Submission

Lying awake at 4:45 one morning (seems to be the best time for God to talk to my heart... my mouth is shut. :) ) I was thinking about marriage, submissiveness and the daily work involved in a marriage. The thought came to me that being submissive is empowering. Being submissive, or having a submissive heart allows God to work in me, forming Christ's character in me. A submissive heart prepares me to be that vessel through which God can move and it also allows Him to be strong. A submissive heart is empowering because it is an act of obedience. God loves obedience. He desires it more than sacrifice. ( 1 Samuel 15:22) Obedience is something I can do to express my love to Him and for Him.

When I submit to my husband, I am submitting to Christ as my husband submits to God. Together we both submit; I to him, him to God, both to God, through the act of obedience. Obeying God allows Him to fulfill Himself in me because it lessens me and increases Him! (John 3:30) His power is perfected in my weakness. Because when I am weak, I am strong. He is my strength.(2 Cor. 12:9)

In marriage, it is important to "do to others what you would have them do to you, Matthew 7:12). This does not mean you buy your husband stuff so he buys you stuff, But it is being kind and doing what you know rocks his world. Stepping out of your comfort zone even. In turn he will hopefully be following the same principle and seek to do what rocks your world! If he's a little slow, hang in there, trust God, do it UNTO God. Your heart will be blessed.

Be careful with your words; keep the gate (mouth) shut and set up check points on the road from mind/heart to mouth, with the Holy Spirit as the guard. If the thought passes all inspections (kind, true, lovely, good report, etc) open the gate and let the worlds out being mindful that the road is one way. It's impossible for those words to ever come back in. Come at an issue repeatedly if you must, but come with an open heart prepared to listen and to really hear him.

Keeping my heart open to God is great preparation to keeping it primed to hear and listen to my husband.