With the New Year upon us, it’s a great time to resolve to “love” our spouses and the Lord more! Even though it’s easy to let our resolutions slide as time goes on, there’s just something motivating about a fresh start.

So if your marriage or life has grown stale, challenging or discouraging (or even if it’s vibrant), consider committing to this challenge! At least for 21 days. 😉

One of the best and first ways we can commit to love our mates is by loving the Lord and His word more.

That’s because …

God’s word and truth are what empowers us to love our mates when we don’t feel love for them. This is especially true when they aren’t acting so lovely in return.

[bctt tweet=”God’s word and truth empowers our love in marriage when we don’t feel love or receive love. #21DaysofLove #actsoflove #loveactsloving” username=”BethSteffaniak”]

I’ve experienced this over and over in my life. My husband might disappoint or anger me, but after I meet with the Lord, I feel God and His word softening my heart toward him.

[bctt tweet=”One of the most important resolutions you can make is to spend more time with God—loving Him and letting Him love through you to your mate! #21DaysofLove #jointhechallenge” username=”BethSteffaniak”]

Tips for Creating a Daily Habit of Meeting with God …

1. Ask for God’s Help

Don’t try to do this with sheer willpower or human strength. Pray for the Lord to ignite your desire to meet with Him daily.

Then ask Him to empower you to persevere when feelings wane and distractions abound.

2. Determine the Best, Most Consistent, Time

For me this is in the morning, after I have worked out and showered.

Years ago, I had my quiet time in the afternoon, when my boys were either in school or taking a nap.

But there are many who don’t have a free moment until the evening. If that’s you, you might be tempted to escape your daily woes by watching television for hours on end.

Instead, determine to carve out 15 minutes or more to escape to the Lord! He will refresh your soul like nothing and no one else can!

3. Ask Someone to be Accountability Partners with You

Find someone who wants to check in and be checked on in this effort. Just call or text each other weekly to see how it’s going on sticking to your daily habit.

But be sure to be honest when you blow it, so your friend can pray for you to improve.

4. Use a Devotional or Bible Study Method

Ben Franklin once said,

“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.”

That’s good advice, especially if you want to persevere in creating this habit.

So don’t simply open your Bible and plop down your finger on a verse each day. Consider using my WORTHY Bible study method, which will be detailed in an email I’m sending this week to those who subscribe to MM.

You can use the WORTHY method as a tool to study a book, chapter or verse on your own.

Or you can join my latest private Facebook group, studying “Messiah on Mission.” The study kicks off this week—Jan. 7, 2019—and will be exploring Jesus’ ministry years out of the gospel of Luke.

You’ll be able to use this free, no-obligation study as a way to see how I glean the Scriptures. And if you don’t have the time to study for yourself, you can use my notes like a daily devotional instead.

Not only will you be inspired by what we discover, but you’ll also learn so much about the context and meaning behind each day’s readings. That’s because I’ve done a lot of research to help properly paint the picture for you—both of what the text means and how to apply it.

To find out more details about this group study click on my Bible Study page.

And to join, you can friend me at Beth Oster Steffaniak and let me know you want to be added, or go to the “Messiah on Mission” Facebook link above and request to be added.

5. Guard Your Time

This means avoiding distractions and scheduling conflicts. If you have a set time, but other events keep interfering, consider scheduling “your time with God” on your phone or daily calendar.

Then anytime you’re scheduling a new event, you’ll be reminded not to schedule over your time with God.

“Guarding” also means turning your phone, TV off or avoiding other distractions while you meet with God. You might feel like this is a “no-brainer,” but it’s often the subtle details that derail us in our quest to form this habit.

6. Remind Yourself of the Benefits of Time with God

One benefit is that your attitude and choices are guided, guarded and enriched by God’s Word.

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”  —Prov. 4:23

“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.”  —Psalm 119:105

Another benefit emerges when your mate doesn’t act very loving toward you. You can still continue to be and feel loved by God through His word and truth to you.

For your Maker is your husband—the Lord Almighty is his name—the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; he is called the God of all the earth. The Lord will call you back as if you were a wife deserted and distressed in spirit—a wife who married young, only to be rejected,” says your God.  —Isaiah 54:5-6

7. Persevere by Restarting When You Fall Behind or Get Sidetracked

Please, don’t beat yourself up when this happens! If you do, I guarantee you’ll feel even more discouraged. 😦

Instead, simply pray for God’s power to pull you back up from the slump you find yourself in. He won’t shame or condemn you. That’s not who He is or how He operates (see Romans 8:1)!

His desire is for you to learn from the failure and move on in His strength.

I’d “love” to have you pray this prayer as you and I begin this 21-Day effort to love God and our mates more. Click the image and a new tab will open with “…” in the upper right corner that, when clicked, allows you to download it. 🙂

Here’s what you’ll receive in this 21-Day effort (if you’re a regular reader of MM) …

1. Tips for creating a habit of meeting with God each day that will encourage your marriage and life (today’s post)
2. Prayer journaling tips that will help improve your marriage and life (Jan. 13)
3. How to apply God’s word to calm tension-filled moments in marriage and life (Jan. 20)
4. Scripture-based prayer for your marriage (provided each week)

If you’re a subscriber to MM, you’ll ALSO receive a weekly email (one per week on Mondays—Jan. 7, 14 & 21) that includes what’s listed below. And if you’re not a subscriber, then sign up below today!

• 7 daily prompts/ideas for doing loving acts for your mate each week (21 total for all three weeks)
• 1 brief devotional that you and your mate can discuss during the week (3 total during the 21-Days)
• Bible Study “WORTHY” Method explained
• You’ll be the first to hear about an exciting opportunity coming in the weeks ahead! (Don’t ya just love being in on a secret?)

Next week I’ll be continuing this series with a post on how to prayer journal so that your life, attitude and marriage improves. I hope you’ll come back by!

[bctt tweet=”Join the 21-Days of Love challenge and receive 21 daily love prompts/ideas, 3 couple devotionals plus 1 secret bit of news just for subscribers! Join and subscribe today! #MessyMarriage #21daysoflove” username=”BethSteffaniak”]

 

What has been your biggest hurdle in forming the habit of a consistent time with God?

 

What is one “love act” that you’ve done for your mate recently? (Keep it clean, friends! Lol!)

 

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Here are some lovely linkups I join – Inspire Me Monday, Literary Musing Mondays, Tea and Word Tuesday, Purposeful Faith, Tell His Story, Recharge Wednesday, Porch Stories Linkup, Coffee for Your Heart, Worth Beyond Rubies Wednesday, Encouraging Word Wednesday, Sitting Among Friends, Destination Inspiration, Tune in Thursday, Heart Encouragement, Moments of Hope, Grace and Truth, Faith and Friends, Blogger Voices Network, Faith on Fire Friday, Fresh Market Friday, and DanceWithJesusFriday

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