“Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NAS)

Can you remember the last time you poured out your heart thanking God for your marriage and thanking God for your husband? Sometimes just the routine of everyday life can rob us of having a grateful perspective when it comes to our husbands. As life gets busy and stressful, it’s easy just not to take the time to let our husbands know they’re appreciated.

Think about the little and big things your husband does. Is he great with the kids? Does he help around the house? Does he work steadily and consistently? Does he have a great sense of humor? Is he good with the finances? Pray for God to show you one specific quality for which you can tell your husband ‘thank you.”

One area where my husband really needs to hear my thanks is in the area of his work. My husband needs to know I do not take for granted his hard work each day. I need to verbalize my thanks over and over and over. I also need to teach my children to be thankful for his hard work. They need to hear me thanking my husband, and they need to realize it is because of his hard work that we have many of the material comforts that we have.

Sometimes I’m surprised when my husband has told me he feels unappreciated. Inside I feel thankful for him, but I just haven’t done a very good job of expressing it. A man who feels unappreciated is like a balloon whose air has escaped. When he feels unappreciated, he might also feel defeated and unmotivated. These feelings then lead to a man who feels like he leads a life of drudgery. A wife can help “fill his balloon” with her words of appreciation.

Let’s take time this month to be purposeful about having thankful hearts for our husbands. Let’s take time to thank God in prayer and to thank our husbands in ways that will encourage them. Check out the application steps below and put one into practice today.

Dear Lord, thank You for giving me my husband. Give me Your perspective of him. Help me to fill him up with verbal thanks and affirming actions which will fill him up with encouragement. Give me grace to overlook his faults and shortcomings, just the way You do for me. Help me to partner with You in loving my husband. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

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Related Resources:

What a Husband Needs from His Wife by Melanie Chitwood

For more marriage tips, visit one of our partner ministries at www.growthtrac.com

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Application Steps:

At some point we’ve probably sung, “Count your blessings, name them one by one.” This is a great idea for your marriage! Keep a thankful journal where each day you write down five things you’re thankful for about your husband and/or your marriage. Be as specific as you can. For example, instead of thanking God for a husband who is “great with the kids,” thank God for a husband who wrestles with the boys, prays with them, and plays sports with them.

Each day tell your husband thank you for something specific about his character or something specific he does for you or your family.

Let him “overhear” you telling someone else how much you appreciate him.

Have your children make a thank you sign or write a thank you note to their dad.

When he comes home at the end of the work day, thank him with a warm smile, hug and kiss and promises for more later.

The minute he walks in the door don’t bombard him with questions, complaints and reports of your day and matters with the kids. Let him unwind.

Bake his favorite treat or make his favorite meal.

Tell him every day, “I love you” and “I’m so glad I’m married to you.”

Reflections:

Have I gotten in the bad habit of taking my husband for granted?

Am I concentrating on my husband’s shortcomings rather than his strengths?

Are you focused on what you think your husband is doing wrong, or on what God wants you to do?

Power Verses:

Philippians 2:4, “…do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.” (NAS)

1 Thessalonians 5:11, “Therefore, encourage one another and build up one another…” (NAS).