Category: Christ-Centered

• 6 Strategies for Connecting with God Daily

  With all the knowledge I’ve gleaned and used over the years as a marriage counselor and life coach, none of that really made as big of a difference in my marriage as connecting daily with God. But the biggest challenge for most people seems to be establishing that sacred habit. So today I will be…

  BethSteffaniak

  March 7, 2017

  About Me, Accountability, Bible Study Tools, Change, Choices, Christ-Centered, Commitment, Connection, Encouragement, Faith in God, From Messes to Messages Linkup, Love of God, Marriage, Peace, Positive Focus, Prayer, Priorities, Proactive, Slow Know and Grow Series, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Practices

  Bible Study, Encouragement, Love of God, Prayer, Quiet Time, Sacred Habit, Spiritual Growth

• How I Failed and Succeeded to Pray for My Sons – Plus Linkup

  

  Prayer is very important to me as a mom, not to mention as a Christ-follower. But I haven’t always done parts of it perfectly or even well. I’ve been very consistent in how much I pray for my children—both then and now. But I failed in how little I prayed WITH my kids. So today…

  BethSteffaniak

  January 24, 2017

  About Me, Bible Study Tools, Christ-Centered, Commitment, Encouragement, Faith in God, From Messes to Messages Linkup, Marriage, Messy Mom’s and Dad’s, Motherhood, Parenthood, Perspective, Positive Focus, Prayer, Priorities, Self-Reflection, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Leadership, Spiritual Practices

  Children, Motherhood, Parenthood, Prayer, Spiritual Encouragement

• 2 Reasons Why I Need ‘Filter’ to be My Word for 2017

  

  I have to admit something—I didn’t choose a word to focus on for 2016. I know you’re probably like, What??!! Are you kidding me? . . . What self-respecting Christian blogger doesn’t choose a word to focus on, be challenged by, and apply time-after-time all throughout the year? Well, apparently this one. 😦 #bloggerfail If…

  BethSteffaniak

  January 7, 2017

  About Me, Accountability, Attitude, Change, Choices, Christ-Centered, Encouragement, Focus, Grace, Love, Love of God, Marriage, Negative Self-Talk, Positive Focus, Self-awareness, Self-Reflection, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Practices, Truth

  Filter, Focus, Guard Mind, Perspective, Positive Focus, Word for 2017, Word for the year

• One Key Way Prayer Journaling Uncovers Denial And Linkup

  

  I never dreamed many years ago that prayer journaling could or would open up a whole new world of insight for me. A world like I’d never experienced before in my prayer life. I must preface that by saying God opened up new insights as I combined my prayer journaling with my Bible studies and…

  BethSteffaniak

  December 20, 2016

  Attitude, Bible Study Tools, Change, Choices, Christ-Centered, Denial, Encouragement, Faith in God, False Beliefs, From Messes to Messages Linkup, Marriage, Perspective, Prayer, Responsibility, Self-awareness, Self-deception, Self-Reflection, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Practices, Truth

  Denial, Perspective, Prayer, Prayer Journal, Prayer journaling, Reflection, Responsibility

• 5 Differences between Journaling and Prayer Journaling Plus Linkup

  

  Last week I began a mini-series on prayer journaling that naturally sparked some conversation about journaling in the comments. Even though journaling and prayer journaling are synonyms, I wanted to write a post about the differences I see between these two helpful practices. So I hope you’ll indulge me for a bit of a “rabbit…

  BethSteffaniak

  December 13, 2016

  About Me, Anger, Attitude, Christ-Centered, Comfort, Control, Emotions, Encouragement, Faith in God, Fear, From Messes to Messages Linkup, Love of God, Marriage, Openness, Peace, Perspective, Positive Focus, Prayer, Self-awareness, Self-deception, Self-Reflection, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Practices, Truth

  Comfort, Confession, Emotions, Faith in God, Journaling, Peace, Perspective, Prayer, Prayer Journal

• How Prayer Journaling Improved My Marriage And Linkup

  

