Women Energized by Grace ...Continued from page 9

John Barnett

“Younger women” refers to those women who are able to bear children or are still rearing children. Since women can bear children well into their forties and the main duties of raising a child last for about twenty years, a woman under sixty could be considered young in the biblical sense (1 Tim. 5:9).

What qualities ought to characterize her life? Love Their Husbands: One word in the Greek text, philandrois is translated “love their husbands.” Paul used the same terms to describe godly widows (1 Tim. 5:9). It means to be a woman totally devoted to one’s husband. Some women say that their husbands are no longer lovable; but having that attitude is disobedience to the clear Word of God. To help your attitude, keep in mind that loving your husband doesn’t mean you’ll always feel the rush of emotion that characterized your love at the beginning of your relationship. Marriage is a contented commitment that goes beyond feelings to a devotedness?to a level of friendship that is deep and satisfying. If you don’t love your husband, you need to train yourself to love him. Serve him kindly and graciously day by day and soon you will make such a great investment in him, you will say to yourself, I’ve put too much of myself into this guy not to love him! It is a sin to disobey this command.

The best way to fill a home with joy and peace is to have a husband and wife who are best friends--intimately, emotionally, and spiritually.

What are some practical steps a Titus 2 woman mentoring a younger woman in the faith would teach? Here would be some wonderful starters:

1. Decide that you will make your own husband your number one most important human relationship of life over your parents, brothers, sisters, and friends.
2. Start to seek your husband’s friendship and love ahead of all other human relationships including your children.
3. Begin examining your lifestyle, and schedule, to see if you are intentionally “spoiling your husband rotten…” if you are doing so as a way of life, then you can be sure that you are his best friend and are truly “loving” your husband.

Here are some habits to cultivate to keep on in your love for your own husband:

• Pray for your husband daily.
• Plan for him daily things like: special acts of kindness; special dinners; special times alone; special meals alone; early b

edtimes for the children; going to bed at the same times.
• Prepare for him daily: prepare your heart with being clothed with God’s love; prepare the house; prepare your appearance; prepare your greeting; set the table; clear out all visitors; stay off the phone; pray for his arrival.
• Please him daily.
• Protect your time with him.
• Physically love him, let him know that you are available at any time that would please him.
• Positively respond to him.
• Praise him.
• Pray without ceasing