“Let your fountain be blessed, And rejoice in the wife of your youth.” Proverbs 5:18
We read this verse of scripture and sometimes wonder how can we accomplish such a thing? Does marriage really work like the Bible tells us? Life has changed. We’ve changed. Maybe there is some truth to that. However, I challenge you to consider why it has become your truth.
Have We Really Changed?
Many times in our lives we think to ourselves that it is the other person who has changed, but the reality is that neither of us have. We’re still the same people. We’ve simply become complacent with our priorities.
When the marriage was in its early stages, I guarantee that you did many things differently that caused a reaction from your wife that you may no longer see in her today. We can’t demand that our wives react a certain way, but we can certainly provoke particular reactions by what we say and do.
Ask your wife to share some of the qualities that attracted her to you. I’ll bet one of those qualities was your fun-loving nature. You were both happy, laughed a lot, and had a good time no matter what. This was true for me in those dating years with Elizabeth.
My nickname was “Smilin’ Jim.” I was completely happy-go-lucky and made sure every date was a blast! I have had to purpose many times to continue to cultivate that type of environment in our marriage.
Rekindle the Friendship in Your Marriage
Getting back to those early days in your relationship with your wife may be all that’s needed to solve any problems you might be having. You started out as friends, became best friends, then finally committed to being best friends forever!
Well, it’s now time for you to remember what you did to initiate fun in your budding relationship with your wife. It’s time to bring that now-dormant “merry heart” out of hibernation. It’s time to recapture having fun with her and “rejoice in the wife of your youth”!
RESPOND IN PRAYER
Dear Lord, thank You for the gift of my wife and our marriage. At times, it feels like we’re just going through the mundane routine of life and that we’ve lost touch with each other. Please help us rekindle our friendship with one another. Amen.
RENEWING RESOURCES
How to Love Your Husband blog post
Three Ways to Become Best Friends with Your Husband blog post
One-Word Themes for All the Books of the Bible printable
ADDITIONAL RESOURCE
A Husband After God’s Own Heart by Jim George points you to the little touches that can bring big results. They’re based on clear and simple priorities found in the Bible.
REFLECT
What is one thing I can do today to rekindle my friendship with my wife? What things did I do early on in our relationship that I have stopped doing now?
REMEMBER
Getting back to those early days in your relationship with your husband may be all that’s needed to solve any problems you might be having. It’s time to recapture having fun with her and “rejoice in the wife of your youth”!