Preparing

for

MARRIAGE

God’s Way

Preparing

for

MARRIAGE

God’s Way

Preparing

for

MARRIAGE

God’s Way

Lesson 9 — Future Wife

Being a Wife, God’s Way

God has a good plan for husband and wife relationships — understanding and following it is the pathway to marital bliss. This part will help you identify your own beliefs about a wife’s role, understand what your partner believes, study what Scripture says, and adjust your expectations to match God’s design.

Write your “Ideal Wife” article, interview a godly wife, then complete both scorecards below — one evaluating yourself, one evaluating your future husband.

This page is only for the person filling it out — your partner will complete their own copy separately.

Scorecard for Future Wives — Evaluate Yourself

Rate 0 to 4

0 = never, 4 = regularly.

Be Honest

Praise God where you score high; work on where you score 2 or lower.

1. I take pride in my bedroom, apartment, or home by making it attractive and cheerful.

2. I handle my finances responsibly.

3. I keep myself attractive in appearance so my partner is glad to have everyone know I’m the girl he plans to marry.

4. I am a good sport, cheerful, uncomplaining, appreciative, and not a nag.

5. I am willing to let my partner have his own way and the last word when we disagree.

6. I avoid making a fuss over minor problems that I should handle alone.

7. I respect and admire him, making sure he knows he’s valued above others.

8. I show courtesy and consideration to his parents and other relatives.

9. I support his work while giving him space and time for it.

10. I take interest in his friends and hobbies so we can enjoy time together.

11. I pray regularly with and for my partner and maintain a good devotional life.

12. I seek his counsel on important decisions.

13. I support his decisions and cheerfully assist him in fulfilling them.

14. I show respect and esteem for him around other people.

15. I lovingly share my ideas, problems, joys, interests, and affection with him regularly.

16. I avoid shouting and screaming at him.

17. I refrain from using force, threats, or punishment to get my own way.

18. I avoid letting my friends or activities interfere with time to fulfill his desires.

19. I refrain from embarrassing him or putting him down.

20. I keep myself internally as well as externally attractive.

21. I am a “fun person” to be with.

22. I keep appointments, am on time for dates, and call if my plans change.

23. I accept responsibilities and faithfully fulfill them.

24. I am sensitive to his problems and difficulties and try to encourage him.

25. I try to change habits that are annoying to him.

Scorecard for Future Husbands — Evaluate Your Future Husband

Rate 0 to 4

0 = never, 4 = regularly.

Be Honest

Your honest assessment helps you both prepare for marriage God’s way.

1. He plans his time so that he can spend time with me.

2. He is courteous to me and treats me with respect.

3. He listens to my feedback without defensiveness.

4. He communicates with me — telling me what he’s doing, where he’s going, his daily schedule.

5. He is on time for dates and calls me if an emergency will make him late.

6. He helps me with my responsibilities.

7. He makes time for the two of us to be alone together.

8. He speaks kindly and avoids harshness or unreasonable demands.

9. He refrains from using force (physical or psychological) to get his own way.

10. He avoids talking to me about women in a way that implies I am inferior.

11. He is willing to work hard enough to adequately provide for household and personal expenses.

12. He works on keeping himself physically attractive.

13. He seeks my counsel and advice.

14. He looks for positive qualities and behavior and enthusiastically commends me.

15. He shows respect and esteem for me around people; he is courteous and mannerly with me.

16. He avoids being a nitpicker, making mountains out of molehills.

17. He loves sharing his ideas, interests, and life with me.

18. He listens to me even when I’m telling him something he’s not particularly interested in.

19. He is a fun person to be with; he takes life and himself seriously, but not too seriously.

20. He tries to change any habits that are annoying to me.

21. He tries to see things from my perspective and is interested in my viewpoints.

22. He tries to love me in the way I want to be loved.

23. He leads spiritually through service, prayer, and devotion.

24. He is sensitive to my problems and difficulties and tries to encourage me.

25. He acts like I am the most important person in his life next to the Lord; he communicates appreciation.