  One of the main blessings I’ve experienced with the many prayers I’ve written out over the years is how it always brings such comfort when I’ve felt hurt in my marriage. Back in my very messy marriage years, I expected my hubby to be the main person who would comfort me—even and especially when he…

  BethSteffaniak

  December 6, 2016

  About Me, Anger, Authenticity, Choices, Christ-Centered, Comfort, Confession, Emotions, Encouragement, Faith in God, From Messes to Messages Linkup, Grief, Love of God, Marriage, Openness, Positive Focus, Prayer, Security, Self-awareness, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Practices, Surrender

  Comfort, Emotions, Love of God, Peace, Perspective, Prayer, Prayer journaling

• Getting Your Spouse to Open Up – Part Two (Video)

  

  Today I’m talking about the second half of the process that will encourage your spouse to open up and engage with you in conversation. I feel like this should be a process that is built brick by brick—keeping each brick in place as the foundation of trust in your marriage is built, perhaps for the…

  BethSteffaniak

  December 4, 2016

  Acceptance, Accountability, Affirmation, Alienation, Amends, Apologies, Attitude, Avoidance, Change, Choices, Christ-Centered, Communication, Confession, Conflict, Confrontation, Conversation, Discouragement, Emotions, Encouragement, Engagement, Listening Skills, Marriage, Openness, Perspective, Positive Focus, Prayer, Questioning Marriage Videos, Realistic Expectations, Self-Reflection, Validation, Video, Vulnerability

  Accountability, Affirmation, Communication, Conversation, Listening, Listening Skills, Openness, Prayer, Vulnerability

• Victim Love Style in Marriage And FMTM Linkup

  

  Here at Messy Marriage, I’ve talked about a “Victim Mentality” a lot over the years, but this isn’t necessarily what I’m talking about today. A victim mentality can develop in any person’s life regardless of their love style. A victim mentality is a fixation on a real or supposed victimizer in one’s life, feeling helpless…

  BethSteffaniak

  November 29, 2016

  Abuse, Accountability, Addictions, Change, Choices, Christ-Centered, Codependency, Conflict, Emotions, Fear, From Messes to Messages Linkup, Openness, Pain, Parenthood, Prayer, Self-deception, Self-Protection, Toxic Baggage, Victim, Victim Mentality, Vulnerability, Withdrawal, Wounds

  Abuse, Addictions, Anxiety, Avoidance, Compliant, Detached, Fears, Prayer, Prayer journaling, Secrets, Victim, Vulnerability

• The Controller Love Style And FMTM Linkup

  

  With Thanksgiving in the U.S. a day away, it seems appropriate to discuss the many shades of a Controller “love style!” We wouldn’t be able to get through a true Thanksgiving meal or celebration without the “Control Freak” in somebody rising to the surface like a tasty batch of homemade rolls  . . . minus…

  BethSteffaniak

  November 22, 2016

  Abuse, Alienation, Anger, Change, Choices, Christ-Centered, Conflict, Control, Counseling, Emotions, From Messes to Messages Linkup, Pain, Parenthood, Prayer, Safety, Self-Protection, Stress, Support, Toxic Baggage, Trauma, Wounds

  Abuse, Anger, Conflict, Control, Counseling, Support, Wounds

• Getting Your Spouse to Open Up! Video

  Getting a reluctant mate to open up to you is about as easy as coaxing a cranky toddler to eat his peas. At least, that’s what I’ve discovered in my own life. And it’s also what I’ve heard from countless others, especially wives, in conversationless marriages. Today I’m answering another reader’s question in my “Questioning…

  BethSteffaniak

  November 20, 2016

  Acceptance, Accountability, Affirmation, Alienation, Attitude, Avoidance, Change, Choices, Christ-Centered, Communication, Conversation, Discouragement, Emotions, Encouragement, Openness, Prayer, Questioning Marriage Videos, Realistic Expectations, Safety, Self-Reflection, Video

  Communication, Conversation, Fear, Openness, Prayer, Safety, Video