Seeing others changed starts with changing-yourself

Of all the challenges in marriage, being on the same page generally is probably one of the triggers of greatest friction between partners. I am so stocked to speak helpfully after having come together unitedly on a matter with my spouse. There is no better feeling than to feel your spouse experience breakthrough and experience being on the same page with your spouse in matters spiritual, parental, relational or other. Usually the wife tends to be the more spiritual of the two marriage partners. When this is the case, she usually lives waiting for her husband to come to breakthrough on matters important in their relationship. If the opposite is the case, the husband at times will wait for his wife to come to realizations which are important to their maintaining true union as a couple. Whatever the case, life in marriage can tend to tension and strain until one partner experiences a breakthrough realization. Until realized, marital communication between partners seems shallow and forced. While waiting for breakthrough in your partner-assuming you've come to a understanding you know your spouse must come to as well-it's important that you practice a few things. First, be the change that you desire in your spouse. Your example couple with timely, helpful words may be used of the Spirit to draw your spouse into God's better for them. Life is comprised of stages. Each of us are in different places. Your sensitivity to each other's timeline and potential for change in time will have great bearing on your marital relationship. Second, know your spouse doesn't resist change but does resist your changing them. As you live the reality God has morphed your heart with, your spouse may be wooed into living that reality too. Third, pray for grace to be humble and thankful for the change God's brought to you; but commit to embracing the slow, sure change God alone can bring to your spouse's heart. When we realize that God does a much better God of changing our friends than we do; we free God to do something that brings renown to His Name and real time change to them.

Yes, Lord, walking in the way of your laws,
we wait for you;
your name and renown
are the desire of our hearts. (Isaiah 26:8 NIV)