has changed?

What if your husband still treats you the same and you have thoughts of injustice, bitterness, and frustration?

Maybe you are focusing on the wrong man.

What about the man who has been watching you?

Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.

Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.

For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.

Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.

Psalm 139:2-5

He is constantly thinking about you.

Many, O LORD my God, are thy wonderful works which thou hast done, and thy thoughts which are to us-ward: they cannot be reckoned up in order unto thee: if I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered.

Psalm 40:5

How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!

 If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.

Psalm 139:17&18

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

Jer 29:11

He gives you flowers every spring and summer.

He will listen to you when your heart is troubled.  

He is faithful to the very end.

He loves you enough that he died for you.

He knows you inside and out.

He has asked you to respect and reverence your husband.  He knows everything that your husband does or doesn't do, everything he says or doesn't say.  He knows every decision your spouse will make, and he still tells you to submit to him.

He knows what your husband can become.  He knows you are the woman that will be the best help meet for him.  He has made you to be.  

Submit to your husband with joy because God has told you to.  Reverence him with thanksgiving because your first and best lover commands you to.

Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

1 Peter 5:6&7

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Matthew 11:28-30

Help Meet

Challenge
-Do three things that will be helpful to your husband

His castle

Challenge
-Do 3 things around the house that will please him

Honor him

Honor your man.  

Reverence his words and actions.  Stick up for him, even if you don't understand his decisions or actions.  If he is truly in sin, don't go running to your friends or support/prayer group to tell what he has done.  Guard him from dishonor. 

Men are constantly thinking about what others think of them. They are afraid of being impostors   

He needs you to help him, to tell him things will turn out right, to pray for him earnestly, to help him make things right when they mess up.

Even if he _____________(fill in the blank), you are to be his helper, his lover, his friend.  

Do not betray his trust.  Do not betray his love.  

He needs you.  

You are his good thing.

It is not good for your man to be alone.

Tell him he is strong, tell him he is your love, tell him you appreciate him.  

Build him up with words, touches, looks, food, and prayer.  He is yours to take care of.  

Make others think he is the best thing ever.  

Brag about him; don't tear his honor down.  

You bear his name and bring honor upon yourself when you hold him up.

Let it go...

Challenge
-Pick one things about your husband you would like to change.
Now give that one thing to God and commit yourself to not trying to change that thing in your husband.
Ask yourself if that thing is an important life issue.  
If it is, pray about it.  
If it's not, let it go completely.  
God knows your husband and every decision he will make.  Trust your man and let God deal with him.