Breaking Free from Toxic Self-Talk :: [Ep. 281]

This week, we are exploring how silent, judgmental thoughts about our husbands can slowly poison our marriages, revealing the destructive power of "he always" and "he never" generalizations.

We are talking about the following:
• The hidden danger of carrying on mental conversations with our spouses while trying to maintain normal interactions
• How seemingly innocent thoughts become toxic generalizations
• Self-righteousness prevents us from seeing God's work in our spouse's heart
• Three practical steps to transform toxic thoughts
• The importance of not letting the sun go down on your anger (Ephesians 4:26)
• How to become an agent of mercy and grace in your husband's life

Come listen and be encouraged on how to better build a biblically healthy marriage!

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For episode transcripts, click HERE.

For more marriage encouragement, visit: www.VowsToKeep.com | V2K Blog | Marriage Counseling | Insta | FB

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The Silent Battle: How Your Thoughts Shape Your Marriage :: [Ep. 280]

Did you know that our negative self-talk about our spouses is quietly undermining our marriages by hardening our hearts and planting seeds of resentment? These mental arguments—whether it's "he just doesn't get me" or "why bother, he'll never change"—grow roots from our minds to our hearts that slowly choke our love.

With this in mind, we will be talking about the following:

• Better understanding negative thoughts about our husbands
• Exploring the desire to be seen and understood is powerful, and the effects caused when husbands miss this
• Reminding ourselves of God as El Roy (the God who sees) which can fulfill our need to be known when our spouses fall short
• How to fight the temptation to give up because nothing seemingly changes
• How to replace negative thoughts with confidence that you are known by God
• Remembering to tell yourself the gospel—what God has done for you— which shifts focus away from what your spouse hasn't done

We hope you can join us today and pray you are encouraged!!

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For episode transcripts, click HERE.

For more marriage encouragement, visit: www.VowsToKeep.com | V2K Blog | Marriage Counseling | Insta | FB

Apple Podcast listener? Would you consider leaving us a review, as this helps more couple's to find our resources?! Leave your review HERE.

Breaking the Silence + Reconnecting with Your Husband :: [Ep. 279]

Last week, we started talking to wives on how to (re)engage communication with their husband. This week, we are continuing the conversation. We will explore how wives can restore communication with disengaged husbands by addressing harmful communication patterns that create barriers to intimacy and connection.

We will talk about the following in this episode:

• How common malice—the intention to vex, annoy or injure—is within our communication
• Types of belittling behavior that is common and needs to stop
• The effect of rejecting compliments and what that communicates to your husband
• The effects of consistently seeking advice from others instead of your husband
• Non verbals within a conversation that push your husband away
• How to repair disconnection

If God has revealed areas where you've sinned against your husband, go to him and apologize specifically. Name what you've done, make it right, and express your desire to follow God and His Word.

We hope and pray you are helped and encouraged by this week's episode!

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For episode transcripts, click HERE.

For more marriage encouragement, visit: www.VowsToKeep.com | V2K Blog | Marriage Counseling | Insta | FB

Apple Podcast listener? Would you consider leaving us a review, as this helps more couple's to find our resources?! Leave your review HERE.

Your Words Matter: Why Your Husband Has Stopped Talking to You :: [Ep. 278]

Are you a wife who is longing for better communication with your husband but unsure of just how to get him talking more? Communication breakdown in marriages often stem from habitual habits that many wives have developed when it comes to communicating with their husbands which can cause husbands to disengage rather than drawing them into deeper conversation. By examining these sometimes destructive patterns and replacing them with biblical approaches focused on respect, humility, and patience, wives can create an environment where meaningful communication can flourish again.

We will cover the following in this week's episode:
• Evaluating wrong and right demands and their effects on the relationship
• Right demands (biblically sound desires) can still damage communication when not presented respectfully
• When passion about a topic increases, our respect must increase even more
• Ways that wives unknowingly communicate distrust in both God and their husbands
• Clothing yourself with patience, humility, and gentleness creates the space for real communication
• Important questions to ask yourself

Wives, this week, commit to laying your demands before God instead of your husband, trusting His sovereignty rather than your control.

We hope you enjoy and are encouraged!

Support the show

For episode transcripts, click HERE.

For more marriage encouragement, visit: www.VowsToKeep.com | V2K Blog | Marriage Counseling | Insta | FB

Apple Podcast listener? Would you consider leaving us a review, as this helps more couple's to find our resources?! Leave your review HERE.

