Java & Journaling: A Submissive Wife.

The question of the day on this beautiful Sunday morning is:

In what areas do you struggle as a godly wife? In what areas do you excel as a godly wife?


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I wouldn't exactly call myself a 'godly wife' per se. I'm on a journey of trying to be more like Jesus, but I know I have a lot of remove for improvement. He has me on a journey of change and I'm just trying to listen to Him.

One thing He does continue to reveal to me, however, is the importance of being a wife that reflects Him.

Looking back, I haven't been the 'greatest' wife. Probably not even half of what I could have been. I have had a terrible attitude- I ran my mouth often- a smart alec other times. It is not wonder we argued------ I was an angry, miserable person and that was reflected in my terrible attitude. I had zero respect for my husband. I gave zero honor to the hierarchy Jesus Christ established.

I remember the first time I read Ephesians chapter 5- I immediately felt conviction. 

"Wives, it should be no different with your husbands. Submit to them as you do to the Lord, for God has given husbands a sacred duty to lead as the Anointed leads the church and serves as the head. (The church is His body; He is her Savior.) So wives should submit to their husbands, respectfully, in all things, just as the church yields to the Anointed One." (Ephesians 5:22-24, The Voice)  

Submit to your husbands.

I wasn't great at that. And honestly- it was because I didn't even try. My pride was so inflated that I couldn't even see how beneficial submission truly is. I couldn't see the beauty in it. I couldn't see how our relationship would grow if I just did it! 

According to Joy Pursued, there are 6 ways to be a humble (quiet, gentle) wife and one of those describes submission to our husbands perfectly! #2 says- submit to your husband's leadership. "In marriage, submission looks like not needing to be right all the time, not arguing over matters of opinion (where you want to eat, go on vacation, or what movie you want to watch), and accepting your husband’s decision even when you disagree (unless his decision is unlawful, harmful, or sinful).  In short, submission requires setting aside our pride."

All in all, I would say submission is the area I struggle with most. I struggle with not needing to be right all of the time, with letting the small things go, with being quiet when it is a heated atmosphere, and with respecting my husband and his decisions. I consistently have something to say-- when I know God is calling me to be quiet. I also struggle with saying 'sorry' (which God has been working on.) It isn't going to kill me to say 'sorry' even when I don't feel like I've done anything wrong. God has been showing me how important this is in a marriage.

I feel like as a wife, one thing I do excel at is doing things for him. I try and always keep him at the fore front of my mind and do small things for him every day. I try and have breakfast for him in the mornings.... and I don't care that he has a life outside of the house. He is very active in his hobbies and I am perfectly fine with that. I feel like God blessed me with patience and I don't mind him having his 'me-time' away from his family. We never argue about that kind of stuff, so I feel like that might be an area that I am getting better at it.

What are your strengths as a wife? What are your weaknesses? What areas could you work on? What areas could you teach other wives about? I would love to hear your thoughts!!!