“Love and Respect: The Love She Most Desires; The Respect He Desperately Needs,” a New York Times bestseller with more than 20 million copies sold, is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year.
Written by Emerson Eggerichs, its premise is that women need to feel loved and men need to feel respected.
“When either of these needs isn’t met, things get crazy. ‘Love and Respect’ reveals why spouses react negatively to each other and how they can deal with such conflict quickly, easily and biblically,” Eggerichs said.
In 2011, Eggerichs released “The Love and Respect Experience: A Husband-Friendly Devotional That Wives Truly Love.” It is based on the teachings of the original book as well as the responses of thousands of couples he surveyed. With 52 chapters, it’s intended for a husband and wife to use once a week, but it can be read at any pace.
Each chapter includes a focus Bible verse, two or three pages of teaching, a highlighted insight, a short prayer and action steps with suggestions of ways the chapter can be incorporated into everyday life. The page before the introduction has a QR Code to access free video devotionals that complement the devotional’s teachings.
Though Eggerichs doesn’t claim that devotionals for couples are necessary, he said in “The Love and Respect Experience” that he is confident that “if you spend devotional time together, the Lord will speak to you from His Word and draw near to you as you draw near to Him.”
With only 24 chapters, “Love and Respect” isn’t meant to correlate directly to “The Love and Respect Experience.” Both have practical applications, especially in the appendices. Appendix A in the devotional includes 52 discussion questions that can be used individually, with the couple as a unit or in discussion groups. Other appendix topics include cycles of love and respect, where to get help and reminders of what to say, do or think.
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