Breaking Old Habits

On the first page of Kathi's book "The Husband Project" she mentions that several women while doing the projects came to her and told her that they were going to have to quit the assignments because their husbands were suspicious and thought they might be having affairs. Wouldn't it be sad if yours or my husband became suspicious of us just because we were encouraging and being especially nice to them? That's not the result I want and I'm sure it's not the one you want either.

So, before I start a new habit of looking for ways to encourage my husband perhaps I should make a conscious effort to end some of my old habits first.

Proverbs 21:23 The Message

Watch your words and hold your tongue; you'll save yourself a lot of grief.

Proverbs 21:9 The Message

Better to live alone in a tumbledown shack than share a mansion with a nagging spouse.

I also loved the quote that Kathi shared on page 47 from an anonymous source

Watch you thoughts; they become words. Watch your words; they become actions. Watch your actions; they become habits. Watch your habits; they become your character. Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.

Before my husband can accept and trust the extra encouragement I will be showing him in the 21 days of projects I need to stop some of the habits I do that make him feel less than perfect.

• The rolling of the eyes.
• Sly comments meant to take personal jabs at him.
• The sighs and cold shoulders
• The quarreling over petty things
• The criticizing, buts, blame game, comments that start with "You"

I'm sure you have a few of your own that you could add to my list.

So, for today start by making an effort to watch your thoughts, your words, your actions, and your habits. Lest they become the reality of your heart.

Oh Lord, show me the habits in my life I need to change. The habits that bring my husband down rather than lift him up. Help me to control my thoughts, words, and actions. So that I can become his source of encouragement that he can trust and enjoy. This is not easy to do on my own so Lord I ask for your divine help with this.