Becoming Submissive to God

Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. -James 4:7 NIV.

Without submitting to God, how are we expected to receive the joys and pleasures He grants us?

 Why do we just automatically think God is going to grant us what we want if we don't follow through with what He wants from us? I have done this many times in the past and have now realized that it only leads to a dead end road. God wants us to be submissive to Him. He wants all of us. Not a little bit here and there. Not when we feel like it. But EVERYDAY! He wants us day and night! 24/7 365! Lately I have been questioning myself on what I do that is convenient to me and not to others. Why do I do that? I only talk to God when it's convenient for me to stop what I am doing and talk to Him. Why must we be like that!! We must be willing to drop everything for a few moments of everyday and talk with God. He is our Father and He only wants what is best for us. How are we expected to get that if we don't talk and don't fully listen to what He is trying to tell us? How are we suppose to get those joys and pleasures if we don't put into practice the instructions that He gives us?
This verse made me think of something in my marriage also. Without submitting to my husband, how is he going to receive the joys and pleasures God wants him to have? Hmmm.....Interesting. What if I let my husband have the limelight for a while. What if I give him that respect that he so yearns for everyday. What will I be teaching my children then?

He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them His way. -Psalm 25:9 NIV
Note to self: Become humble and take a step back. Let God lead me not lead myself.

Stepping Back

So I had a hard time today with submission. Tonight while at my neighbor's house my son knocked off an external harddrive and broke it! I wasn't around at the time but when I did emerge on the scene all I hear was my husband talking to my son about how he broke the external and we were going to have to buy a new one. Joshua of course received a spanking and was required to sit on the couch until he left. He followed these directions which I was very proud of. I had to run back to my house to let my dog and I immediately prayed to God. I was angry. Angry with my husband because of course I had no clue what was going on and at my son for breaking such an expensive item. I prayed for forgiveness for my anger toward my husband and for God to take ahold of me and let my husband be the one to handle this situation without my butting in. I knew it was the right thing to do even though I wanted to jump in and say he's just 3 and doesn't know better. I prayed to God to grant me the peace that I needed to get through this and then to make sure that I didn't become angry with William if I disagreed with him. Upon returning to my neighbor's house and bringing the kids back home so they could go to bed I talked with Joshua about what had happened. William arrived and I expected him to jump all over Joshua. He suprised me and didn't! He talked with Joshua and we put Joshua to bed. Afterward we talked about how we would buy another external and come up with a punishment that was suitable to Joshua for this. God worked in me and also in my husband this evening by proving to me that my expectation of what my husband was going to do was different than what they were. What an amazing God I serve!!

Reminders from the Past

So I got my new book in the mail today! So very excited about it. It's called Dancing with the One You Love: Living Out Submission in the Real World. Started the first chapter and I am by far impressed! I want to dig deeper into this submission thing that God has told us to do. Ummm....Lady you are crazy is what you are thinking. Submission! I am not one for letting a man tell me what I can and can't do! Submission is not like that. God has designed it in a way that is correct and true. More to follow on that in a later blog and on to the meaning behind the title of my blog.
Tonight I was getting ready to make ice cream sundaes for dessert for my husband, kids, sister-in-law, and myself. In that order. When I reached for a bowl and my sister in law looked at me I said William first. She gave me a look and said of course, William is always first. He's the head of the household. Her response: Not in my house, mama always goes first.
This got me to thinking. What are we teaching our daughters? How does who gets the first helping at dinner or the first anything reflect our way of living? Growing up I remember my mom always fixing my dad's plate first. He was the man of the house and that's just how it was done. We coudn't eat til Dad was ready, unless he was out late, and we waited until he did. Was this the way my mom was raised? Probably and she passed it on to me. I have always served William first with dinner or anything because that is how I saw it done. But my sister in law sees my mother in law get everything first and if she doesn't like it then nobody likes it. Interesting don't you think.
What are we teaching our daughters? I know I want mine to know that her husband is the head of house and should be served accordingly. How about you?

Welcome to my blog!

Jump into my journey with me. My jourrney through the good times and the hardships of marriage! We are in no way perfect in the world and we never will be. My husband and I know this and are walking hand in hand with the help from God to better ourselves and our marriage.