WIFE, IS YOUR MARRIAGE HURTING?
Let’s begin by meditating on these scriptures.
Therefore I Glory in Christ Jesus in my service to God. (Romans 15:17)
Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God” (Mark 10:27)
Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. (Hebrews 11:1)
We live by faith and not by sight. (2 Cor 5:7)
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. (Eph4:29)
OK sisters, this is going to hurt, growing always does. Are you ready? Let’s begin by praying, “ Lord open our hearts, and let us hear from you”. Let us do as the Word says and “examine ourselves”.
Let me first tell you about our family. We have been married since 1986, and have 8 children. All of our children who are old enough to understand are saved, yet even those to little to make a choice are already serving the Lord, singing praises to Him constantly. My husband is a full time minister who spends hours daily in the presence of Jesus. However it was not always so, in the past there was much sin, many “good” reasons to give up for both of us. Yet Jesus carried us through, and He can for you also. And He will if you will stand strong. There is much divorce in my husbands family, for some people it is a way of life. At many times I am sure he considered it. But for me it was never an option, I knew the day we married I was making a commitment to Jesus, it was like I was marrying Him. He showed me plain and clear that to walk away from my husband would also be walking away from Him. I was also determined that I would have a husband and family that served the Lord. Could I do such a thing, could I make this happen? No, but I believed Jesus could. I finally made a serious, forever commitment to serving the Lord. Not long after my husband followed. The real journey however was learning to be a Godly wife. The Lord showed me clearly one day that He gave me a husband so opposite of myself because my flesh is so opposite of Him, and He said I needed to learn how to conform. As wives we must learn how to submit, we are not only rebelling against our husbands we are rebelling against God! How can we expect the Lord to hear our prayers and change our situation if we are openly sinning by rebelling? I know what you’re saying, I have heard it all, but you are denying the Lord if you think He isn’t big enough to change things. Your husband is not the only thing that needs changing either. Can you honestly look in the mirror and tell Jesus that you have always been the perfect wife? So let’s begin by repenting so that He can begin to heal and change things. Now let’s look at those excuses, and compare them with the word.
#1 he’s not saved I don’t have to submit to him -> look at these scriptures, Eph 5:22-23, Col 3:18-19, 1Pet 3:1-2, not one of these says “if he is following the Lord” .......try again.
#2 I’m not happy -> Jesus knows better than you what brings you happiness, see Romans 15:17
#3 he is abusive -> do you always respond properly or do you add to the problem see Proverbs 15:1
#4 he’s not the man I want him to be -> how much do you pray for him see Matthew 21:21-22
#5 me and Jesus have it all worked out it’s OK with Him -> God says, “I hate divorce” see Mal 2:16 and also 1John4:1
#6 I can’t forgive him for what he’s done ->you have to, see Matt 6:14
#7 I’m hurting, I can’t do this anymore, -> no but He can! see 2 Cor 4:16
Remember that your identity, your strength, your fullfilment, your everything that is worthwhile, comes from your relationship with Jesus. Forget the me, me, me and look at Him, Him, Him. (Jesus) The enemy knew what he was doing when he brought on the woman’s movement. He has succeeded in putting women in bondage all under the name of freedom. In bondage to what, you say? In bondage to their own selfishness, their own desires, and their own agenda. We seem to think we know what is best for us. This is outright rebellion against God! He knows what is best for us! He knows what will make us happy. We have become so arrogant to tell Him, The Creator Of The Universe, how things should be. We need to look at the Word and behave accordingly for a change. Then things will. We find our true calling right in the middle of His will and no where else. What is His will? That we become more like Jesus. Become a servant, be forgiving, be patient, be loving. The Word says that we are to treat our husbands as we would treat Jesus.(Eph5:22) Ouch! That hurts doesn’t it? Are you treating your husband as you would treat Jesus? Then why do you blame everything on him? In Genisis 2 the Lord gave Eve to Adam to be his helper. It was not the other way around, as wives we are to support our husbands in what God has called them to do. Yes the Lord gives us a ministry also but it begins as a part of what the Lord gives him. How can we minister to anyone if we are in rebellion? We are one flesh with our husbands. He is the head, we must work together with his leading (and God leading him). What would happen if the hand separated itself from the body, from the head? It would wither up and die! That is why you feel so miserable! You are dying because you have separated yourself from your head! Repent before it is too late! Now I feel like we are making progress! How do we keep this progress? We may need to change our surroundings. This is strong, but here goes. If you belong to any kind of group where there is a large percentage of disgruntled wives, or ministers who have been divorced and make excuses instead of saying it was wrong, unless they are willing to see the truth, get out! Compromise is contagious and so is sin. A little yeast will go a long way! Do not go back to blindness, the veil may never lift again. Begin to fellowship with those who are committed spouses. You will find encouragement that comes from them also being committed to Jesus. We are supposed to encourage one another to love our husbands, and children, to be self-controlled, and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to our husbands, so that no one will malign the Word of God. (Titus 2:4-5) Does this sound like the kind of conversations you have with your friends? Whose wrong, you or the Word of God?
I pray that this has made a difference in you life.