Satisfy Whose Needs?

Let’s face it girls marriage it hard. I remember hearing the first year of marriage was the toughest and if you made it through the first year then the rest would be a walk in the park. The first year was the walk in the park for my husband and me. Fast forward 16 years, two children, two jobs, and well, the natural ups and downs of life, I don’t always find myself in the park. I struggle with the rest of women of the world in giving priority to marriage and to making my man know that I still think he hung the moon in that park we walked in the first year of our marriage.

“Her husband can trust her and she will richly satisfies his needs.” Proverbs 31:11

I remember when I read this verse for the first time. I wanted to shout out, “Where is the verse that talks about the husband richly satisfying the needs of his wife.” And if I am honest, there are times when I still want to shout this out loud. Can anyone testify with me?

But the truth of the matter is there is no such verse in the Bible and if there was, it would not be up to us to see that our husbands obey it. I learned some time ago that my role in the marriage is not to be my husband’s Holy Spirit. I am to respect him and according this verse, richly satisfy his needs, even when I don’t feel like. When I don’t follow God’s outline for my life by giving the attention and priority my marriage deserves my life becomes out of balance.

I will say, right now, life is out of balance for me. I ran across an article I wrote for the P31 Woman magazine several years ago. I have to say, I was convicted by my own words. I want to get back to the place I was when I wrote this article. I thought for my own benefit I would include in today’s post a portion of the article that I intend to work on. Maybe you will join me.

Excerpt form “The Stepford Wives Revisited“

Spend time in prayer
First and foremost you must pray for your husband. Also pray for yourself as his wife. It is so easy to ask God to change your husband but try asking God to change you. Ask for His help to open your eyes to see the ways you can satisfy your husband’s needs. You will be amazed at the results.

Invest yourself in things your husband values
Find something your husband values and participate in it. Maybe he values a clean car; then keep your car clean. If he values silence when he gets home from work, wait a while before you tell him about your day. Maybe he likes sports. Take time to watch a game with him.

Meet His needs before he realizes he has one
Look under his sink or in his shaving kit to see if he needs after shave lotion or shaving cream. His dress socks may be worn out. Buy him new ones. When his favorite snack food is gone, buy him some more.

Become a student of your husband
Learn all his favorites. Discover all his likes and dislikes. Notice what he reads. Know where he likes to eat. Learn to understand his body language. Much is said without ever uttering a word.

Think outside the box when it comes to intimacy
Initiate an intimate evening by planning a date night. Take care of all the arrangements. Then surprise him with the details. Buy something new to wear that you know will attract him.

Speak with words of kindness and affirmation
Every man wants to hear “thank you” and “I appreciate what you do for our family.” Remind him that he is a great man and you value him. Tell him you are praying for him. This will give him great security.

How do you keep your marriage exciting and honor your husband? Share with the rest of us. We need all the help and encouragement to get back to the stroll in the park.

For His Renown

P.S. If you visited my blog through our Encouragement for Today devotion, thanks for stopping by.