While discipleship in church surely helps any man grow in the Lord, a husband's marriage relationship with his wife greatly affects his growth in Christ. The marriage relationship still is the most powerful relationship any husband could have, aside from his relationship with God.

That said, any married woman should realize that she has the power to help her husband grow in the Lord.

Dear sisters, I am writing this article to encourage and to help you help your husbands grow in Christ.

Wives matter

Ladies, you ought to realize that God designed you to be your husbands' help for His purposes. And His purposes aren't just ministry, for work, for family, or for other things. It's primarily for Him.

The Bible tells us that God wants all of us to be conformed to the image of Christ. We read in Romans 8:28-29,

"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren."

This simply means that God uses all circumstances to conform those who love Him to the image of Christ. This includes our marriages. Ladies, God wants to use you to help your husbands become more like Christ.

That said, here are a few things you can do to help your husbands grow in Christ.

1) Respect him

Husbands are told to love their respective wives as Christ loved the church (see Ephesians 5:25). Wives, on the other hand, are told to submit to and respect their husbands (see Ephesians 5:22, 33).

Some Christian husbands may not always be the most Christ-like in their relationship with their wives in all areas at all times, but the Bible's instructions are clear and a Christ-like wife's love will actually work to help an un-Christ-like husband change for the better. 1 Peter 3:1-2 tells us,

"Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear."

2) Confront him when needed

Ladies, you should also learn to confront your respective husbands at the right time. When your husband starts to do wrong, don't fear telling him what needs to be said. Of course, be prayerful as you do this.

3) Encourage him at the right things

Lastly, realize that you have the power to build your husband up. Proverbs 14:1 tells us,

"The wise woman builds her house, but the foolish pulls it down with her hands."

You have the power to encourage your husband to do the right things and to avoid the wrong things. Your words of affirmation will help him find the encouragement that he needs to do what he must do.