Keep all lines open

Recognize areas of conflict.

• Be open and honest.
• Respect other’s rights.
• "Speak the truth in love" (Ephesians. 4:15).
• Guard your reactions. (Anger, tears, silence can stifle communication.)

Resolve conflicts immediately.

"Let not the sun go down upon your wrath" (Ephesians 4:26-32).

Frequently use the "magic" phrases:  "I’m sorry" and "I love you."

II. COMPANIONSHIP

"Two are better than one" (Ecclesiastes 4:9).

Plan and do things together. Above all, pray together.

Give yourself for the purpose of making your partner happy, expecting nothing in return.

"Love seeketh not her own" (1 Corinthians 13.5). 

Selfishness transforms companionship into combat. Deal with selfishness as sin and confess it to God. "He is faithful and just to forgive" (1 John 1:9,10).

"Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others" (Philippians 2:4).

III. COMPASSION

"Love one another" (1 John. 4:7).

"Love your husbands" (Titus 2:4).

"Love your wives" (Ephesians 5:25-33).

You cannot demand love. You receive love by giving love.

Love is available in unlimited supply through the power of the Holy Spirit. "The fruit of the Spirit is love" (Galatians 5:22,23).

Not loving your partner does not necessarily point to the fact that your partner is unlovely, but it does reveal your own lack of love.

"Love never fails" (1 Corinthians 13:8).

IV. COMPOSURE

"Be careful for nothing" (Philippians 4:6).

Hostilities, bitterness, anger, worry, fretfulness, break down the morale of the family.

"Let the peace of God rule in your hearts [and home]" (Philippians 3:15).

Take these steps to victory from Psalm 37:1-7:

• FRET NOT

• TRUST in the Lord

• DELIGHT in the Lord

• COMMIT thy way unto the Lord

• REST in the Lord 

SIGNS OF SHAKY MARRIAGE

1. When common courtesies are abandoned.
2. When couples begin to think in terms of "I" instead of "we."
3. When husband and wife stop complimenting each other.
4. When stubborn silence replaces common-sense communication.
5. When husband and wife stop praying together.
6. When husband and wife fail to sense and meet the needs of each other.
7. When husband and wife fail to express love.

Jesus Christ wants to be the LORD of your life and the LORD of your marriage. If He is not the spiritual head of your home, you will find that you cannot know all the blessing that God has for you in marriage. Jesus said, "Without Me ye can do nothing" (John 15:5).

You must first receive Him into your life. "As many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God" (John 1:12). If you desire Him to come into your life, all you need do is ask Him. Then He is able, by His Spirit, to direct in your home.

HOME MAINTENANCE CHECK LIST

• Do I react in a Christ-like way to criticism and correction?
• Do I daily express my love for my partner?
• Am I unselfish in my home relationships?
• Am I communicating satisfactorily with my partner?
• Do I communicate with my children?
• Do I put the interests of my partner above my own?
• Do I speak the truth in love?
• Am I open to change?
• Do I keep myself attractive?
• Am I quick to say, "I’m sorry"?
• Am I consistent in my personal devotional life?
• Do I encourage prayer with my partner?
• Am I at this moment resting in the Lord?

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