I love being a follower of Christ. Since my college years, it has been my source of comfort and strength through many of life’s obstacles. But, love it or not, it’s not always easy. Choosing to be obedient to the Bible has its challenges and I’d be a liar if I said I was perfect at it. Thankfully, God had my back when he sent my husband to me. As a Christian himself, he’s faced some tall mountains and deep valleys. Despite all of that, our faith remains steadfast because we’ve learned to be each other’s best Christian friend. If you’re not sure how to be your spouse’s best Christian friend, these five ideas might be just what your relationship needs.
5 Ways You Can Be Your Spouse’s Best Christian Friend
In this article:
- Ask them about their spiritual walk
- Address their sin without judgment
- Encourage and share in their acts of service
- Pray for them daily about specific things
- Ask them to pray for you about specific things
Many people like to keep their walk with God close to the vest. There’s nothing wrong with that. Some people are very private about their spiritual act of worship. But many who are strong in their faith know their best chance of staying strong includes at least one solid spiritual partner. In a marriage relationship, it would be great if that partner is your spouse.
Ask them about their spiritual walk
You know that creepy feeling you get when someone asks you a question you just don’t want to answer? Well, if I am struggling in my walk with God, I get that feeling if someone asks me about it, even my husband. But, after I begin talking and I get to unload my struggles, fears or just my momentary beef with God, lo and behold, I feel better. By talking to my husband about my spiritual walk, I get out of my own head and make room for God to encourage me more. I also give my husband the chance to get to know me better and strengthen his role as a leader in my life. The same holds true when I do the same for him. As such, we further deepen our bond as each other’s best Christian friend.
Address their sin without judgment
The cool thing about living with your best friend is you get to live with your best friend! Everybody’s happy…smiles all around, right? That is until someone’s not happy. You not only get to experience times of great joy, but you get a front-row seat to all of their character flaws. Typically, you can attribute those flaws to an area of sin that they either don’t or refuse to see and/or change. If you want to be your spouse’s best Christian friend, don’t let their sin take root in their heart. Call it out when you see it without coming across as judgmental. And don’t be a hypocrite. If there is a behavior you want them to change, make sure you aren’t doing the same things.
Encourage and share in their acts of service
As a Christian, I love to connect with others and share my faith. But sometimes I just get too busy and lose focus on being there for others. As my Christian best friend, my husband, whether by example or encouragement, calls me higher to serving those around me. There is something your spouse is great at. As you watch their life, encourage them to serve others using their gifts. By doing that, you build them up and give their faith has an opportunity to grow. To further lift their spirit, join them in their act of service as long as it’s appropriate.
Pray for them about specific things
When you spend time talking with your spouse, it helps to foster a relationship that makes for a great marriage. It also gives you a look into their heart and mind. As you pray for them, pray about their specific areas of concern. Pray about their needs, their desires, their dreams. Of course, when you do that anyway, you’re a great friend. But when you know them enough to be specific you enter best Christian friend territory.
Ask them to pray for you about specific things
What’s good for the goose is good for the gander. This applies to prayers too. It’s great to pray for your spouse, but it’s equally important to allow your spouse the privilege of praying for you. And I don’t mean anything generic. But specific prayers that come from you being vulnerable enough with them to share your heart. When you ask them to pray for you specifically, you communicate that you trust them with your spiritual walk. That goes a long way towards fortifying your friendship.
As a Christian, you get to have a relationship with God. As a Christian spouse, you get to share that relationship with your best friend. Don’t miss it!
BMWK, are you ready to be your spouse’s best Christian friend?
Up next: 5 Ways to Love Yourself So You Can Truly Love Your Spouse