Spiritual Makeover ~ By Angie Maldonado

One of my hobbies is decorating.  When I have some time to spare, I love to flip through the pages of a cottage decorating magazine and fill my head with fresh ideas for my home.  Much to my husband's dismay, sometimes those innocent flips through the magazine lead me to go for an "extreme home makeover!"  I've got ideas flying everywhere - reupholster the old wingback chair, add an accent mirror to the wall in the stairwell, paint something pretty in the girls' room!

On a level of much greater eternal purpose, I love also flipping through my Bible and being awakened to my need for an "extreme spiritual makeover."  A great place to start is the simple, yet profound characteristics of the fruit of the spirit, which I'd like to outline here and offer some brief ideas as to how they can be incorporated into a makeover in our roles as Godly wives.  Galatians 5:22-23 says, "But the fruit of the spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control..."

Love... remember that love is a choice much more than it is a feeling.  Therefore, how you express it is a choice, too.  Don't wait for the feeling to spark you.  Decide to do something extra-loving for your spouse this week - compliment him more, do one of his chores, do something he's always wanted you to do (be creative)!

Joy...is an outpouring of the Lord and His constant goodness, not our circumstances.  Express your joy, just because God is good.  Tell your husband how thankful you are for him just because he is him.  Joy is an expression of gratitude.  Go crazy and sing your husband a song!  (It will at least make him burst into laughter at your joyful noise!)

Peace...flows like a quiet river when we rest in God's sovereignty.  Show your husband how at rest you are in the Lord, despite the realities of life whirling about you. Jobs, kids, health, family, spirituality - He's got the whole world in His hands!

Patience...is a virtue...and one that has lost its place in our fast-paced world.  It actually means, in this verse, to deny your "right" to retaliate.  I'll bet you can think of a few times to put this into practice with hubby this week....

Kindness and Goodness... are hard to separate, but fun to heap on someone.  Speak some kind words, cook some good food.  That's enough to get you started on the right foot with your man this week.  I received a package in the mail today full of goodies - kettle corn, nuts, the best sugar cookies I have ever tasted.  It wasn't for anything specific; just an act of kindness from a friend.  Be thoughtful and remember, you reap what you sow.

Faithfulness...is vital to our marriages.  It goes without saying that both partners have a commitment to be faithful to their marriage vows.  But beyond that, keep daily promises to each other.  Set a standard to mean what you say and act on it.  If you say you'll be ready to go at seven, be ready at 6:59.  Husband's love that!

Gentleness...what a precious characteristic.  This is actually my favorite attribute in my husband.  a gentle spirit is so attractive and a harsh one, so very unappealing.  Try this week to be "slow to speak and slow to anger," (James 1:19) in exchanges with your husband.  Be tender with him in front of your children - they'll gain so much by observing that.

Self-Control...keeps all the other characteristics in check.  If you decide to be loving, joyful, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful and gentle, then use self-control to keep that commitment.

If you are in need of a spiritual makeover, start with the fruit.  It's healthy and produces great results!

~ Angie Maldonado is a home schooling mom of two girls (ages 3 and 5) and an Army wife.  Her greatest goal in life is to leave a remarkable spiritual legacy to her two girls and to see them mature with hearts to serve the Lord.  She enjoys crafting, reading, and of course, writing.  She is working on her first book dedicated to encouraging women to let their lights shine for the Lord Jesus.