Love That Lasts (Foreword by CJ and Carolyn Mahaney) by Gary & Betsy Ricucci

Author:Gary & Betsy Ricucci
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: ebook, book
Publisher: Crossway
Published: 2016-11-07T16:00:00+00:00

Cultivate the Habit of Biblical Encouragement

Just as with spiritual discourse, the habit of biblical encouragement doesn’t develop spontaneously. In fact, when it comes to encouragement, there’s a kind of odd, tragic thing we can do in marriage. When our spouse has a chronic weakness, we can be tempted to withhold encouragement in that area. I don’t want to let my husband think this area is no longer a weakness for him, a wife might say to herself. If I encourage him, he might imagine he’s arrived and give up trying to change.

To understand the nature of biblical encouragement, however, is to get beyond this sinful tendency. Biblical encouragement involves actively looking for areas where God is at work in your spouse’s life and drawing attention to the grace in operation there. This brings glory to God and hope to both husband and wife. It helps us remember that almost all spiritual change is incremental and that God is always at work to mold us more fully into the image of his Son. The writer of the book of Hebrews considers it so important that he charges us to encourage each other (Hebrews 10:24) and daily to exhort one another (Hebrews 3:13).

To encourage someone is to see and rejoice in God’s grace being displayed. To withhold encouragement despite progress—even if it’s just a glimmer of progress—is to rob God of glory, who is always faithfully at work to conform us to Christ (Titus 2:11-12).

Biblical encouragement recognizes that no true change, however small, can occur apart from the grace of God. There is a real power in being able to see change more from God’s perspective and therefore to rejoice at even small improvements.

So look specifically for ways to encourage your spouse, and be gracious and thankful in your receipt of encouragement. You’ll be amazed at the way communication thrives in an atmosphere of sincere gratitude and mutual encouragement.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.