Valentines Day plus 364
Today is Valentine’s Day, that one day of the year you see a lot of nervous guys queued up at Produce Junction for $5 flowers. But if you want an even better way to win her heart, consider the following:
Look out for her interests. “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others” (Philippians 2:4; 1 Corinthians 10:24). Don’t be contentious. “Avoid quarreling” (Titus 3:2). “Be gentle” (Titus 3:2). It isn’t phoniness; it’s God’s command. Be as courteous 20 years into the marriage as you were on the first date in front of her parents. “Show perfect courtesy” (Titus 3:2). Don’t be puffed up in pride. “Do nothing from … conceit” (Philippians 2:3). Bear with her weaknesses. “Bearing with one another” (Colossians 3:13). Forgive her when she wrongs you. “If one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other” (Colossians 3:13). Be patient or longsuffering with her. “Love is patient” (1 Corinthians 13:4). Kindness works wonders. “Love is … kind” (1 Corinthians 13:4). Don’t behave rudely or insist on your own way. “ Love … is … not rude ” (1 Corinthians 13:5). Don’t be easily provoked. “Love … is not irritable” (1 Corinthians 13:5). Examine your motives and ferret out anything deceptive or manipulative. “The wisdom from above is first pure” (James 3:17). Be more interested in guarding peace than in winning an argument. “The wisdom from above is … then peaceable” (James 3:17). Listen well to her side of the matter and her concerns, rather than being stiff-necked. “The wisdom from above is … open to reason” (James 3:17). Don’t lord it over her if she was wrong, or say ‘I told you so,’ but have mercy and graciousness. “The wisdom from above is … full of mercy” (James 3:17). Always give her the benefit of the doubt. “Love … believes all things” (1 Corinthians 13:7). Bear with her faults, knowing you have some, too. “Love bears all things” (1 Corinthians 13:7). Don’t ever write her off. If she is a Christian, the Holy Spirit is in her. If she’s not, God can surely save her and transform her. “Love … hopes all things” (1 Corinthians 13:7). Remember that you said, “I do” for life. “Love never ends” (1 Corinthians 13:8). Lay down your life for her if necessary—and all the little ways of dying that stop short of the ultimate sacrifice. “He laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers” (1 John 3:16).Andrée Seu Peterson’s Won’t Let You Go Unless You Bless Me, regularly $12.95, is now available from WORLD for only $5.95.
Please wait while we load the latest comments...
Comments
Please register, subscribe, or log in to comment on this article.