THE RHEMA STRATEGY: MARCH 2026 DEEP-DIVE

TAKE CARE OF YOUR WIFE: THE HUSBAND’S SACRED STEWARDSHIP

MESSAGE BY: PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

BIBLE READING: EPHESIANS 5:25–29 (KJV)

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 SAMUEL 13–14

HYMN: 28 – GUIDE ME, O THOU GREAT JEHOVAH

MEMORISE: “Husbands, love your wives, and be not bitter against them.” — (COLOSSIANS 3:19)

I. THE DIVINE MANDATE: NURTURE AND PROTECT

As we move into Wednesday, March 25th, 2026, we address one of the most foundational pillars of a stable society and a thriving Church: the Christian marriage. Specifically, we are looking at the husband’s mandate. In the eyes of God, a wife is not a “possession” to be used, but a “gift” to be nurtured.

One of the most critical assignments a man will ever receive from Heaven is the task of taking care of his wife. This isn’t just about providing financial security; it is about providing an atmosphere where her soul can flourish. In Ephesians 5:25, the standard is set at the highest possible level: “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it.” If you want to know how to treat your wife, look at the Cross. Christ did not wait for the Church to be perfect before He loved her; He loved her into “glory” through sacrifice.

II. THE DANGER OF BITTERNESS

Our memory verse in Colossians 3:19 offers a specialized warning: “be not bitter against them.” #### 1. The Trap of Resentment

Why does the Holy Spirit emphasize bitterness? Because marriage is the closest human relationship, it is also the place where friction is most likely to occur. There will be days of misunderstanding, moments of fatigue, and seasons of disagreement. These are the moments when the “root of bitterness” tries to take hold. A husband must be vigilant. If you allow bitterness to fester, you will stop seeing your wife as an “heir together of the grace of life” and start seeing her as an opponent.

2. The Power of Intentionality

Many men are romantic during courtship but become “mechanical” after the wedding. They stop being intentional. To take care of your wife in 2026, you must keep the romance alive.

• Verbal Affirmation: Tell her you love her—daily.

• Thoughtful Giving: Buy her gifts regularly, not just on birthdays, but “just because.”

• Public and Private Honor: Compliment her in front of the children and in public settings.

• Gratitude: Never let her labor in the home go unthanked.

Even Isaac, a man carrying the massive generational blessing of Abraham and managing a vast business empire, found time for romance. Genesis 26:8 records King Abimelech looking out a window and seeing Isaac “sporting” with Rebekah. Isaac was not too busy or “too spiritual” to be playful and affectionate with his wife.

III. THE SPIRITUAL CONSEQUENCE: HINDERED PRAYERS

This is perhaps the most sobering reality for any Christian man: your relationship with your wife directly impacts your relationship with God.

1 Peter 3:7 warns that if a husband does not dwell with his wife according to knowledge and give her honor, his prayers will be hindered.

Think about this: You can fast for forty days, tithe faithfully, and serve in every church department, but if you go home and treat your wife with neglect or harshness, the ceiling becomes brass. God refuses to listen to the prayers of a man who is bruising the “weaker vessel” He entrusted to him.

A wife is a “multiplier.” If you give her a house, she gives you a home. If you give her groceries, she gives you a meal. If you give her happiness and affection, she becomes a “Helper” who pushes you to achieve your goals faster than you ever could alone. A wise husband knows that making his wife happy is actually an act of self-love. As Ephesians 5:28 says, “He that loveth his wife loveth himself.”

IV. COMPREHENSIVE Q&A: THE HUSBANDMAN’S MANUAL

Q1: What does it mean to treat a wife as a ‘weaker vessel’? Does it mean she is inferior?

Answer: Absolutely not. In the original context, a “weaker vessel” refers to something of immense value and delicacy—like a fine porcelain vase compared to a cast-iron pot. You handle porcelain with more care, not because it is “less than” the iron, but because it is more precious and easier to mar. Honor her by protecting her emotions and her physical well-being.

Q2: My wife is very difficult to please. How can I love her when she is being ‘unlovable’?

Answer: Christ loved the Church while we were yet sinners. Your love is not supposed to be a “response” to her behavior; it is supposed to be an “imitation” of Christ’s grace. Often, a “difficult” wife is simply a wife who is reacting to a lack of emotional security. Try showering her with affection and prayer for thirty days without expecting anything in return, and watch the transformation.

Q3: How do I balance work, ministry, and ‘showering her with attention’ in a busy 2026 schedule?

Answer: It is a matter of priority, not just time. Five minutes of focused, eye-to-eye conversation can sometimes do more for a wife’s heart than five hours of sitting in the same room while you are on your phone. Be intentional about “unplugging” to be with her.

V. REFLECTION & PROPHETIC PRAYER

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: A happy wife is a spiritual “open heaven” for a wise husband.

PROPHETIC DECREE FOR MARCH 25TH:

I decree today that every root of bitterness in your marriage is uprooted by the Blood of Jesus! I receive for you the “Isaac-Anointing” to be successful in business and romantic in your home. I decree that your home shall be a “Canaan side”—a place of rest, peace, and abundance. Your prayers shall no longer be hindered! As you honor your wife, may the Lord open the windows of heaven and pour out a blessing that you will not have room enough to contain!

PRAYER POINTS:

For a Tender Heart: Lord, take away every heart of stone and give me a heart of flesh. Help me to love my wife with the same tenderness and sacrifice that Christ has for the Church.

Against Hindrances: Father, I repent for every way I have neglected or dishonored my wife. Let there be no barrier between my prayers and Your throne.

For Romance: Holy Spirit, teach me how to be intentional. Show me the specific things that make my wife feel loved and give me the grace to do them consistently.

For Restoration: [If your marriage is struggling] Lord, let the fire and cloudy pillar of Your presence lead my marriage out of this ‘barren land’ and into a season of refreshing and joy.