The Love Dare Episode 17, Day 17 Love promotes intimacy.

This may be an area where you’ve failed in the past. If so, don’t expect your mate to immediately give you wide-open access to their heart. You must begin to rebuild trust slowly. To stop avoiding them and start talking. To listen compassionately, accept them more genuinely, and then love them more deeply. Jesus Himself is described as One who doesn’t barge into people’s lives but who stands at the door and knocks. He said, “If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me” (Revelation 3:20). The reality of intimacy always takes time to develop, especially after being compromised. But it is worth the endless treasures found beneath its guarded lock. Your loving commitment to reestablishing it may be the key to opening it—for anyone willing to take the dare. TODAY'S DARE Begin building emotional intimacy with your mate. Determine today to guard your mate’s secrets (unless they are dangerous to them or to you) and to pray for them. Talk with your spouse and listen with acceptance, opening up to them as well. Make them feel safe. ____ Check here when you’ve completed today’s dare. Given that the safer people feel, the more they open up, what does this say about your marriage in the past? How hard is it for you to listen and hold back from saying something, critical or otherwise? What have you learned about your spouse today, simply from listening?