3 Ways to Change Your Husband – Biblical Strategies Guaranteed to Produce Results – Part 2

Last week we began this mini series about how to change your husband.  If you haven’t done so already, you can read Part 1 here.  

As we get started today, I have some questions for you.  I want you to take a step back and think for a minute about the following questions: 

1. If you could change only one thing about your husband, what would it be? 
2. Why? 
3. What have you done already to try to encourage him to change? 
4. On a scale of 1-10, how effective would you say your attempts have been so far? 

When it comes to Christian marriages, there are generally “quirks” and things that we would like to change about our spouse, but often the #1 thing we want to see changed in their lives is a spiritual issue.  

This is why strategy #2 is so important.  

Here it is – Move Over and Let the Holy Spirit Do His Job

Have you ever heard the phrase, “You are not (insert person)’s Holy Spirit”?  I remember hearing my mom say that growing up.  What she really meant is this: 

It is not your job to change the other person.  

There is, however, someone to whom that job belongs … the Holy Spirit.  Since His entrance to earth at the time of Pentecost (Acts 2), He has been doing a powerful work in individuals’ hearts, and He will continue doing so until the Father instructs Him otherwise (II Thessalonians 2:7).  

His incredible ministry is multifaceted.  Here are some of the transforming things he accomplishes: 

• He convicts of sin (John 16:8). 
• He makes us aware of our need for salvation (John 16:8-15, 1 Corinthians 12:3) 
• He powers the believer’s life and ministry (Acts 1:8, Romans 15:16-19)
• He is a helper in our weakness (Romans 8:26) 
• He is a Comforter (John 14:16) 
• He is a restraining force (2 Thessalonians 2:7) 
• He renews and regenerates (Titus 3:5) 
• He helps us to pray (Romans 8:26-27) 
• He guides us in truth (John 16:13) 
• He teaches us (I Corinthians 2:9-14) 
• He works in us for our sanctification (2 Thessalonians 2:13, I Peter 1:2) 
• He brings liberty (II Corinthians 3:17) 
• He seals us until the day of redemption (Ephesians 1:13, 4:30) 
• He produces godly fruit in our lives (Galatians 5:22-23)
• He gives hope (Romans 15:13)

Let me ask you another question: 

Can you accomplish any one of those things in your husband’s life? 

It’s a rhetorical question, really, because the obvious answer is an emphatic NO!  There is not a single one of those ministries that is within our sphere of responsibility (or even possibility!) when it comes to our husbands.  

So why not leave the job to Someone who can handle it? 

Don’t get me wrong … I am not saying that this is easy! Sometimes “letting go” can be the hardest part of the task! But we are not powerless; there is something incredible we can do, which leads us to Strategy #3 … 

Keep Growing and Trusting, 

Stephani 

PS: You can now find Part 3 here!