Alright ladies, we are off and running.....I welcome any of your comments and thoughts at the bottom of this post. Just click on the comments link on the bottom of this post to share what insights you have reaped from this chapter. Also, please feel free to contact me personally if it's something you'd rather converse with in private.
The three main bullet points of this initial chapter are
* Turning to God
How can we do this?? Be still, Worship, Read the Bible, and Pray-allow God to speak to us!!
*Understanding your role
We are equal partners with our husbands. Enjoy recreation together, be friends. Be his helper. Encourage him, support him. Be his prayer warrior, pray for his strengths, weaknesses, and for both of you to be surrounded with godly friends.
*Sharing within a community of women
With humility....this means NO MEN BASHING! Be around women who speak highly of their husbands. Let's figure ourselves out first!! With transparency, being willing to be open and honest with a trusted friend. With accountability, that someone in our circle is holding us accountable to God and His very best for us.
Reflection Questions (If you haven't already, please take some time to answer these questions truthfully, and ask the Lord how He can mold you into the wife He created you to be!!)
1. When you find yourself in a difficult marriage situation, what is your first response? Who do you turn to first?
Do we run to our girlfriend first thing? Our parents? Friends, run to God. Seek His wisdom and answers. He is faithful, He is there ready!!
In times of conflict, our thoughts immediately run to...."well, he did this, he did that....". But instead, I'm learning to say "God, could I have handled myself better? What could I have done to simmer the conflict?". We will all stand before God one day to account of our behavior. Romans 14:12 tells us this. So, we can humble ourselves and ask the Lord....Have I done all I could do, to love him, encourage him, support him??? I have found this humility before the Lord and then before my husband, to apologize for my part brings forgiveness on both parties much quicker than when I am stubborn and "wait" for him to apologize.
2. Think of a situation in your marriage when you relied on your own understanding to solve a problem, rather than turning to God for help. What was the result? How did this impact you and your marriage?
3. Have you experienced a time when God has spoken to you through His Word? Record these and other verses that encourage you in your prayer journal.
I would encourage you to start a journal to write down things that
God has shown you, or done for you and your family. Then, in times of
trial...you can go back and reference what He has done. If you are in a
season where God seems silent, you can remind yourselves of what He has
done.
4 Do you regularly pray for your husband? Why or why not?
Our husbands NEED us!! We should be his #1 cheerleader, with the Lord, in public and private! Our home is a safe haven and comfort for them. The world is hard enough on them, let's be the place of rest and assurance for them every day!!
5. Have you experienced a time when God has answered prayers for you, your husband, or your marriage?
Write these awesome answered prayers in your journal!!
6. What's one small step you could take to actively fulfill your role as wife?
I know many of us are home with little ones running around....and one thing I try very hard to do is show Jason that he is my first priority after my relationship with the Lord. This is often very hard with small children that need help with many things, but to take time to show him he's important. Do things that show love to him...whether it be his favorite meal, having a clean home, sprucing yourself up before he gets home, or a hot date after the kids go to bed. We can all make time for what's important and our husbands need to know it's them!! Tell him he's your hero!!
Over the next couple weeks, start doing the first steps, as outlined on p. 38 in your book. You WILL be blessed by these steps...and make them habits!!
And finally, ladies, I want to invite you to join our church-wide fast. If you are looking for a breakthrough in ANY aspect of your lives (and who doesn't need a breakthrough, somewhere?), take part in our fast, and look to God to show up in a big way!!! You will find spiritual, as well as physical results!! Take the plunge with us and expect great things!!!
Thanks for joining me today, and please have Chapter 2, Attending to Self-Care, read by January 20th.
No comments:
Post a Comment