Category: Confession

• How to Stop Hiding and Improve Your Life and Marriage

  

  When I was a little girl, my way of dealing with sadness or the sins I had committed was to crawl under my bed and hide. This provided a soothing escape from the dark shadows that seemed to mirror my state of mind. No one but the shoes next to my head knew the tears…

  BethSteffaniak

  September 6, 2020

  Confession, Marriage, Prayer, Shame

  Confession, Guilt, Marriage, Shame, Sin

• 3 Ways to Handle a Failed Confession or Apology

  

  Sometimes you do everything you can to prepare your heart and mind for a moment of confession and/or apology with your spouse, and end up failing miserably! But how does this even happen? Typically, for me, this happens in the heat of the moment and for a variety of reasons. Consider this scenario: I’ve prayed…

  BethSteffaniak

  August 13, 2020

  Apologies, Confession, Conflict, Humility, Prayer

  Apology, Confession

• 4 Ways to Avoid Correcting Choices Your Mate Makes

  If you’ve read my blog for any length of time, you know that I tend to want to correct, even manipulate, my spouse’s choices. There’s just something within me that loves to bite on the bait of this temptation whenever it comes my way. Dare I say it? That something within me is my old…

  BethSteffaniak

  August 11, 2019

  About Me, Acceptance, Accountability, Alienation, Anger, Apologies, Blaming, Boundaries, Change, Choices, Christ-Centered, Communication, Confession, Conflict, Confrontation, Control, Criticism, Expectations, Faith in God, Forgiveness, Humility, Marriage, Marriage Mistakes, Nagging, Perfectionism, Pride, Realistic Expectations, Resentments, Respect, Responsibility, Self-deception, Surrender

  Apologies, Boundaries in Marriage, Boundary Violation, Communication, Conflict in Marriage, Correcting Choices, Criticism of Mate, Forgiveness, Personal Responsibility, Respect Mate, Surrender to God

• My Bible Study is On Sale! Plus a Free Devotional

  Today I’m excited to tell you about two of my recent writing endeavors that I hope and pray encourage you! The first one is a limited-time deal on my recently published Bible study. If you’re interested in a Bible study that will take you little-by-little through the book of Ephesians, so that you can soak…

  BethSteffaniak

  June 17, 2019

  About Me, Bible Study, Bible Study Tools, Christ-Centered, Confession, Faith in God, Marriage

  Bible Study, Bible Study Tools, Confession, Devotion, Faith in God, Healing, Honesty, Transparency

• 7 Ways to Clean Up Being Disrespectful to Your Spouse

  

  Recently, I was disrespectful to my husband while we were at our small group Bible study, of all places! It was just that the direction my husband was taking during our discussion just got under my skin. So I sat there stewing—thinking of what I would say to him later in a private moment. Apparently,…

  BethSteffaniak

  April 28, 2019

  About Me, Acceptance, Alienation, Amends, Anger, Attitude, Blaming, Boundaries, Christ-Centered, Communication, Confession, Conflict, Criticism, Discouragement, Encouragement, Forgiveness, Humility, Listening Skills, Love of God, Marriage, Positive Focus, Prayer, Resentments, Respect, Self-Reflection, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Practices, Spring Clean Your Marriage, Surrender, Vulnerability

  Communication, Conflict, Cover with Love, Criticism, Disrespect, Forgiveness, God’s Love, Listening Skills, Respect, Surender to God

• Are You a More Perfectionistic or Realistic Spouse? Take the Quiz!

  

  My husband and I are both perfectionists—meaning we have double trouble when it comes to being realistic in our marriage. No wonder we had a very messy start and still dip into messy moments more often than I’d like to admit! 😉 And maybe, if you’re a perfectionist like us, you chant these words to…

  BethSteffaniak

  March 17, 2019

  Acceptance, Alienation, Anger, Apologies, Attitude, Boundaries, Choices, Christ-Centered, Communication, Confession, Conflict, Connection, Criticism, Desires, Discouragement, Encouragement, Expectations, Failure, Faith in God, Forgiveness, Grace, Jesus’ Sacrifice, Love of God, Marriage, Nagging, Patience, Perfectionism, Personality, Positive Focus, Prayer, Realistic Expectations, Resentments, Self-awareness, Self-Reflection, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Practices, Spouse I Want to Be Series, Support, Surrender, Unity, Wounds

  Acceptance, Limitations, Love of God, Perfectionism, Perfectionistic Spouse, Realistic Expectations, Realistic Spouse, Trust in God

• Are You More of a Humble Spouse or Insecure Spouse? Take the Quiz!

