The Power of Submission

Can I just take a moment to say that as husbands and wives we need to stop listening the world's definition of submission and trust in the word of God? In Ephesians 5:21-25, "Submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ Jesus. 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, and is himself its Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to everything to their husbands. Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her."

Simply put, if every marriage put their trust into these few scriptures the divorce rate would sharply decrease and there would be many more happy and successful marriages. If you read the scripture carefully, you would see that the first command is for both husband and wife to submit to each other as they would submit to Christ Jesus. Before a wife can submit to her husband the husband must take the leadership role and show her submission. Once this happens the wife can and should submit to her husband as she would submit to God.

It is absolutely crucial that the husband feels that he is honored and respected by his wife. When a wife submits to her husband she is showing him honor and respect. In return the husband, according to the word of God will go to the ends of the earth for his wife.

The following scripture gives the husband the charge of loving their wives as Christ loved the church. This means that they are to make their wife's needs and interests ahead of their own. This is very interesting because no where in the Bible does the word of God give this charge to wives.

In 1Cornithians11:8, "For man was not made from woman, but woman from man. Neither was man created for woman, but woman for man." Remember we are taught that Adam was created first and then Eve was created from the rib of Adam. So husbands take your God given role as leader as you take authority over your wives. Caution, remember this does not mean that you are king and what you say is law. This means that you show your wives that you can be a leader and love with agape love. Wives, this does not mean that you are to be a foot stool with no ground. It does mean that you are to honor and respect your husbands as he continues to follow Jesus.

Let Your Past Be Your Past

When you say those words, "I do" to your spouse you are to become one with them. In Matthew 19:6, "Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. Therefore, what God hath joined together, let no man put asunder." Let go of the old flames from your past. Yes we all know that unless we grew up together and have never had a relationship with another person we had lives. Although that is possible it is very rare.

Don't constantly compare your current spouse to your past exes. Let your joy come from whom you are with in the present. Especially if you are continuously talk about all of the great memories that you shared with your ex, you run the danger of making your current spouse feel that they are not measuring up and that you would rather be with your ex. On the other hand, if you continuously talk about how bad it was with your ex, you run the danger of making your current spouse feel that they are still paying for the exes mistakes.

Build new memories with your current spouse. Besides God, your family should be the center of your world. In Romans 8 we are taught that we are not to condemn others. Don't bring up the past as punishment. Take differences for what they are in the present situation at hand. Go to the Bible as a guide. In Romans 13:1, " Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God."

Live for today while you prepare for your future. Leave the past where it belongs, in the past. Isaiah 43:18, Behold, I shall do a new thing. It shall spring forth." Let God do a new thing in your marriage. The only problem that will present itself, is if you stay in the past.

Who Says That You Can't Stay Newlyweds

Who decided that the amount of time you and your spouse are newlyweds. I personally suggest that you continue to maintain the newlywed concept within your marriage whether you have been married for 10 minutes or 60 years. The point that I am making is that it is vital that you keep dating, keep trying to learn something new about each other, keep spending time together as a couple.

It is not to say that you have to be attached at the hip everyday, but it does mean that you have to continue to grow within your relationship. Keep dating, make it a point to spend one on one time with each other, continue doing this that are spontaneous. Go outside of the box. Every now and then do something that will completely throw your spouse for a loop.

Don't get caught up in a routine. Get out your comfort zone. Do things that are spur of the moment. Living needs to be a verb, not just a state of being. Make sure you do something different several times a month. Keep it fresh.

Continue to be newlyweds throughout your marriage and you will grow into oneness.