As a parent, can you remember celebrating the achievements of your child, the milestones that they overcome? Do you remember celebrating the first step, the first picture, and the encouragement to go from riding a training wheel bike to one without to become independent? You may have even displayed what your child has done for you on your refrigerator or in your office to show everyone at work.

Our God is no different. God celebrates different times throughout our entire lives. He celebrates when we are born, when we are born again, when you take one more step closer to Him, when you overcome your fears, when you step out by faith to do something for the Kingdom, or to even sing a song for Him. God keeps an eye on us as we are sleeping. He watches us as we are succeeding and even our failures as we pick ourselves back up and try again.

Some people may not know what being celebrated is about. They may not have had a birthday party or parents who cared and encouraged them in any part of their life. Because of this missing area from their lives, it makes is hard for them to be able to relate to God being a celebrator. But this does not change the fact that God celebrates you.

God doesn’t just celebrate you, but also celebrates everyone around you. He even celebrates your spouse. When you celebrate your spouse, you are celebrating them with God. You become in agreement with God. You start to see and understand that they are the apple of God’s eye and that He also listens and watches over them as they sleep and knows the number of hairs on their heads.

Husbands, just as Jesus celebrates the church, His Bride, so should you do this for your wife. Think back when you first met her and how you would reach out to get her attention, do small things to let her know you were thinking of her, the endless talking about nothing at all, but just spending time together. Those were days of celebration. Think about how you felt when you told your family, friends, or anyone about your new love and how you met her and all about the things that just make them amazing to you?

Things do change over time, some good and some bad, but it doesn’t change the fact that you should celebrate your wife. Wives you should celebrate your husband also. How do you celebrate your spouse now?

Don’t think what about me or about what your spouse is not doing for you. You begin the celebration. You will watch the atmosphere of your relationship at least begin to change even if it is for you. You take the initiative to change.

Trade in the spirit of criticism to a spirit of celebration towards your spouse. Take on that characteristic of God.

Quit allowing their weakness to override the strengths. If you have a hard time doing this, ask God to help you to see your spouse through His eyes and ask Him to stir up the celebration inside of you. You are not going to change anything with criticism and a bad attitude.

The one thing Jesus never carried with Him was a bad attitude of selfishness. He did not look at all the bad things of the church, His Bride. He chooses to celebrate the beauty that He sees.

This is a very important lesson from Jesus that we need to learn. We need to celebrate our spouses as He celebrates us. When you celebrate your spouse, you will be on the same team as God and you will see that when you are teamed up with God, you cannot go wrong.

You may be surprised how if you take the lead and make the first step how your spouse could decide to do the same. If not, look at it this way, your life will take new color and the misery will not be so miserable because you would have chosen to see what God sees and making things better. So choose to celebrate your spouse and leave criticism far from you.

Zephaniah 3:17 (NIV)

17 The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”

Isaiah 62:5 (NKJV)

5 For as a young man marries a virgin, So shall your sons marry you; And as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, So shall your God rejoice over you.