How to Encourage Your Husband as the Spiritual Leader of the Home

Do you need help encouraging your husband as the spiritual leader of the home?

Many women do. I know that when I was a young wife I had not had it modeled to me of how to encourage my husband until much later. I remember devouring books on how to be a better wife for years.


My parents were divorced and I did not want to follow in their shoes. There was much arguing and abuse in their relationship and I knew there had to be a better way. I didn't want to pass the cycle of destruction on to my new little family that I loved so dearly.

So today I wanted to share a little of what I have learned after 25 years of marriage in hopes that it will help someone out there. But please know that I am still not a perfect wife, I don't think anyone out there is--but I have a better and clearer understanding of how to be a good wife and that is what I daily strive to be.

Here are 6 ways to encourage your husband to be the spiritual leader of your home:


1. Look to his leadership - it is so easy to look somewhere else for answers--through friends, social media, online, books, etc. but do we ever stop to ask what our husbands think?

2. Give him verbal affirmation--it is good to say things like "I am so glad that you said/did this because..." this encourages my husband and lets him know that his decisions are good and helping our family.

3. Thank him - be sure to appreciate your husband. You are a team working together to bring glory to God and to raise your family. Thank him for the big things and the small--and most of all don't take him for granted!

4. Communicate biblically - don't be critical, don't be a nag, just give him honest feedback about how things are going in your marriage, parenting, and so forth so he can understand the full picture better. Often times praying before you do this helps you to choose words wisely that are kind and full of grace.

5. Praise him - this goes hand in hand with verbal affirmation. When he does something good remember to praise him and it is okay to praise him publicly too. In fact, I often find it refreshing to hear a woman praising her husband instead of tearing him down.

6. Pray for him - your husband is imperfect (just like you). He needs your prayers to make right decisions, for strength, to battle against temptation, for wisdom in struggles and challenges, and to grow in the Lord. Pray for him daily and ask God to help him grow in godliness.


Let's start encouraging our husbands today! If you need an additional helpful resource on this topic, we highly recommend this practical book.


What would you add to this list?