Category: Self-Reflection

• 5 Ways to Prayer Journal to Improve Your Attitude and Marriage

  

  I had just finished up loading the dishes into the dishwasher, while listening to worship music and offering up a prayer of joy. Little did I know how quickly my attitude would move from worship to all-out-war! You see, our 5 yo son (who is now 25!) wanted to go out to play in the…

  BethSteffaniak

  January 13, 2019

  21 Days of Love Series, About Me, Alienation, Anger, Attitude, Bible Study, Bible Study Tools, Change, Choices, Christ-Centered, Conflict, Discouragement, Emotions, Encouragement, Faith in God, Forgiveness, Marriage, Motherhood, Parenthood, Perspective, Positive Focus, Prayer, Proactive, Relief, Self-awareness, Self-deception, Self-Reflection, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Practices, Truth, Wounds

  Bible Study, God’s Word, Journaling, Perspective, Prayer, Prayer journaling, Processing, 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

• 4 Reasons to Make Love Even When Angry at Your Husband

  

  It was the eve of our one-year wedding anniversary, and my husband and I had one of our biggest fights. We went to bed angry. Rather, he went to bed, and I went to the couch. I wept through most of the night, mourning the death of the marriage of my dreams. Sprawled on the…

  BethSteffaniak

  October 14, 2018

  Acceptance, Affection, Alienation, Anger, Attitude, Avoidance, Bonding, Choices, Christ-Centered, Commitment, Conflict, Connection, Desires, Differences, Discouragement, Encouragement, Expectations, Faith in God, Gender Differences, God’s Redemption, Intimacy, Lessons Learned in Marriage, Love, Marriage, Newlywed, Perspective, Positive Focus, Prayer, Priorities, Redemption, Resentments, Responsibility, Self-awareness, Self-deception, Self-Protection, Self-Reflection, Self-sacrifice, Sex & Sexuality, Sex-Drive, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Practices, Surrender, Withdrawal

  Anger, Conflict in Marriage, Love for Mate, Prayer, Sacrifice, Sex in Marriage, Sexual Connection, Sexual Intimacy

• 5 Biblical Ways to Honor Your Spouse in the Midst of Parenting Conflicts

  

  Today I’m excited to have Stacey Pardoe as my guest speaking about the challenges of parenting and how to navigate them with our mates. I hope you’ll make her feel welcome by commenting and sharing to all your favorite social media places. Thanks! No matter how like-minded we are when it comes to our relationships…

  BethSteffaniak

  September 29, 2018

  Acceptance, Choices, Christ-Centered, Communication, Conflict, Confronting With Grace, Differences, Discouragement, Encouragement, Faith in God, Grace, Humility, Lessons Learned in Marriage, Marriage, Motherhood, Parenthood, Positive Focus, Prayer, Pride, Realistic Expectations, Self-Reflection, Self-sacrifice, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Practices, Submission, Surrender

  Conflicts, Faith in God, Honor Spouse, Humility, Marriage, Parenting, Prayer, Realistic Expectations, Unified Front, Unity

• 5 Ways to Love Your Man When He Doesn’t Listen

  

  Have you ever found yourself sharing something really close to your heart with your mate, only to realize he or she is far, far away? Not really listening at all? Ouch! In my marriage, this has been done to me and, quite frankly, done by me to my husband more times than I can count! It’s so easy to…

  BethSteffaniak

  September 26, 2018

  About Me, Acceptance, Anger, Attitude, Blaming, Boundaries, Change, Choices, Christ-Centered, Communication, Conflict, Confrontation, Conversation, Desires, Discouragement, Emotions, Empathy, Encouragement, Expectations, Faith in God, Forgiveness, Grace, Listening Skills, Love, Marriage, Negative Self-Talk, Patience, Positive Focus, Prayer, Realistic Expectations, Self-Protection, Self-Reflection, Self-sacrifice, Spiritual Practices

  #lovemyman, Communication, Faith in God, Forgiveness, Listen, Love Mate, Prayer, Trust God

• 7 Ways to Develop Empathy and Gain Insight into Your Mate

  

  Have you ever struggled to truly understand your mate’s feelings—feeling empathy for what he/she is going through? I sure have! 😉  But it’s important to examine this important responsibility from every angle. So, first off …  What exactly is empathy? Empathy is the ability to come alongside someone, and not only understand a person’s point…

