Redefining LoveSample

Love Is Accepting

Devotional Content: 

When Nancy and I married, we were quite young— especially by today’s standards. I was very immature and had some pretty crazy ideas about marriage and my role as a husband. I adored Nancy. I thought she was the most beautiful creature God ever created. Yet with all that said, I somehow got the idea that I was supposed to change some of the areas in her life that I thought needed changing. As good as she was, I just knew she would be so much better if she followed my plan for her life.

Most of you do not know Nancy. She is a godly, loving wife. She would literally do anything for me. But she also has a really strong type A personality. What that means is that she is not going to let anyone tell her what to do. When I realized this, I was appalled. How could she be so against this opportunity for improvement that I was offering her?

Gradually, my love for Nancy compelled me to seek to understand her in light of how God has uniquely wired her. I needed to learn to accept my wife completely in order to fully appreciate the gift she is from God. The bottom line is that I am so thankful that God gave me a wife with a type A personality. God knew that I needed someone who could tell me no. I needed someone who would challenge me and make me examine my plan.

God uses me in Nancy’s life to encourage her and sometimes nudge her in a certain direction, but it is His job to mold her and change her. It is His job to make her aware of areas that He wants to help her work on. He has the perfect plan for her life. I don’t. Changing her is not my job.

Today’s Challenge:

Let go of changing your spouse and accept God’s plan for their life!

Going Deeper:

Share with each other how God has used each of you in the other’s life in a positive way.

Resource: 

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