Not So Excellent At Times

 

 

Recently, I completed a bible study on a book called, The Excellent Wife. Martha Peace is the author. This book was very convicting and challenging at times. There were even days when I wanted to throw it out the door. (haha) Why? Because…SELF didn’t feel like being that EXCELLENT on that day. But…God would nudge me and convict me and lovingly prod me to KEEP ON.

It’s not always easy to look at yourself..I mean, REALLY look at who you are. The Excellent Wife was filled with Scripture to back up the truths that I was learning about myself..and who God is calling me to be. Not so fun to admit at times. Very necessary though.

I began to see that I needed to make some changes. Change isn’t always welcomed. Some people are terrified of change. Change is so very necessary in order to grow and mature. I guess since I love a good adventure, I was a little bit more welcoming with this new change that God was stirring deep within me. To look at my priorities. To be sure that my husband truly was FIRST in my life. Not second. First. Well, after God, of course. 🙂

 

Genesis 2:18 ~ Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.”

 

I really began to notice areas that I needed to change and improve in order to be in God’s will for my life. God wants me to be my husband’s helper suitable, or “just right for him”. To support him. To love him. To put his needs first. To respect him.

 

Please..don’t close the blog post yet… I know this sounds like a lot. BUT guess what..basically, all it boils down to is being selfLESS.

 

Period. Loving your neighbor as you love yourself. YES, you really do love yourself…even if you don’t always like yourself. How do I know this? Because..we all make sure that we are comfortable..right? Maybe not all the time..but when we aren’t..we aren’t very happy are we? Our husband or wife is our closest neighbor. That means we should treat them as good or better than we treat our other friends. This hit a nerve with me as well.

 

James 2:8 ~ Yes indeed, it is good when you obey the royal law as found in the Scriptures: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

 

I realized that after I finished studying and reading this convicting book that I still have a long way to go. I am persevering, keeping on, striving to be that EXCELLENT WIFE. I cling to the promise that “HE’S not finished with me yet!” I can’t do this on my own. Thank goodness, I don’t have to.

 

Philippians 1:6 ~ And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

 

By the way, I never actually threw the book out. (hahaha) 🙂 In fact, I am about to start another one by Martha Peace. It’s called “Tying the Knot Tighter: Because Marriage Lasts A Lifetime.”

Putting things in the right order requires discipline and perseverance and lots of seeking after God. It’s HIS will that I want to be in.

 

Proverbs 3:6 ~ Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.

 

If you know that your priorities are out of whack..I encourage you to seek God. Seek His Word. Ask yourself if there are some changes that you need to make in order to put God first and center..then your husband or wife, if you are married. Of course. if you have children they definitely come next. Then, everything else will fall into place. This isn’t to say that you won’t have resistance from some…because change isn’t always readily accepted.

 

How are we to spiritually grow and mature in our walk with Jesus if we never change?  Change is necessary. Change is vital. If we never change, then we never grow. If we never grow and mature, then we are like a stagnant pond. Ever seen one of those? They aren’t real pretty. They aren’t healthy at all. 

Thank you for sticking with me through this hard and possibly convicting post. I pray that you are challenged to look deep within. Sometimes the problems in our relationships are because of our selfish desires and our unwillingness to change. (I know that not all problems are caused by this..but some are) It won’t always be easy. But it is so worth it. Don’t try to do it on your own. Only with God’s help is it possible. Expect setbacks. Don’t be so hard on yourself. Know that some days you won’t feel like being selfLESS. Those are the times when you say, “God..I need you to create in me a desire to be obedient to you.” He already knows. Whatever you do…don’t give up on trying to be the person God has called you to be and what HE has called you to do. (bring GOD glory in everything)  {Don’t throw the book out..hahaha :D}

 

1 Corinthians 10:31 ~ So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.

 

Even when you don’t feel like you are so excellent at times..keep trying.

 

Until Next Time,