  BethSteffaniak

  July 15, 2018

  Acceptance, Alienation, Anger, Bonding, Boundaries, Christ-Centered, Codependency, Communication, Connection, Discouragement, Emotions, Empathy, Encouragement, Forgiveness, Listening Skills, Love, Marriage, Pain, Perspective, Positive Focus, Prayer, Resentments, Self-Reflection, Toxic Baggage, Validation, Wounds

  Communication, Emotional Wounds, Empathy, Pain, Prayer, Trust God, Understanding

• Feeling the Forgiveness

  

  I’ve talked a lot about forgiveness on this blog over the years, because I’ve learned first hand that it’s what brings calmness out of messy moments in my marriage. So it only makes sense that it should be the foundation of marriage, since forgiveness is the foundation of what Christ did for us in all…

  BethSteffaniak

  July 8, 2018

  Acceptance, Alienation, Anger, Blaming, Boundaries, Choices, Christ-Centered, Forgiveness, Grace, Jesus’ Sacrifice, Love of God, Marriage, Perspective, Positive Focus, Resentments, Self-awareness, Self-Reflection, Spiritual Growth, Spiritual Practices, Truth, Wounds

  Acceptance, Forgiveness, God’s Love, Offended, Offenses, Perspective

• How Being Broken in Your Marriage is a Good Thing!

  

  Ever ignore something that is or might be broken in your life or marriage? It can be scary and intimidating to face this harsh reality. I know, because I did so with one of my my sons and also with my marriage to its detriment. Years ago, my two oldest sons were enjoying a fun…

  BethSteffaniak

  June 24, 2018

  Accountability, Attitude, Bad Habits, Brokenness, Change, Choices, Christ-Centered, Confession, Denial, Discouragement, Emotions, Entitlement, Expectations, Failure, God’s Redemption, Grace, Laziness, Lust, Marriage, Marriage Mistakes, Perfectionism, Positive Focus, Prayer, Pride, Redemption, Responsibility, Self-Reflection, Self-sacrifice, Spiritual Practices, Surrender

  Broken, Brokenness, Confession, Entitled, Laziness, Lust, Perfectionism, Perfectionist, Prayer, Self-deceived, Self-Righteous

• The Unfair Task to Avoid Lust and Attraction to Others

  

  When I first got married I was under the mistaken notion that I would never feel attracted to anyone other than my husband. I was, after all, deeply in love and thought that “love was all I needed” to fight back any desires, urges or attractions to others. This made me a prime target for…

  BethSteffaniak

  June 3, 2018

  About Me, Accountability, Affairs, Alienation, Attraction, Bad Habits, Betrayal, Bonding, Boundaries, Change, Choices, Christ-Centered, Commitment, Contentment, Desires, Discouragement, Emotions, Encouragement, Faith in God, Infatuation, Love for God, Lust, Marriage, Positive Focus, Prayer, Resentments, Self-Reflection, Self-sacrifice, Sex & Sexuality, Sex/Porn Addiction, Spiritual Practices, Unfair Realities in Marriage

  Accountability, Attraction, Boundaries, Desire, Faithful, Guard Heart, Guard Marriage, Love of God, Lust, Prayer, Unfair Realities

• Unfair Task of Forgiving an Unapologetic Spouse

  

  Back in the early days of my marriage, I would shut down emotionally whenever my husband did or said something to hurt my feelings. And I wouldn’t open up to him or forgive him until he apologized. This was one of the stupidest moves I made back in the day! It fueled even greater conflict…

  BethSteffaniak

  April 15, 2018

  Acceptance, Alienation, Anger, Apologies, Blaming, Christ-Centered, Confession, Conflict, Confrontation, Forgiveness, Grace, Humility, Jesus’ Sacrifice, Marriage, Negative Self-Talk, Positive Focus, Prayer, Resentments, Responsibility, Self-awareness, Self-Reflection, Self-sacrifice, Unfair Realities in Marriage, Vulnerability, Wounds

  Acceptance, Anger, Apologize, Bible, Encouragement, Forgive, Forgiveness, Scripture, Unapologetic, Unfair, Unfair Realities