Recognize the importance of staying connected with your spouse during this deployment and continue to work at it.
Read any of the online articles listed in the resource guide it with your spouse or a mentor.
Memorize one of the scriptures of help and hope in this guide.
Choose a chapter from one of the books in this guide share your thoughts with a friend or mentor.
Attend church services regularly and where possible, join a study group.
Find other married Christians whose spouses are deployed and meet together for support and encouragement.
Find an accountability partner or a mentor; a more mature Christian who can help and advise you, keeping you accountable for your behavior during the deployment.
Pray for your spouse—his/her physical, emotional and spiritual being– every day and pray with your spouse when you talk.
Maintain consistent, positive communication with your spouse, even if you feel hurt or anger toward him/her. Confess those feelings to the Lord and to your spouse and explain why you feel that way.
Realize that communication breakdowns can more readily occur due to distance, so be patient, giving your spouse the benefit of the doubt.
Focus on positive, good, pure, right, noble thoughts, not allowing Satan a foothold in your marriage (Phil 4:8).
Discuss with your spouse ways you can both work toward staying connected.
Be transparent with your spouse. Share your joys, sorrow, surprises and concerns.
Dream about the day you will be reunited and share the excitement of this long-anticipated event.
Use the same devotional, such as Our Connection, and discuss via the phone or e-mail.
Be supportive and encouraging of your spouse and above all, be verbal in your praise and expression of love and appreciation.
Remember that all things work together for good for those who love the Lord and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).
