Day 1: Patience IS Love.
Let's start off with some so called rules to follow. If you are a rule breaker by nature, just think of them as guidelines, okay.
- Keep your "challenge" on the down low with your husband. In otherwords, he must not find out and I'll explain why later.
- I don't want you to think your marriage has to be on the rocks in order to make it better. So, cast that aside. No marriage is perfect, there's always more room for God.
- Don't consider me an expert, remember you are doing this WITH me. Our Father is the expert and I'm nervous as all get out.
- Understand that you may think about your marriage differently and will be changing your own behavior and attitudes, not your husband.
- As you do each days challenge, take into account how difficult it might be for you and this will give you an idea as to where and how much you may be contributing to the slippery slope within your marriage.
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| courtesy of zazzle.com |
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient,
bearing with one another in love. —Ephesians 4:2 NIV
Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. Romans 12:12
bearing with one another in love. —Ephesians 4:2 NIV
Head: I've been trying to come up with a clever story on patience in my marriage as an example and I have had the hardest time. I have thought and thought and nothing spectacular comes to mind. So what does that say? I'd like to think it means I'm so patient that I even put trying times out of mind but I know that's not the case. That could only mean, that I just do not have enough stories about being patient because I just am not like Job.
Instead, I have been reminded from our Father above that I should be thinking of a time when my husband was patient with me...like the times when he's sitting in the car on Sunday morning, kids buckled in with their pop tarts, car in drive and aimed for the road; while I am still trying to decide which shoes to wear, changing my outfit completely or trying to get my make-up on. Sometimes I do him a HUGE favor and bring my make-up with me and take advantage of the natural lighting...for my benefit you know. I have to say, I'm pretty lucky to have such a patient husband. He's a no fuss kind of guy, where I am a fussy girl.
I do appreciate my husbands patience. It is one of his finest qualities I think. I have to say, his patience runs most thin with me when his underwear drawer is empty. Oops! It's not that he expects me to wash his undies, it's just I won't let him near the laundry and so he has faith in me that I'm taking care of business, ya know.
Not too long ago and many, many months after I started this study on marriage the first time around, I heard a sermon on television about patience and the one thing that struck me as something new was this...Love IS patient! No matter how many times I had heard the scripture of 1 Corinthians 13:4. Now, every time I read the word "patient" in God's Word, I should insert the word "love" or "lovingly" or something to that effect in order to have a better understanding of what it means to be patient. I give praise to our Lord everyday for the patience He has with me and for His love. For God, they are one in the same and for us they should be also.
Instead, I have been reminded from our Father above that I should be thinking of a time when my husband was patient with me...like the times when he's sitting in the car on Sunday morning, kids buckled in with their pop tarts, car in drive and aimed for the road; while I am still trying to decide which shoes to wear, changing my outfit completely or trying to get my make-up on. Sometimes I do him a HUGE favor and bring my make-up with me and take advantage of the natural lighting...for my benefit you know. I have to say, I'm pretty lucky to have such a patient husband. He's a no fuss kind of guy, where I am a fussy girl.
I do appreciate my husbands patience. It is one of his finest qualities I think. I have to say, his patience runs most thin with me when his underwear drawer is empty. Oops! It's not that he expects me to wash his undies, it's just I won't let him near the laundry and so he has faith in me that I'm taking care of business, ya know.
Not too long ago and many, many months after I started this study on marriage the first time around, I heard a sermon on television about patience and the one thing that struck me as something new was this...Love IS patient! No matter how many times I had heard the scripture of 1 Corinthians 13:4. Now, every time I read the word "patient" in God's Word, I should insert the word "love" or "lovingly" or something to that effect in order to have a better understanding of what it means to be patient. I give praise to our Lord everyday for the patience He has with me and for His love. For God, they are one in the same and for us they should be also.
Here is an example of a scripture using the word "patient".
Heart: Insert the word "love" for "patient" and it makes the scripture a little harder to swallow instead of sounding like an ideal way to live. When something is harder to swallow, we put more effort into getting it down. What in the world does it mean to "love" our tribulations (our hard times)? It is simple, your tribulations are what God is going to use as a testimony to others. It might be hard to see it at the time but you will find that when you share your testimony with others you go grow to love your tribulation.
