04.03.T03-AP — Action Planning Worksheet: Becoming a More Value-Adding Wife

Turning Marital Principles into Daily Practice

This chapter demonstrates that a value-adding wife intentionally strengthens her husband's life through respect, wise communication, emotional support, honesty, service, loyalty, encouragement, prayer and love. Through the contrasting examples of Michal's relationship with David, we see how a wife's choices can either strengthen a marriage or gradually weaken it.

Use this worksheet to identify practical ways through which you can increase the value you add to your husband and marriage.

Part A: Taking Stock

1. Which lesson from this chapter challenged you most strongly?

☐ Respecting my husband

☐ Listening more carefully

☐ Creating a safe space

☐ Packaging criticism wisely

☐ Protecting my marriage from interference

☐ Honesty and transparency

☐ Submission and cooperation

☐ Understanding my husband's needs

☐ Creating a joyful atmosphere

☐ Emotional support

☐ Financial support

☐ Reliability

☐ Love and intimacy

☐ Prayer

☐ Other:

2. Why did this lesson challenge you?

3. What does this reveal about your current approach to marriage?

Part B: Learning from Michal's Story

Michal added tremendous value to David's life when she protected him from Saul, yet later diminished that value through criticism and disrespect.

4. Which positive quality of Michal do you most want to emulate?

☐ Loyalty

☐ Courage

☐ Protectiveness

☐ Commitment

☐ Sacrifice

☐ Supportiveness

☐ Other:

5. What practical action will help you develop this quality?

6. Which mistake made by Michal do you most need to avoid?

☐ Public criticism

☐ Disrespect

☐ Failing to understand her husband

☐ Emotional withdrawal

☐ Focusing on appearances instead of purpose

☐ Other:

7. What will you do differently to avoid this mistake?

Part C: Strengthening Respect

The chapter repeatedly highlights respect as a major need in marriage.

8. In what situations do you find it most difficult to demonstrate respect?

9. What usually triggers those situations?

10. What practical step will help you respond differently?

11. How will you demonstrate greater respect during the next thirty days?

Part D: Creating a Safe Space

The chapter teaches that a husband should feel emotionally safe with his wife.

12. What makes it easier for your husband to open up to you?

13. What behaviours may discourage openness?

14. What changes will you make to create a safer environment for communication?

Part E: Improving Communication and Criticism

The chapter discusses constructive criticism and the feedback sandwich approach.

15. Is there an issue you need to discuss with your husband?

☐ Yes

☐ No

☐ Not Sure

16. How can you communicate your concerns more constructively?

17. What principles from this chapter will guide that conversation?

Part F: Understanding My Husband's Needs

The chapter encourages wives to identify and respond to their husbands' needs.

18. Which need does your husband currently appear to have most?

☐ Encouragement

☐ Respect

☐ Emotional support

☐ Practical support

☐ Rest

☐ Financial partnership

☐ Spiritual support

☐ Appreciation

☐ Other:

19. How do you know this is a current need?

20. What practical action will you take to meet this need?

Part G: Providing Better Support

The chapter discusses emotional, instrumental, informational, appraisal and esteem support.

21. Which type of support does your husband need most at this stage of life?

☐ Emotional support

☐ Instrumental support

☐ Informational support

☐ Appraisal support

☐ Esteem support

22. Why did you select this area?

23. What practical support will you provide during the next month?

Part H: Creating a Joyful Home Environment

The chapter highlights the impact of a wife's attitude on the atmosphere of the home.

24. What currently contributes most to tension in your home?

25. What contributes most to joy and peace?

26. What action will you take to strengthen the positive atmosphere in your home?

Part I: Strengthening Honesty and Trust

27. Is there any area where transparency needs improvement?

28. What practical step will strengthen trust in your marriage?

29. How will you become more reliable and dependable?

Part J: Supporting My Husband's Growth and Wellbeing

The chapter discusses supporting a husband's emotional, physical and financial wellbeing.

30. Which area of your husband's wellbeing currently needs the most support?

☐ Spiritual

☐ Emotional

☐ Physical

☐ Financial

☒ Professional

☐ Other:

31. What practical contribution can you make in that area?

32. When will you begin?

Part K: Strengthening Love, Intimacy and Prayer

33. What practical action will help strengthen emotional closeness in your marriage?

34. What practical action will help strengthen intimacy?

35. What are your three greatest prayer concerns for your husband?

Concern 1

Concern 2

Concern 3

36. What scriptures or promises will guide your prayers?

My Marriage Value-Addition Plan

Priority Area 1

Area to strengthen:

Action I will take:

How I will measure progress:

Target review date:

Priority Area 2

Area to strengthen:

Action I will take:

How I will measure progress:

Target review date:

Priority Area 3

Area to strengthen:

Action I will take:

How I will measure progress:

Target review date:

My Commitment

37. Which lesson from Michal's life has the greatest potential to strengthen your marriage?

38. What is the first action you will take within the next seven days?

39. Complete the statement below.

I will add greater value to my husband by:

Looking Ahead

40. If you faithfully apply the principles from this chapter, what would you like your marriage to look like three years from now?

41. What kind of wife do you believe God is calling you to become?