Have you ever heard someone receiving recognition saying that they are humbled and honored? This is a commonplace phrase, but does it occur to you that these are opposite concepts? How is it that they are so often used together? Is it reasonable to think that both could occur together? If you follow me you may find yourself performing some exploits along the way. If people notice and commend you it is an opportunity for you to say that the credit is due to me. What do you have that you did not receive?

Bill Gothard teaches that anger is an inner alarm signal of rights I have not laid down, or if I did, I picked them back up again. I remember getting angry years ago when I was pastoring a church which was experiencing division. My reputation was being ruined by people gossiping and spreading untruths about me to people who had never even met me. The listeners would then take up a reproach against me, even though they had never connected even once with me. How unfair. I was ready to get angry.

It is so easy to focus on the imperfections in your spouse rather than the amazing God-given gifts which cause you as a team to be strong.  Whatever you gaze upon creates your reality. If I want an amazing marriage, I need to focus on the gifts in my spouse. So here are two questions you can ask the Lord:  Lord, would you show me all the gifts my spouse brings into my life so I can honor and appreciate and love my spouse properly? Lord, would you paint a picture of the full destruction my lack of gratitude for my spouse will bring to my life?