Joy in Marriage :: [Ep. 277]

Joy in marriage isn't just for personal happiness but serves as a powerful testimony for Christ, showing others the benefits of following God. When couples follow God's design, their relationship becomes a living demonstration of God's undeserved love to a world that desperately needs to see it.

In this week's episode, we are covering the following:

• Why marriage is often reduced to roommates working through tasks rather than experiencing God's joy
• Christians frequently portray following God as difficult with little joy, making faith unattractive to others
• Learning from King Solomon who warns against worldly pursuits and encourages rejoicing in your spouse
• How Biblical marriage provides tangible language to explain Christ's love for the church
• Redemption in marriage isn't dismantling God's created order but recovering it

We hope as you listen, you are encouraged and blessed!

Support the show

For episode transcripts, click HERE.

For more marriage encouragement, visit: www.VowsToKeep.com | V2K Blog | Marriage Counseling | Insta | FB

Apple Podcast listener? Would you consider leaving us a review, as this helps more couple's to find our resources?! Leave your review HERE.

Weathering Financial Storms in Your Marriage :: [Ep. 276]

Come listen to this week's episode where we share biblical wisdom for navigating rising prices without letting financial stress damage your marriage. We are offering practical guidance for managing household budgets during inflation while maintaining spiritual perspective and marital unity.

We will cover the following:

• Five practical strategies for managing finances in uncertain economic times
• The connection between trusting God as provider and making wise financial decisions
• Creating a realistic budget that accounts for rising prices while prioritizing true needs
• Distinguishing between actual needs versus perceived entitlements
• The importance of maintaining kingdom mission despite financial limitations
• How financial constraints can actually strengthen family bonds and spiritual growth
• Practical budgeting tips including tracking spending and identifying areas to cut back

God wants to change our hearts to stop chasing things of this world and use our resources to chase Him instead. When we do that, complaints between spouses stop, and we develop a united purpose focused on the mission ahead rather than what we lack. We hope as you listen you will be greatly helped and encouraged!

Support the show

For episode transcripts, click HERE.

For more marriage encouragement, visit: www.VowsToKeep.com | V2K Blog | Marriage Counseling | Insta | FB

Apple Podcast listener? Would you consider leaving us a review, as this helps more couple's to find our resources?! Leave your review HERE.

Seeing Your Spouse's Unspoken Needs :: [Ep. 275]

This week, we are wrapping up our six-part series on Powerful Pursuit by exploring how to see and meet your spouse's unspoken heart-level needs, moving beyond being roommates to truly pursuing one another in marriage.

We will cover the following in this episode:

• Distinguishing between what your spouse wants versus what they truly need at heart level
• Understanding marriage as an opportunity to prioritize pursuit like the shepherd who leaves his 99 sheep
• Warning against responding with judgment rather than Christ-like pursuit when hurt enters a relationship
• The importance of discernment in identifying what our spouse actually needs
• Making it your mission to understand your spouse so well they don't have to articulate their needs

Come listen and be encouraged and helped!

Support the show

For episode transcripts, click HERE.

For more marriage encouragement, visit: www.VowsToKeep.com | V2K Blog | Marriage Counseling | Insta | FB

Apple Podcast listener? Would you consider leaving us a review, as this helps more couple's to find our resources?! Leave your review HERE.

The Battle of Priorities: How Your Choices Shape Your Marriage + Life :: [Ep. 274]

We are continuing our "Powerful Pursuit" series by examining how priorities reveal what we truly value and ultimately determine the quality of our marriages.

We will cover the following in this week's episode:

• Priorities determine how we spend our days and ultimately our lives
• Our actions reveal what's most important to us, regardless of what we claim
• The battle between urgent and important constantly shapes our marriages
• How King Solomon initially prioritized God but later allowed his priorities shifted
• Partial obedience is still disobedience when it comes to God's priorities
• Walking by the Spirit produces fruit that benefits marriage relationships
• Proper priorities in marriage come from recognizing everything as God's gift
• How to make margin for what matters most

We hope and pray that you and your spouse are helped!

Be sure to listen to previous episodes, if you haven't already, in this series to learn more about bringing God's encouraging truth to your marriage.

Support the show

For episode transcripts, click HERE.

For more marriage encouragement, visit: www.VowsToKeep.com | V2K Blog | Marriage Counseling | Insta | FB

Apple Podcast listener? Would you consider leaving us a review, as this helps more couple's to find our resources?! Leave your review HERE.