REAL LOVE

Real love, or biblical love is very different than what the world calls love. This activity will help you discern if you are truly loving your spouse in the way that God calls you to love.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 gives us a good definition of biblical love:

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.  8 Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 

Go through this list of the attributes of love and record the ways that you have failed to love your spouse and ways that you desire to improve

Patient

Kind

Does Not Envy

Does Not Boast

Is Not Proud

Does Not Dishonor

Not Self-Seeking

Not Easily Angered

Keeps No Record of Wrong

Does Not Delight in Evil

Rejoices With The Truth

Always Protects

Always Trusts

Always Hopes 

Always Perseveres 

Never Fails

DAY DATE

A Day Date is a weekly meeting between a husband and a wife to really work on the marriage.  A couple that honors this practice will show a lot of growth and less conflict in their marriage.  Set a regular time every week and work through these areas/questions:

Calendar

  • What is our calendar looking like for this week? 

  • What is the weekend looking like? Do you have any expectations for the weekend?

  • What does next week look like?

  • Is there anything stressful on your agenda this week? How can I help you get through that?

Finances

  • How are our finances looking? 

  • Have I spent money on anything that bothers you? Or that you think was foolish? 

  • Are we working toward our financial goals in a responsible way? 

Relational Health

  • Is there anything I have been doing that has bothered/ hurt you? 

  • What has been on your mind this week? (for example: work, issues with children, what has the Lord been teaching you?)

  • How can I be a better wife/ husband? 

  • Is there something I can do to show you more love?

Forward Looking

  • Is there anything that you want to do for fun? 

  • What do we need to talk about for the future? (goals, holidays, vacations, etc.)