SACRED INFLUENCE – What a Man Needs From His Wife to Be the Husband She Wants
by Gary Thomas
Bestselling Author Gary Thomas has produced an excellent companion book to his award-winning Sacred Marriage, this time with a look at how women can influence and move their husbands in positive directions. Sacred Influence provides an inside look at what men find both motivating and inspiring, and reveals the ways in which God has given Christian women the power to encourage their husbands in a manner that will transform the most ordinary of marriages.
Books about how to improve your marriage are no substitute for relationship counselling, particularly if your relationship with your husband is in serious trouble. However they can provide some valuable tips for improving communication, trust and respect in the family home. Let’s face it: we’re all very much aware that nagging doesn’t do anything other than to provide momentary satisfaction for the nagger! Thomas looks at some real alternatives to influencing husbands in ways that are Christ-centred, practical and down-to-earth, with the focus on personal responsibility. He uses real-life examples to show how marriages can be transformed by the right approach into a positive witness to God’s Will for couples and families. Thomas also tackles some of the most common concerns, such as internet addiction, anger, emotional distance, workaholism and marriage to a non-believer or spiritually immature husband.
Whilst I would love to see more books aimed at husbands taking the first step to improving their marriages (rather than wives!), I found great benefit in looking at the struggle of married life through a man’s eyes. Thomas’ honesty is refreshing as he provides insight into what our husbands are really thinking (I write as I glance around my somewhat dishevelled home and cringe!) The real gist of Sacred Influence is that women need to set aside their own agendas and replace them with God’s – most marriages are bound to improve under those circumstances. An inspiring book that’s well worth a read if you believe your marriage could do better – and how many of us don’t?
Reviewed by Rachel Koopmans
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