Daily Bread

WEEK 6 A HUSBAND'S ROLE

SINGLE MAN

Pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Ecclesiastes 4:10

How has being married to me benefited your life?

Dear God, thank you for your gift to me of marriage. Thank you for my lovely spouse and for your daily blessing on our relationship and our home. May I never take your generosity for granted or your holy purposes lightly. Amen!

DECISIONS, DECISIONS

The head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. 1 Corinthians 11:3

Does our dicision-making process fit the biblical model?

Heavenly father, in Your divine plan for marriage You have asked the husband to lead and the wife to submit, and we want so much to obey You. We come humbly now, asking for your wisdom and help to do so. Amen!

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A HOLY PARTERNERSHIP

Each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself. Ephesians 5:33

What has been my most shining moment as your husband?

Heavenly father, You have given me an awesome and holy responsiblity to love my wife just as Christ loved the church. Help me to follow his perfect example as I learn to increase my love for my mate. AMEN!

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WEEK 5 CAN WE TALK?

WORD PICTURES 

Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying. The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. Matthew 22:1-2

Jesus often used word pictures to make a point( i am the good shepherd).

Lord, teach us to share our inner selves with our spouse.  Remind us of the great value of this intimate exchange between married lovers. Amen!

 

QUICK LISTENING 

everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry. James 1:19

If we tried quick listening  after all our disagreement. How might it change our marriage  ?

Father, we want to put truths about listening, speaking, and controlling anger to work in our marriage. We ask You to give us Your grace and strength.  Help us to stick with it - and help us to notice the good results! Amen.

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WHAT DID YOU SAY?

Let the wise listen and add to their learning. Proverbs 1:5

how could learning to listen better to each other help us listen better to God?

Dear God, teach us the wisdom and grace of listening. Help us to pay attention to each word as though we were listening to You. Amen!

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WORDS WORDS

we have spoken freely to you. Corinthians, and opened wide our hearts to you. 2 Corinthians 6:11

Lord, help us to celebrate our differences as men and women while tenderly and joyfully helping each other make the most of our union with every word. Amen!

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WEEK 4 TILL DEATH DO US PART

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A PERFECT AFFECTION

What God has joined together, let an not separate. Matthew 19:6

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I PROMISE

Since God keeps His promises, we must keep ours too - especially the one we made before God, our family, our friends, and out chruch on our wedding day.

How do we benefit spiritually from keeping our commitments?

Dear Lord, give us Your strength today to honor our promises. May our word be our bond to each other, to our friends, and to family and associates. Thank you that You never waiver your promises to us! Amen!

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FRUSTRATING FORBLES

Be kind and compassionate to each other, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgive you. Ephesians 4:32

Divorce must never be considered as an option. A covenant of commitment and acceptance is powerful secret to lifelong love.

How can we reduce frustrations in our marriage?

Dear God,

You know how little irritations often cause pain in our marriage. As we humbly release these irritations to You, please heal us. Forgive us our pride. Anoint us with grace. Grow in us a love that is stronger than any fault or foible. Amen!

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DOING THE RIGHT THING

If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith. 1 Timothy 5:8

How could illness - either minor or serious - accually strengthen our marriage?

Lord, we do not want to deny the faith by failing to provide for those You have entrusted to our care. We ask for your strength - especially when hardships come - to show enduring love in our marriage and in our family. Amen!

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FAMILY THAT PRAYS TOGETHER

For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them. Matthew 18:20

How could we benefit from ptaying as a couple?

Father, you have blessed us with each other as parterners in marriage. Show us how to make prayer together as a regular part of our life. Amen!

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NO APPOINTMENT NEEDED

Evening morning and noon I cry out in distress. And he hears my voice.

Psalm 55:17

Heavenly father

how greatful we are that we can talk to you. And how blessed you listen and care! Thank you loving God. Graciously receive even the longings in our hearts that find no words today. Amen!

DENY YOURSELF

If someone would come after me he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. Mathew 16:24

I am third approach, God first, others second, myself third. avoid self centered nature.

Dear Jesus,

We hear your invitation to follow you in a life of self-denial. Tonight we make you Lord of our marriage. Help us to live every day by your example - in obedience to the Father and in loving service to each other, Amen.

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WAHT A MAN NEEDS

It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.

Genesis 2:18

(wife) Heavenly Father 

thank you for my husband. I want to understand and serve him in ways that refresh and encourage him. Show me how to bless him with beautiful gifts like appreciation, support, and tranquility.  Amen!

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LOVE BY SERVING

Now that I, your Lord and teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. John 13:14

(husband)Have I done a good job of "foot washing" in our marriage?

(husband) Dear Lord, I want to become an expert at meeting my wife's needs. Teach me to "wash her feet" and serve my way to a great marriage. Amen!

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I DESERVE IT!

For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature.  Galatians 5:17

Is selfishness a problem for us?

Dear Lord,

We need Your Spirit at work in us to overcome our self-control impluses. By Your grace, empower us to serve instead of to "deserver". Amen!

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Surely I was sinful at birth, sinful from the time my mother conceived me.PSALM 51:5

Only Jesus Christ can help us deal with the depravity that leads us to be selfish arrogant and disobedient.  He has promised to do for us what we are powerless to accomplish on our own.

Father,

We admit our sinful and selfish ways. We look to you for forgiveness and healing. Thank you for your mercies. We need your power to change and we reach for it together. Amen!

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No one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 3:11

Dear Lord,

You are the foundation of our marriage. Help us to look to you and your strength in every way as we build a life together.  AMEN!

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Are you married? Do not seek a divorce. 1 Corinthian 7:27

Heavenly Father 

You designed the covernant of marriage from the beginning. And our marriage belongs to you. So bless our union with your best. Draw us together and draw us to you. Amen!

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Love never fails. 1 Corinthians 13:8

Dear Lord Jesus,

We want both our words and our actions to say love in personal powerful and positive way. Show us new ways to honor one another above ourselves. Amen!

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LOVE IS OF GOD.1 John 4:7

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for the wonderful gift of love. Grant us your blessings Father. More than we can even imagine right now! Amen.

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May the God  who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus. Roman 15:5

Lord, by Your Spirit, help us to be aware of each other's needs and to take care in our commnunication. Draw us together in unity and in love of you. Amen!

An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up. Proverbs 12:25

When was I most encouraging to you during a crisis?

Lord, we so often underestimate how much influcence our words can have. We ask for wisdom to speak encouragment - especially when criticism might be expected. Amen!

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The poison of vipers is on the lips. Psalm 140:3

It takes nine affirming comments to make up for each critical comment we give to our children or spouse. Do we need to be more affirming and less critical? How can we improve?

Dear Father, we are deeply sorry for any harmful words we've aimed at each other laterly. Please forgive us, and help us to forgive each other. We long to do better at using only words that build, heal, encourage, and affirm. Help us, we pray. Amen!

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Transforming love, In all our distress and persecution we were encouraged... 1 Thessalonians 3:7

Load, open our eyes to others' need for attention, affection, and encouragement. May we never withhold what is our duty and privilege to give. May we starting the caring, loving, sacrificing from our marriage, kids, family, church and communites. Amen.

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Encourage one another daily. Hebrews 3:13

Lord Jesus, thank you that you put it within our power to encourage others. May we grow in that ministry. May we become experts at it - starting in our marriage. Amen!