What if I told you that you have influence? That you don't need to have a podcast or a church or a book or a social media following. That right now, in this moment, you have the power to influence the lives of others, especially your spouse.

Every day we have the power to influence the life of our spouse. We have the power to show them who they are in Christ by loving them the way Jesus loves them. When we make their day great just by the tiny interactions we have with them throughout the day, we are influencing them in a dramatic way. It is affecting their life and their potential to follow Jesus more closely!

Or we can discourage them. We can complain and criticize and tear them down- even if we don't mean to. We have the power to completely make or break our spouses' day because of the relationship we have with them. If we're so focused on ourselves and our own needs not being met, we are negatively influencing them and likely pushing them away from Jesus on that day, week, year and eventually... their life.

Our spouse is our first assignment. They are our highest place of influence.

Do not waste your influence.

In this episode, we are talking about what it really means to have influence and how to use that influence (including some practicals in how to communicate the points you want to get across). We hope it shines a light on places and encourages you to recognize your power and use it for good.

Love,

Belah & Team

PS - You can find the Marital Health Assessment mentioned at the beginning of this podcast here: delightyoumarriage.com/health

PPS - If you want to know more about what we do and how we can help your marriage, please feel free to reach out at delightyourmarriage.com/cc

PPPS - Here is a quote from a recent graduate:
"There has been unbelievable healing and growth that I prayed so desperately for, but never knew how to achieve on my own. I am closer to God than ever before and now have such an incredible arsenal of tools in my pocket to handle the difficult situations that inevitably still arise."

We are thrilled to be sharing Joel's Transformation Story with you today!

After 28 years of marriage, Joel felt disconnected from his wife. He was unsure of what to do and or where the disconnection was coming from. In searching for answers, he spoke with his sister about it and was introduced to the DYM podcast. After a few episodes and some topics really hitting home, he signed up for the Clarity Call and was accepted into the Masculinity Reclaimed course.

Through the Course, not only did Joel begin to see a change in his marriage - with the reconnection he had longed for, more playfulness, and a better understanding of how to love his wife well - but his wife even began adding his Coaching Calls to their calendar! She was THAT impressed by the changes!

We hope this transformation story inspires you and reminds you that the work that you do for your marriage does matter.

Love,

Belah & Team

PS - If you are looking to reconnect with your spouse, learn how to love them better, or figure out just how in the world to bring playfulness back - we would love to talk with you.
delightyourmarriage.com/cc

PPS - Here is a quote from another recent graduate:

“The program has given me the tools I need to have a thriving marriage. More importantly, the program has changed my mindset and outlook. I now have a renewed hope that a thriving marriage is possible! I no longer fear that our marriage will end. Our intimacy isn’t just physical like in the past. It is now emotional, spiritual, and physical. It is new and AMAZING!”

Maybe you've been incredibly successful in your business pursuits.

You're the kind of guy who sees a target, attacks the target and brings home the game.

And year after year every chart goes up and to the right.

But unfortunately, what you have done that got you great success in business is what has actually torn down what you have wanted to build.

I mostly focus on men in this episode because I find they often need this sort of clarification of how God designed marriage.

The truth: marriage is extremely different than business :)

A businessman might see a problem and want to fix it, when he uses the same tools that have made him successful in business with his wife...

It drives her away.

It makes her feel she's not good enough.

Or it causes her to grow cold towards him.

The strategies that work in growing your business, conversing with coworkers, or motivating your employees will not be the things that work in the closer, intimate relationship you have with your spouse.

So, if you feel you're throwing punches in the dark and nothing is working and it's incredibly frustrating -- based on the success you've come to expect with your typical approach to life... then this episode is for you.

Blessings,

Belah & Team

PS - If we can help you with your marriage, we invite you to schedule a Clarity Call at delightyourmarriage.com/cc

This is a free consultation for us to see if we are a fit for your needs and if we would expect wonderful results from a program.

PPS - Here is a quote from a recent graduate:

“I have come to realize that I need to be very intentional every day about romancing my wife. Especially recently, with some new business pressures, I have realized how easy it is to slip. Interestingly, I am seeing some significant effects in my daughters. Both of them are saying that they would like to have marriages like my wife and I have. Praise God!!!”

