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SUPPORT YOUR SPOUSE

What would it mean to you to face each day knowing there is someone cheering you on a matter what happens? How would you feel knowing that someone is 100% committed to encouraging you, supporting you, and helping you reach your goals? What would it do for your heart to experience this kind of love and loyalty?

In a marriage, each spouse has the opportunity and privilege to be the other’s enthusiastic cheerleader and loyal supporter. When you are convinced that your spouse is always on your side, you can endure almost anything. Such loyalty, emotional support, and practical help keep the flames of renewing love burning brightly.

How can you become your spouse’s cheerleader? One excellent place to start is by applying the “one another” passages of the New Testament to your marriage relationship. Throughout the Gospels and epistles, Christians are instructed in specific, practical ways on how to love, encourage, and support one another. Since your spouse is the number one “other” in your life, here she should be the first recipient of your loving care. Here are several “one another” and “each other” passages and suggestions on what they could look like in your “cheerleading” at home.

“Don’t condemn each other” Romans 14:13. Don’t be a source of constant criticism and nagging in your relationship. It will wear your spouse down instead of cheer him or her on.

“Accept each other just as Christ has accepted you” Romans 15:7. A good cheerleader is enthusiastic and supportive whether the team is winning or losing. Focus your encouragement on your spouse’s strengths and accomplishments while cutting plenty of slack for mistakes and imperfection. Be a constant source of genuine compliments, encouraging words, spoken appreciation, helpful advice, and cheery positivism.

“Be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another” Ephesians 4:32. When your spouse wrongs you, don’t punish him or her with an icy stare, a blazing reprimand, punishment, or payback. Be quick to let it go, and be an instrument of restoring harmony.

“Serve one another in love” Galatians 5:13. Constantly look for ways to ease your spouse’s burdens in life by helping with chores and sharing responsibilities. Take delight in doing the dirty work without being asked or begged to do it.

“Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ” Ephesians 5:21. Don’t always insist on your way of doing things or treat your spouse as second class in any respect. Celebrate and defer to your spouse’s strengths. Treat him or her as an equal who is just as gifted and competent as you are in many areas.

“I command you to love each other in the same way that I love you” John 15:12. Whenever you are in doubt about how to encourage and support your spouse, turn to the master cheerleader: Jesus. Pattern your love after his sacrificial, constant, accepting love for you.

Become each other’s cheerleader, and watch your “team” soar to the top.

Reflect Together
How has your spouse been an encouraging and supportive cheerleader in your relationship? How has your spouse’s cheerleading helped to keep love renewed in your marriage? How would you rate yourself as a cheerleader of your spouse? As you consider the “one another” and “each other” passages above, where has your encouragement and support been strongest? Where has it been weakest?

Pray Together
Kind and caring Father, you are the ultimate source of my encouragement and support. No one loves me as you do. No one is more understanding and forgiving. You cheer me on when others don’t even know my failures and fears. You lovingly supply my needs, often before I ask. I praise you for demonstrating so convincingly you that you are on my side. Help me keep my eyes on you to learn how to lend better support and provide stronger encouragement to my spouse. Keep the fire of love within me blazing and growing. Amen.

Renew Your Love
This week, express thanks to your spouse for being your cheerleader. Either in some face-to-face time or in a note or card, recount for him or her the many ways you feel encouraged and supported in your relationship. Be specific instead of general, citing examples. Then select one way you will become more of a cheerleader to your spouse, and start practicing it this week. Here are a few ideas based on the “one another” and “each other” passages above:

When you are tempted to nag or criticize, replace those words with positive comments.

When your spouse makes a mistake of some kind, don’t make an issue of it. Compliment him or her for effort, or focus on another strength.

Take on an unpleasant job for your spouse this week.

In some area of your life, ask your spouse, “What would you like to do?” and then submit to that request.

Prince Victor Matthew 
HOPE EXPRESSION HUB

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