LOve your spouse well week #2 Challenge: Service

I mentioned in my first LYSW post that it seems there is a gravity pulling me toward taking my spouse for granted and one of the consequences of that is, if I’m not careful I start to think I’m entitled to my spouse's service, without making efforts to serve them.  I forget that for marriage to work we both have to give 100%, not argue in my heart about some 50-50 split.  I am prone to look to my spouse to be my “need-meeter” instead of a person with their own burdens, problems, shortcomings and needs… and that leads to frustration and disappointment.  
 
Psalm 146:3-6 says:  “Do not put your trust in princes, in human beings, who cannot save.  When their spirit departs, they return to the ground on that very day their plans come to nothing.  Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God. “ (NIV)

God is the One who ultimately meets my needs and looking to a person to do so will always be disappointing.

So, as I focus on serving my spouse this week, I also want to release them from my expectations and ask the Lord to reset my expectations in reasonable places.  I’m going to focus on what I give, not on what I get this week. 

The challenge of the week is to serve my spouse without expecting anything in return.

We encourage readers to check out The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman and we thank him for identifying: Words, Service, Time, Gifts and Affection as ways we give and receive love from one another.