A quiet thought: Godly wives
I stumble and fall as a wife and I am certainly no expert. My pride gets in my way, I nag when I shouldn’t, I open my mouth and the wrong things come out and I ask the Lord to change my husband rather than looking at myself and asking the Lord to “Change me”. So when I was reading “A Fruitful Vine” (which I mentioned the other day) I found a list on ways of becoming a stronger Christian wife.
It may look easy, however life is never smooth and when ones husband comes home anger or does something you don’t like/agree with these qualities can be quickly forgotten in the heat of the moment. I prayer that God will give me the guidance I need to become a Godly wife for my husband.
That I will respect his authority in the home, not be critical or nagging, not contradict or demean him publicly. Instead be a supportive and responsive wife.
**Know your husband: Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. (Gen 2:24-25)
How well do you know him?
What is important to him?
**Praise him every day: A foolish son is the calamity of his father: and the contentions of a wife are a continual dropping .... House and riches are the inheritance of fathers: and a prudent wife is from the LORD (Prov 19:13,14)
Why do you appreciate him?
Have you told him?
**Stop criticizing him: Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands (Prov 14:1)
What drives you crazy?
Prayer
**Put him first — before yourself, your hobbies, friends, children: Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves (Phil 2:3)
What do you put before your husband?
**Obey: Gods command to wives — show love for God: He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him (John 14:21)
In what areas can you help your husband? (Gen 2:18)
**Submit: Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. (Eph 5:22)
Is there an area presently in which you need to submit?
Respect
**Pray for him
List the qualities God wants of him
Every time you begin to nag, stop, and make it a request to God.
(From: A fruitful Vine by Warren Henderson)
Oh, me too! This is my constant prayer. I mess up so many times, I've lost count. But I know God's hand is in everything, and I believe the fact that we want to pursue being godly wives means that we are at least headed in the right direction. What a great post! And I definitely want to read that book.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.bookdepository.co.uk/book/9781897117132/The-Fruitful-Vine
ReplyDeleteStacey - this is where I ordered mine from (its a on-line UK company - they don't charge postage). Not sure if you have somewhere close by to buy these types of books from. Being a
Godly wife is much harder than I ever thought it would be but knowing that God is there to provide guidance is a wondrous thing.
Yes... this is my prayer too. I think we all mess up in one area or another (or all areas, like I do!)... So this is a daily effort! Really enjoyed your summary. And I would recommend the book to any wife sincerely pursing a Biblical perspective of a woman's role, too :)
ReplyDeleteThans for the book recommendation. It is certainly a day by day effort. Sometimes, especially when there are children, the role of wife is demoted. Good to see/ read that many are taking up the challenge!
ReplyDeleteI think every husband that reads this list will vigorously agree! However, there is a complementary list for him -- that's the beauty of it. A marriage is a synergy -- focus on my responsibility and it's amazing what happens. Focus on the other's responsibilities (or failings) and things fall apart. Though it's well known, I found Love & Respect (Eggerichs) excellent, and sound biblically.
ReplyDeleteLL
Nick