Joni answers more of your interesting questions on today’s program. Learn more about growing more in Christ or keeping your marriage fresh even after more than four decades.
SHAUNA: On this edition of Sharing Hope, we’re doing a feature that has become so popular with you, our listeners. It’s where you have the chance to ask Joni questions. And so, let’s get started and go right to Stephanie who asks, “Joni, in what ways do you continue to grow in Christ?”
JONI: Good question, Stephanie, because we all need to keep growing in Christ… none of us ever gets to the bottom of the many wonderful things about Jesus. If we’re not growing? We’re going the other way. It’s why Second Peter 1, verse 2 says, “May God give you more and more grace and peace as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord.” You know… God has given me much more inner tranquility, inner peace; and as I get older, I sense His grace, His divine favor; I can see that by that grace He is still shaping and sustaining my life—so I see a change in myself. I can tell I’m moving upward in Christ, and ‘it is because’… I know Him better. I am understanding His ways better. Psalm 25 says, “The Lord confides in those who fear Him; he makes his covenant known to them.” In other words, God shares His private counsel and reveals His plans to those who obey and highly respect Him; those who believe His Gospel is Christ-centered, not man-centered. So Stephanie, even though I’ve got a ‘long’ way to go, I do sense more peace; more grace in my life [because at my age with this tough disability, I need Him more]!
SHAUNA: [And don’t we all need him more]! So Joni, this second question is from Patricia, and she says, “My husband and I have been married for 46 years, and God has always been present, but we are still healthy and independent, and we are able to take care of ourselves. As we age though, I know we will become more dependent on each other. How do you keep your marriage fresh, when there are trials such as physical limitations, or even memory loss? We do not want to become irritated if the other isn’t as independent as they once were.”
JONI: Oh, this is a great question, and I bet lots of listeners find themselves in this scenario; that of increasing dependency. I know Ken and I keep our marriage fresh by always, always expressing gratitude to each other. Things are hard with my disability and with our age, and so we are intentional about affirming each other [it’s what people who love each other should do, no matter how long you’ve been married]. And if I find myself being nicer to let’s say my girlfriend, than I am to Ken, I’m not honoring my husband as I should. And so, expressing gratitude and affirming the smallest acts of kindness from the other is a practical way of keeping things fresh when you have a lot of needs. Proverbs 18:21 states that “death and life are in the power of the tongue.” That is a huge statement. It’s like saying, “Death to your relationship if you criticize or whine or complain; but life to marriage if you encourage, affirm, and offer gratitude.” Oh, I wish I could say more here, Patricia, but putting all this into practice is a great start!
SHAUNA: Thanks, Joni for sharing your heart about your marriage of 44 years. And friend, if you would like to ask Joni a question and hear her answer on this program, just go to joniradio.org and click the Ask Joni button. It’s that simple. We’ll be sharing more hope next time here on joniradio.org.
© Joni and Friends