Listening is a superpower.

It makes people feel heard and safe and brings down defenses. It lets them know they are cared for.

In today's society, it can be hard to have a conversation without wanting to defend a point in disagreement or wanting to make sure your opinion is heard, as well. It's even worse when this seeps into your marriage.

Today we are going to be talking about how to have a productive disagreement without losing connection, how to stay on the same team (even when you think your spouse is totally wrong!), and how to be a curious and compassionate listener, even in the midst of disagreement.

We hope this episode blesses you and leads to many wonderful, deep conversations and a deeper understanding and connection with your spouse.

Love,

Belah & Team

PS - You can find the Marital Health Assessment mentioned in today's podcast here: https://delightyourmarriage.com/health/.

PPS - If you're thinking this listening stuff is great for someone else, but not you and your spouse- they never listen, they don't want to share, they are so closed off... we would love to talk to you and see if we can help. https://delightyourmarriage.com/cc

PPPS - Here is a quote from a recent graduate:

"My biggest struggle coming into the program was hard heartedness, unforgiveness and resentment... It's required me to be more reflective. It has shown me the power of positive habits that build into an attitude of gratitude. I am learning to see my wife in a kinder light. I am spending more time connecting with my kids and have been more patient, kind & gentle with them. I am becoming a better friend, messaging and calling friends more, and making time for them."

For the past 30 years, she has tried everything to try and connect with her husband. It left her feeling lonely inside her own marriage.

Tanya is a woman who feels deeply. She is wired to feel the world and those around her in a deep, empathetic way.

But this is not the way her husband was wired. Since the beginning of their marriage, Tanya has felt a disconnect and a dismissal of her emotions.

Her husband went looking for marriage help and found the Delight Your Marriage podcast.

Through the podcast, he was inspired to join the men's program and that is when their marriage really began to change.

She was shocked when she noticed he started listening more intently, he became more tender, and they would go on walks in the park holding hands together- something that had been missing since their dating days.

This inspired Tanya to do the women's program and "jump in with both feet", willing to let this program change her the way it had changed her husband.

Now, their marriage has flourished. Tanya never thought it would be possible, but here they are, more connected than ever before.

She said she feels "let out of prison". The depression has lifted and she has hope for the future for the first time in so long.

We believe Tanya's story will encourage you and inspires hope in you for your journey!

Love,

Belah & Team

PS - If this story resonates with you and you want to see a change in your marriage as well, we would love to talk with you. Contact us at delightyourmarriage.com/cc for a completely free Clarity Call. (A call Tanya says is still impacting her even now.)

PSS - Here is a quote from a (different) recent graduate:

Before the Delighted Wife Program:

"We were planning on how to keep a family together while breaking our family up - We were at the end of ourselves and decided it was time to give up and go our separate ways."

After:

"WHERE DO I BEGIN!!! I have grown in patience, perspective, my faith and connection with God, my understanding of my husband, and peace. I have learned how to build my marriage. Building it is now a journey and no longer an intense, overwhelming mission impossible...

Biggest take away from this whole course is the GOD FACTOR. Belah always pointed us to Jesus NOT to a strategy or an idea or concept. It was directly and purely to JESUS. He was the main focus, and everything else just fell into place. It helped me to re-center everything in my life."

Clarity is a Christian's speciality.

Amidst a confused culture, a clear understanding of God's word is what we need.

If you're a husband, I invite you to consider how Jesus led and what the Bible says about a husband's leadership in the family.

If you're a wife, I invite you to hear what a man can be (really) so you are happy to be led.

My story started without good role modeling.

And then I tried to "submit" and it was soul crushing.

Then I decided I would NOT submit, and it was stressful, frustrating, and deeply painful.

Then I discovered God's way (though I still make mistakes at times), and it has made both my husband and I flourish.

I can lead in many, many ways outside of our family -- but I love that in our home I am not the leader. My husband is trustworthy and good to me and our children.

I hope you can catch a vision of what it can mean for you as a man or a woman to empower the right order of family.

We are to be a light on a hill for the non-believers.

