10 Emotional Needs in Marriage

1 Corinthians 13: 4-7
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

1. AFFECTION (1 John 4:7)
Affection is the expression of caring. When you are shown affection by your partner, you feel that your partner cares about you. You feel secure. You feel comforted.

“To most women, affection symbolises security, protection, comfort, and approval vitally important commodities in their eyes. When a husband shows his wife affection, he sends the following messages: I care about you. You are important to me, and I don’t want anything to happen to you. I’m concerned about the problems you face and I’ll try to help you overcome them. Men need to understand how strongly women need those affirmations.”
– Willard F Harley Jr.

Many men try to show affection to their wife with sex. No. Sex is sex. Affection is non-sexual. Any hug, kiss, or physical touch that is sexual in nature, or intended to lead to sex, is not affection.

Affection is very closely related to the 5 Love Languages. When you show love to your partner in the language they prefer, you are showing affection.

ACTION ASSIGNMENT
If your partner has a need for affection, what can you do to provide them a feeling a security and comfort in a non-sexual way?

PRAYER: Lord, help us to show affection to each other unselfishly and sacrificially. Help us to model Christlike affection to each other. In Jesus’ name. Amen.