Praying Affection and Gratitude into your Marriage

Loving Your Spouse through Prayer

Week #3: Praying Affection and Gratitude into your Marriage

Key Bible Verse: Romans 12:10, 1 Thes 5:17-18, Phil 4:6

Definition of Affection: the emotional realm of love

Romans 12:10 - Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.,

?What does it look like, in a marriage, to love each other with Genuine Affection?
?How can we “Outdo one another in showing honor”? Love, respect, being honoring of your spouse.

Donald Barnhouse: “Love that goes upward is worship; love that goes outward is affection; love that stoops is grace.”

What are some ways to strengthen the affection in your marriage?

1.__Plan a Getaway__ 2.__Leave Love Notes__ 3. _Plan free time__ 4. _Connecting through talking_

What are some ways you can show your affection to your spouse?
1.__Do things your spouse likes to do__ 2.__Fullfil any needs__ 3. _Backrub__ 4. _Small gifts_ 5. flowers

Key Point #1: Affection is the inward emotion and an outward expression of Love.

C.S. Lewis – Affection is responsible for nine-tenths of whatever solid and durable happiness there is in our natural lives. Four Loves , Chapter 3, paragraph 43

- Busyness and Burn-Out will stifle the affection in your marriage.

- Unforgiveness will block affection in your marriage.

o Just like with Christ, if you don’t seek His forgiveness, you are separated from Him. Likewise, unforgiveness will separate you form your spouse

- Forgiveness is the way for affection to blossom.

Take time right now to pray for forgiveness from our sins against the Lord and our spouse.

Eph 4:26: Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger.

Write out a marriage prayer using Romans 12:10.
Lord, I pray that my wife and I love each other with Godly affection and that we will strive to outdo one another in showing honor to each other.

Key Point #2: Pray gratitude into your marriage by focusing on all the good things about your spouse.

Example of how NOT to pray: Lord, I pray for my spouse to lead like a real man should.

Example of how TO pray: Lord, I thank you for my spouse and the hard work he does providing for our family.

1 Thes 5:17-18 - ¹⁷pray without ceasing, ¹⁸ give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Group Question: What does it look like to give thanks in ALL circumstances?

C.S. Lewis: We ought to give thanks for all fortune: if it is “good”, because it is good, if “bad” because it works in us patience, humility and the contempt of this world and the hope of our eternal country.

- Praying for the Good things about your spouse will grow your gratitude for the blessings you have been given.

Individually, list out 5 good things about your spouse then share this list with him/her.

1.____________________2.__________________3. __________________4. __________________5. __________________

Take time right now to pray your thankfulness to God for these qualities of your spouse you are blessed with.

Key Point #3: Praying affection and gratitude will strengthen your marriage, prayer life, and change your attitude positively.

Message Curve Ball - Charles Swindoll on Attitude
“The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, the education, the money, than circumstances, than failure, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company... a church... a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past... we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it. And so it is with you... we are in charge of our Attitudes.”

Take 5 min to pray with your spouse using affection and gratitude as your guide.

Weekly Challenge “Twofur” :

Each day: Show your affection in a different way to your spouse. Also, daily list 5 different good things about your spouse and thank the Lord for them.