The simple beauty of a couple that has been married for 50 years captivates my attention. Their wrinkled faces look like one because they have spent years walking in love. To walk in love is a profound mystery. Remember these 3 things and your love life will improve:

 

1. Esteem one another

To esteem another is to admire, appreciate, cherish, honor, respect, and treasure another human being. It is the opposite of disliking, disregarding, disrespecting, insulting, or mocking. To esteem someone is to see them through the lenses of how God has made them to be. When another person senses that you honestly value them and enjoy being with them, it will draw out the best of who they are. Your relationship together will be positive and hopeful.

2. Delight in one another

To delight in someone is to enjoy being with them. Choose to be content, joyful, and grateful for your relationship. To delight in someone is the opposite of depression, disappointment, or dismay that one feels when in a toxic relationship. Hurt people will hurt other people. A constant environment of stress and negativity will make someone want to retreat to medicate themselves from the pain of the relationship.

For married couples, take time to ponder what first attracted you to your spouse. Regularly speak words of affirmation and gratefulness to your spouse. In your prayers, thank God for the person you have married. Sometimes, the simple action of faith-filled thoughts can transform your perspective.

3. Serve one another

We get our example of serving one another from Christ, who showed His love by laying His life down that you and I might live. He was a slain sacrifice that removes our sin. He takes the things in our lives that “stink” and transforms them into a sweet fragrance. He is the redeemer. His redemptive love is what brings hope to hurting relationships.

If you want your relationship to change, start by “smelling” your behavior. Does it stink? Are your words hurtful? Your immediate reaction may be to think what the other person did to “make” you act this way. Start now by taking responsibility for how you show your love for another person. Serve that person in deed, in word, and in attitude. In other words, be more like Jesus.  Walk in love, like Jesus Did.

I would love to hear your comments on these 3 ways to walk in love…

“And walk in love, [esteeming and delighting in one another] as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us, a slain offering and sacrifice to God [for you, so that it became] a sweet fragrance.” Ephesians 5:2 Amplified