I hope you'll curiously seek to gain perspective and growth into more and more of who God wants you to be in and through your marriage so you can do more for the Kingdom of God.

Love,
Belah

PS - We can help -- if you're a husband or a wife -- that's what we do. Check out delightyourmarriage.com/cc to learn more.

PPS - Here a quote from a recent graduate:

Before the Masculinity Reclaimed program: “I had quite a few struggles when starting the program...we were arguing quite a lot, I was defensive in my responses and even blamed [her] for the issues. I also hadn't been intentional in terms of dating or cherishing her for a long time and she was feeling neglected and getting more and more upset about the situation.

Neither of us was very happy. I tried to do more around the house to make [her] happy, tried to act perfectly but still failed and ended up walking on eggshells most of the time. Not feeling or acting confidently or as a leader.”

After MR: “I can see now that I had been both aloof and independent towards my wife...but also very dependent on her mood and feelings/actions towards me.

I feel more secure now in who I am, I don't get defensive much at all any more and we rarely argue… I realized that I hadn't been a very good husband for a very long time. I didn't know the extent of it until I went through each week and realized that I hadn't really been doing the basics of knowing my wife, or making her feel safe and cherished. That was a hard realization, but actually really helped me to understand the situation and where [she] was coming from and also helped me to own my part in it.

It's been a huge change for the better. I have daily devotions now, I practice gratitude daily now. I have more confidence and less anxiety around people or stressful situations. I feel closer to God now; what could be a bigger impact than that?”

We have all felt the frustration and disappointment of doing our best to do the right thing and life still does not go the way we thought.

For 28 years, Stephen was a faithful husband to his wife. There were no drugs or alcohol or pornography. They raised two kids in a Christian home. From the outside, everything looked like it should be going right.

But within their marriage, they were falling apart. Stephen felt emotionally and physically abandoned by his wife and didn’t know what to do.

After desperately searching “Sexual Intimacy” on Google in hopes of finding some answers, Stephen stumbled upon Delight Your Marriage.

After the first podcast episode, he knew this was what the Lord had for him. He was shocked that after signing up, exactly what he had been praying for came to pass... his wife greeted him with open arms, a smile, and a “How was your day?” followed by a passionate night!

Stephen had to do his work on himself. It wasn't easy and he had to have faith that God could change it all. And He did.

This is the story we want for each person listening: to be desired by their spouse, to be connected, and to be loved in a delight-filled marriage.

We are so thankful to Stephen for sharing his story with us and we hope that his story becomes your story too.

Blessings,

Belah & Team

P.S. - If you want to know more about our Clarity Calls or how to become involved in the same work Stephen did, please reach out to us at delightyourmarriage.com/cc. We would love to talk to you!

P.S.S. - Here is a quote from a recent graduate:

Before the men's program: “I often felt disrespected and controlled. To a degree I felt unloved because of the lack of physical intimacy.

I often felt I couldn’t be myself or express my opinion because of the disapproval I would feel when I did. There was anger and indifference growing in me. We were growing further and further apart…”

After the men's program:

“Tension between us is pretty much gone! Our relationship, our discussions have become much more peaceful, easygoing and playful than before. My wife has become more affectionate and has initiated intimacy more! We can now discuss physical intimacy and not argue.

She has told me many times how she likes the changes she sees in me, and is expressing more and more desire to grow in intimacy herself!...

Other people around us, even strangers, have noticed something different about us. One change that I think is the most telling of how the DYM program has impacted our lives:

Prior to the program we had been sleeping in separate rooms for years. I am thankful to say that I am back in our marriage bed, physically, emotionally – for good now!”

P.S.S.S… :)

A few weeks ago, I had the wonderful privilege of being a guest on the 'That's Just What I Needed' podcast with speaker & author Donna Jones, who is a friend of DYM and has actually been on our podcast as well! If you'd like to listen to the episode, we talk about what you can do make your marriage better, regardless of where you're starting. You can find it here: That’s Just What I Needed

It was so great getting to chat with her and we hope the episode blesses you immensely! We want to support Donna and the great work she is doing so if you are on social media, please give her a follow on @donnaajones and make sure to check out her new book, Healthy Conflict, Peaceful Life. Thank you again for having me, Donna!