Modeling Spiritual Hunger

When we get together, I want to encourage you in your faith, but I also want to be encouraged by yours. Romans 1:12

How do you develop spiritual intimacy in your relationship? One wife said to me, “I wish that my husband and I could share more about spiritual things. He seems willing to talk about everything else, but when I mention church, God, or the Bible, he clams up and walks away. I don’t know what to do, but it’s very frustrating.” What advice would you give this wife?

Here’s what I said: “Don’t ever stop talking about spiritual things. Your relationship with God is the most important part of your life. If you don’t share this part of yourself, your husband will never know who you are. However, don’t expect him to reciprocate, and don’t preach him a sermon until he asks for one. Simply share what God is doing in your life. Share a Scripture that helped you make a decision or encouraged you when you were feeling down.

“When you share what your spiritual life is like, you stimulate hunger. When your husband gets spiritually hungry, he will likely want to discuss things with you. At that point, spiritual intimacy will begin.”

Encouraging each other in our faith is a valuable goal. Even the apostle Paul wanted to be encouraged by seeing the faith of the Roman believers. When we reach the point of sharing our spiritual successes and struggles, our marriage will be blessed.

PRAYER
Father, please help me to be patient with my spouse when he or she does not want to discuss spiritual things. I pray that you would work in our hearts and bring us closer together in this area. Develop our relationships with you as well as our spiritual intimacy with each other.