  

  I’ve always wanted to become and be known as a humble spouse. But for the life of me I can’t seem to grasp this elusive quality. It feels very much like chasing after a butterfly. The more I try to capture it, the faster it flits away beyond my grasp. Part of my problem stems…

  BethSteffaniak

  March 10, 2019

  Acceptance, Anger, Choices, Christ-Centered, Communication, Confession, Control, Encouragement, Entitlement, Expectations, Faith in God, Fear, Forgiveness, Grace, Humility, Insecurity, Jesus’ Sacrifice, Marriage, Negative Self-Talk, Perseverance, Perspective, Positive Focus, Prayer, Pride, Resentments, Self-awareness, Self-Reflection, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Practices, Spouse I Want to Be Series, Vulnerability

  Bible Verses, Confess to Spouse, Faith in God, Humble Spouse, Humility, Persevere, Perspective, Prayer, Spiritual Growth

• 3 Ways to Fix Broken Communication in Marriage

  

  Today, I’m honored to offer one more post in my “Lessons Learned in Marriage Series”—this time on communication by guest blogger Crystal Twaddell. I hope you’ll read Crystal’s insights to find out how to navigate this challenge in marriage better. And be sure to check out her bio below, as well as supporting her with your…

  BethSteffaniak

  November 25, 2018

  Acceptance, Alienation, Anger, Attitude, Avoidance, Boundaries, Christ-Centered, Communication, Confession, Conflict, Connection, Conversation, Counseling, Differences, Discouragement, Emotions, Empathy, Encouragement, Forgiveness, Grace, Lessons Learned in Marriage, Listening Skills, Marriage, Negative Self-Talk, Openness, Pain, Perspective, Positive Focus, Proactive, Resentments, Self-awareness, Self-Reflection, Toxic Baggage, Unity, Validation

  Communication, Counseling, Emotions, Filters, Grace in Marriage, Listening Skills, Openness, Processing Pain

• What Is The MOST Costly Financial Mistake You Can Make?

  

  I’m excited and honored to have The Money Couple, Scott and Bethany Palmer, as my guests—bringing their financial expertise to my most recent blog series. I hope you’ll make them feel welcome by commenting, sharing and pinning all over the place! Check out their bio below!  Do you and your spouse ever disagree about money?…

  BethSteffaniak

  November 4, 2018

  Acceptance, Accountability, Bible Study, Bible Study Tools, Boundaries, Communication, Confession, Conflict, Differences, Discouragement, Encouragement, Expectations, Marriage Mistakes, Money Matters, Negotiation, Personality, Positive Focus, Priorities, Realistic Expectations, Respect, Self-awareness

  Communication, Confession, Financial Mistakes, Honesty in Marriage, Money Matters, Personality Differences, Priorities, Realistic Expectations

• 6 Lessons that Motivate Me to Forgive My Mate

  

  I’ve always struggled to let go of offenses and forgive my husband from the heart. In the moment it feels like God needs my help to point out my spouse’s sin or at least to stop it from happening again. When I give in to that thinking it mushrooms. I feel like I need to…

  BethSteffaniak

  September 23, 2018

  About Me, Acceptance, Alienation, Anger, Blaming, Choices, Christ-Centered, Confession, Conflict, Control, Denial, Emotions, Entitlement, Expectations, False Beliefs, Forgiveness, God’s Redemption, Grace, Lessons Learned in Marriage, Marriage, Marriage Mistakes, Negative Self-Talk, Perspective, Positive Focus, Prayer, Pride, Realistic Expectations, Resentments, Responsibility, Self-deception, Self-Protection, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Practices, Surrender, Victim Mentality, Wounds

  Anger, Bitterness, Christ’s Forgiveness, Forgive, Forgiveness, Realistic Expectations, Redemption, Surrender, Trust in God, Wounds