The "S" Word Spelled Out

Let's be frank.

The "S" word is not one heard in many churches these days, much less anywhere else. Yet, the Bible has lots to say about it. I've learned that any and every time God has something to say about anything,

it is always with our good in mind.

Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is the head
of the wife even as Christ is the head of the church, His body, and is Himself its Savior.
Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit in everything
to their husbands.
(Ephesians 5:22-24, ESV)

Did you know?
“You’re not actually submitting until you DON’T agree."

And that’s where you wheeled around in your chair, cocked your head, and said, “Say WhAAAAAAAAt?!!”

Oh. Wait. That’s what I did.

It’s true. Submission is not agreement. You don’t have to agree with your husband in order to submit to him, neither do children have to agree in order to submit to their parents.

In fact, there is no true level of submission until you actually disagree.

Now, stay with me here...

Most wives think they are happily submitted... until their husband makes a decision they don't agree with, or starts to go in a direction they don't like.

And then they unhook from Hubs, making his receiving the right decision from God twice as hard.

Yes, twice as hard.

Why is that?

Because your submission under your husband actually puts you in a position to gently "pull" what's needed — wisdom, help, direction, hope, etc.— from God, to your husband, and through your husband to you, and to the rest of your family.

Your place UNDER him is very important, for you AND your children.

Yep. It's true. And it's a beautiful thing. God-ordained and designed.

So, let's talk about this submission. Short and sweet.

It was alluded to, and even mentioned, in the last email. But today, let's really spell it out. It may cause us to take an honest look at our wifehood, but isn't that what we should be doing, anyway? We all want change...

In order to SEE a change,
I must BE a change.
Things change when I change.

To begin simply, submission is yielding to the will and authority of someone else, and in our case, our husbands.

(Thankfully, we don't have to submit to other women's husbands, only our own. Say AMEN to that.)

Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. (Eph. 5:22)
Wives, submit to your own husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. (Col. 3:18)

In our current culture, the word “submission” sounds outdated, like something from Old England, or something only wives from the 40's and 50's did.

It’s not our favorite word, that’s for sure.

And what about the word "submit"? To some, that sounds like pure, tyrannical punishment!

But the truth is—and the truth always makes us free—the husband taking his place over his wife and family (not in tyranny, but in love) is exactly how God set up marriage and family (Gen. 3:16).

Instead of bucking it, why don't we embrace it and be all we are designed to be? I’ve honestly come to find such blessing and fulfillment within the boundaries of TRUE submission. Honestly, in submitting to my husband, I've never lost and only gained.

But I want you to know that the head of every man is Christ,
the head of woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. (1 Cor. 11:3)

This verse is true whether our current culture agrees, or not.

God is the head of Christ.
|
Christ is the head of man.
|
Man is the head of his wife.

Jesus loses no dignity by being in subjection to God, and man loses no dignity by being in subjection to Jesus.

Why would a wife think she is losing by being in subjection to her husband?

Doing things God’s way, you NEVER lose, only gain. The way God designed the line of authority in marriage and family, we can only win by submitting. We have nothing to lose, unless we want to do it our way.

I’ve learned that a wife’s sincerely submitted heart and mind (actions following) puts her in a place to directly receive from God.

GOD
↓
HUSBAND
↓
WIFE

When a wife misaligns herself in un-submission, she is no longer "in line" to receive what she needs from God. A wife may think she's receiving answers and direction and wisdom from God; but the truth is, if her heart is not truly hooked with her husband, I believe it's honest to say, she is not.

Below is what it looks like. Do you get the picture?

GOD
↓
HUSBAND
↓
WIFEE

Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife,
as also Christ is head of the church; and He is the Savior of the body.
Therefore, just as the church is subject to Christ,
so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything. (Eph. 5:22-24)

This scripture, repeated purposely, reveals that the very same deep love, respect, honor, and reverence that “allows” us to submit to our Lord and Savior is the very same fervent love and reverence with which we submit to our husbands, encouraging our children to do the same.

It is to be viewed the same way — as unto the Lord.

The way you honor and submit to God is revealed by your honor and submission to your husband.

Because our husband’s headship authority is God-given and delegated, when we submit under him with love and reverence, we are submitting under God.

Let me make this clear: if we as wives say Jesus is our Lord and we love Him, yet we are “out of line” and unwilling to submit under our husbands, we must be willing to honestly look at the truth of Jesus’ Lordship in our lives...

I know this is uncomfortable, but let me encourage you of the wonderful blessings, protection, and deep fulfillment of being in your God-given place, under your husband.

Let me reiterate! When you are trusting God with a submissive heart towards your husband, you can actually "pull" the goodness of God through and out of your husband towards you!!

I can't tell you how many times I thought a decision my husband was making was indeed the wrong decision. BUT, I chose to submit my own thoughts and will to him and TRUST GOD with it all, only to find out he really was making the right decision.

On the flip side, there have been many times when I knew in my heart it wasn't the right decision, yet I still chose to submit my own thoughts and will to him and to TRUST GOD with it all. Submission to him in this way actually HELPED him to receive the right decision from God and make a change so we could go in the right direction.

My place under him, with my heart staying under him, "pulled" the wisdom and direction from God through my husband. That could NOT have happened if my heart was not yielded and submitted to the Lord UNDER my husband.

You see, true submission shows true trust! Do you trust God? Then you CAN submit to your husband! You know God will take care of you and your family.

In many, many ways, your true submission to your husband actually makes it easier and more possible for God to work in your family!!! Your submission even paves the way for your children to more easily obey!

Yes, yes, yes! It's true.

Does this make sense? It’s life changing! Marriage changing!

Some of you may be asking.....
What if my husband is not saved?

Am I still to submit to a man who is not submitted to Christ?

Let me sweetly remind you of 1 Peter 3, which is surely becoming your favorite by now.

Wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own husbands so that,
if any of them do not believe the Word, they may be won over without words
by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives.
For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope
in God used to adorn themselves. They submitted themselves to their own husbands,
like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her lord... (1 Peter 3:1-2, 5-6)

Do you truly love and care for your husband? This verse tells us that our subjection to him will win him over.

It happens, Ladies. I’ve seen it in a godly man (my own), and I’ve seen it work for an unsaved man, and I’ve seen it work for a saved but unspiritual man.

Just a simple heart adjustment, and you will see mega changes.

It Works. Doing God’s Word always brings success!!!

Love you all,
Jess