Blessing Your Spouse

So then let us pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another (ROMANS 14:19 NASB)

Dr. Ed Wheat has an excellent suggestion for marriage. He says that one of the ways to keep your marriage alive is to bless your spouse. But what in the world is a blessing? The word in the New Testament is based on two Greek words translated well and word. Blessing your spouse literally means to speak well of him or her. You can speak well of your partner to others, and you can speak well to him or her through compliments, words of encouragement, and the small courtesies of life which tend to fade after the days of courtship. Blessing your partner also involves edifying or building up as Romans 14:19 states.

How is this done? Dr. Wheat has a number of suggestions. Which of these are presently true of your relationship? Which ones need to be implemented?

1. Make a decision to never again be critical of your partner in thought,  Word of deed. This should be a decision backed up by action until it become a habit that you would not change even if you could.

2. Spend time studying your spouse so you develop a sensitivity to the area in which the person feels a lack. Discover creative ways to build your spouse up in those weak areas.

3. Spend time thinking daily of positive qualities and behaviour patterns you admire and appreciate in your spouse. Make a list and thank God for these.

4. Consistently verbalize praise and appreciation and do this in a specific and generous manner.

5. Recognize what your spouse does, but also who your spouse is. Let him or her know that you respect them for what they accomplish.