Image from Funky6stringer blog

Our Freebie Friday comes in the form of a tool to help encourage you to continue pursuing love in your relationship – true, unselfish love the way God intended.

A friend forwarded the following to us to help us make 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 personal instead of general:

“I am patient with you because I love you and want to forgive you.

I am kind to you because I love you and want to help you.

I do not envy your possessions or your gifts because I love you and want you to have the best.

I do not boast in my attainments because I love you and want to hear about yours.

I am not proud because I love you and want to esteem you before myself.

I am not rude because I love you and care about your feelings.

I am not self-seeking because I love you and want to meet your needs.

I am not easily angered by you because I love you and want to overlook your offenses.

I do not keep a record of your wrongs because I love you , and “love covers a multitude of sins.”

– Jerry Bridges

This is helpful for it helps us to realize how we are NOT loving when we choose to act in these ways.  I want to love my spouse; if I sincerely do, then I will work hard at resisting the temptation to act “unloving”.  This is impossible to do in our own strength, but God has promised to help us in our weakness!  What glorious news – we not only have hope, but we have HELP!

So, in what ways are you tempted to act unloving towards your spouse? How is God helping you apply the truth of Scripture to your relationship?  Have you seen growth in this area since you’ve been married?  We would love to hear from you!