I'm also reminded of Job. His story really is amazing. His blessings were double what he lost simply because he was full of patience during his trial. Sure he asked God "why" over and over but if you read the story of Job, you will find that God did not answer. God gave Job the prize for his suffering and endurance in loving God through his trials and tribulations. Job in the end HAD to love his trials, for God was so good when they ended. Daily, I will put the Word of God in my heart so that my know Him better, trust Him more and love Him for the Father that he is. My love is not perfect, but His is. His patience is perfect. Praise Him for being patient with me!!!
I'm also reminded of Job. His story really is amazing. His blessings were double what he lost simply because he was full of patience during his trial. Sure he asked God "why" over and over but if you read the story of Job, you will find that God did not answer. God gave Job the prize for his suffering and endurance in loving God through his trials and tribulations. Job in the end HAD to love his trials, for God was so good when they ended. Daily, I will put the Word of God in my heart so that my know Him better, trust Him more and love Him for the Father that he is. My love is not perfect, but His is. His patience is perfect. Praise Him for being patient with me!!!
"You get impatient with your own life, trying to master a habit or control a sin - and in your frustration begin to wonder where the power of God is. Be patient. God is using today's difficulties to strengthen you for tomorrow. He is equipping you. The God who makes things grow will help you bear fruit." Max Lucado
I dwell on the fact that God lives with me and the power He gives me.
With His strength, I will be patient. I will be patient with myself as I
learn to be patient with my husband. I will show love.
Hands: Since God is so patient with each of us, we should strive to exhibit the same patience as well. Today, pray for your marriage and make it your challenge to show patience with your husband as well as yourself. Some of us (like myself) find it easy to throw around words of frustration that can be hurtful because for so long that has been a weapon of choice. Today, I'd be willing to bet your patience will be tested. Like the saying goes, "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all." That's exactly what you will do, for today and the next 39 days. Show patience and keep negative remarks and harsh words silent. Remember, as you exhibit patience with your husband you should insert "love" as you remind yourself to be patient. Love is patient, love is kind. 1 Corinthians 13:4
If you need more scripture on patience click here.
Here's the video I promised from James MacDonald on marriage. click here
Now, study on patience and talk to God about situations in your life in which you need His strength to help you endure with patience.
I love you my sisters. Join me again tomorrow in my "laundry room".
If you need more scripture on patience click here.
Here's the video I promised from James MacDonald on marriage. click here
Now, study on patience and talk to God about situations in your life in which you need His strength to help you endure with patience.
I love you my sisters. Join me again tomorrow in my "laundry room".
Thank you so much Aimee for sharing this! I will join you for this 40 day challenge.
ReplyDeleteWow! Love our tribulations?! That is a hard one... Thanks for this. I am often challenged to do this but have never thought about it this way before. I look forward to the challenge.
ReplyDeleteThis is exactly what I needed today! I'm looking forward to the next 39 days. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this challenge, I'm excited to see what the next few weeks hold. For the last few years, my husband and I have been facing a test of patients of sorts together. Through this experience, I've learned to be patient in many areas of my life including with my husband. If you are interested in reading about it, I wrote about it on my blog a few weeks ago at http://kissescomeintwos.blogspot.com/2011/09/patience.html .
ReplyDeleteWow! Thank you for sharing that! I could not read it without saying a prayer for you and your husband. God is good. What testimony the two of you have already. God bless you both.
ReplyDeleteHi Aimee,
ReplyDeleteI just started this study and I am really looking forward to what comes in the next day. I think at some stage every woman should do something like this. . .
Please could you help me out, I cannot seem to open onto day 10.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and feelings!
My husband whom I am separated from for some specific reason had sent me a picture on pinterest of an older couple walking on the beach. I usually don't click to the websit but felt I needed to. It took me to your 40 day challenge. Whether this is a from god or not I am definatly feeling challenged. Thank you and I pray I can keep this a part of my next 40 days.
ReplyDeleteI've stumbled on your site at exactly the right moment. That can only mean one thing...it's a "God-thing". Thank you and I'm looking forward to the next 39 days with you and of keeping my mouth shut and being more patient/loving.
ReplyDeleteI found your site while searching Pinterest, looking for a Bible study to do with my hubby. I love this and thank you! I look forward to more!
ReplyDelete