When you married ... you made vows to each other.
This is called covenant. You proclaimed that you would take on his family, his friends, his faults, his finances. He made the same vow... to take on your family, your friends, your faults and your finances.
Allow your husband to minister to you and your family.
Tell your husband your needs - allow him to pray for you...to help you overcome. (i.e.: memorizing scriptures together, helping you say no to that second helping of food, praying for you to have strength when you NEEDthat cigerette and your trying to quit, and helping you overcome your fears)
Let your husband know the hard things that are happening. (i.e.: one of your children is in trouble at school, you bought something expensive that he didn't know about and you really couldn't afford, etc.)
Even if you have just a headache - tell your husband to pray for you!
Today we have many second, and third marriages. Opinions on how the children from those marriages should be raised can create strife in the family. REMEMBER you both made a vow. You will both need to be sensitive to what the Holy Spirit tells you about what your children need - both in love ANDin discipline.
Have your husband agree with you and help you pray for other members of your family - parents, brothers, Sisters, etc.
Be honest with your husband, but never critical.
Never criticize your husband to others - not even in jest.
Allow your husband to make mistakes - but let him also be responsible for those decisions that he makes. You're not his mother. He is an adult. Treat him as such. Don't try to make up for his shortcomings and don't be judgmental. Just pray that God will give him the strength and the wisdom to overcome and he will.
As you talk to your husband, say those things that Christ would say to him.
See him as Christ sees him and speak those things into existence. Tell him what a Godly man he is and encourage him when he wants to seek the Lord.
Remind him daily that he is a good husband and/or father and that you are proud you are married to him. Tell him daily of the same things that God reminds you of - that he is precious in your sight and the Apple of your eye.
To maintain strength in your marriage, become a women of excellence as outline in Proverbs.
Proverbs 31:10 - 31
[the virtuous woman]
Prov 31:10 (NASU) An excellent wife, who can find? For her worth is far above jewels.
11 The heart of her husband trusts in her, And he will have no lack of gain.
12 She does him good and not evil All the days of her life.
13 She looks for wool and flax And works with her hands in delight.
14 She is like merchant ships; She brings her food from afar.
15 She rises also while it is still night And gives food to her household And portions to her maidens.
16 She considers a field and buys it; From her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She girds herself with strength And makes her arms strong.
18 She senses that her gain is good; Her lamp does not go out at night.
19 She stretches out her hands to the distaff, And her hands grasp the spindle.
20 She extends her hand to the poor, And she stretches out her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household, For all her household are clothed with scarlet.
22 She makes coverings for herself; Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is known in the gates, When he sits among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells [them], And supplies belts to the tradesmen.
25 Strength and dignity are her clothing, And she smiles at the future.
26 She opens her mouth in wisdom, And the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
27 She looks well to the ways of her household, And does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children rise up and bless her; Her husband [also], and he praises her, [saying]:
29 "Many daughters have done nobly, But you excel them all."
30 Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain, [But] a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.
31 Give her the product of her hands, And let her works praise her in the gates.