October 22, 2014

THE GRACE CHALLENGE: GRACE IN YOUR MARRIAGE

This is from a sister's blog that is one of my favorites. May we all take this to heart. I know for myself, it is all too easy to see the speck in my husband's eye and bump smack into a wall because of the plank in my own. I'm praying that I along with all my sisters who love the Lord will save our husbands grief and stop doing this, while we save ourselves some really banged up noses and black eyes from all that plank smacking. <3~BIHP

One would think that a gracious woman would be the kind of person to write a series called, The Grace Challenge, right?  Yeah, I’d think that, too, but, instead you get me.  Quite frankly, I’m the last person on earth that should be writing this series because I don’t feel qualified to do so!  I know me, and I know I’m not gracious enough because sin abounds in this heart of mine.
My husband asked me a few weeks back what project I was working on for the blog, so I told him about this series.  Initially, he thought I was collaborating with other bloggers on this project because he didn’t understand why I was doing this.  I told him this series was something I was doing on my own for the next several weeks, and then he asked me why.
My response:  God was nudging me to write it.  Then I proceeded to tell my husband that I’m not capable of writing this series because I don’t feel like I extend enough grace toward others and that God should have chosen a different woman to write this series- you know, one who is gracious. :)
I love my husband’s response.  “It wouldn’t be called a ‘challenge’ if grace was easy for you to extend.”
Point well taken.
So, friend of mine, I’ll be challenged with you in this series which means we’ll both be convicted together.  When the Holy Spirit convicts us and we chose to surrender our ways for the Lord’s ways, then transformation takes place within our hearts.  This transformation process causes us to be changed women.  Gracious women.  Women who reflect their Savior.  That sounds like a wonderful pursuit, doesn’t it?  Sure, it will hurt our flesh because we’ll have to die to ourselves, but the by-product is absolutely glorious.
In last week’s post I wrote about The 7 Truths You Need to Know About God’s Grace.  If you haven’t read it yet, please do so because it’s the foundation this series is built on.
The Grace Challenge:  Grace in Your Marriage
We can’t call ourselves Christ-followers if we’re not gracious.  Every person falls short of perfection and we see each others shortcomings and failures most in a marriage, after all, we’re married to a sinner.  Because of this truth, don’t you think we should be most gracious to our husbands?   Our men live with us on a daily basis, therefore, they see our failures and shortcomings, too.
The longer you’ve been married, I’m sure you’ve experienced any number of the following…
  • Disappointments?
  • Trials?
  • Bad choices made?
  • Grudges held?
  • Disrespect?
  • Bitterness taking root?
  • Walls that have been built?
  • Complacency?
  • Or dare I say, a marriage devoid of marital intimacy?
A great marriage takes work and an abundance of grace. Grace is what sets our marriages apart from the world’s type of marriage.
God meant for the union of marriage to be a good thing but some times we don’t know how to handle the strains and pressures of life.  When the disappointments, storms, and even the mundane sweep through our homes, sometimes we just don’t know what to do.  Our human nature is to place blame and lash out and this attitude is generally dished out to our husbands.  But this is not how God wants it.
The crux of the Gospel message is Grace, therefore, let’s follow that example so we can change our ways.
Grace is for the sinner, the one who messes up and falls short.  This describes every person I know. 
Jesus doesn’t ask us to be perfect, He asks us to follow Him.  There’s a difference between pursuing Him and perfection.
Which standard do you hold your husband to?
Which standard would you like him to hold you to?
There have been times in my marriage where I’ve held my husband to a higher standard than what I’ve held myself to, therefore, I acted like a hypocrite.
There’s no room for hypocrisy to be a part of our marital union.  The minute we allow, accept, and embrace this sin into our marriage, we might as well just open up our front door and invite the Enemy in for tea and crumpets.
“And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye?  “Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye'; and look, a plank is in your own eye?  “Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.  Matt. 7:3-5

 CHALLENGE:

Be the kind of wife who chooses grace over hypocrisy.
Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends. Proverbs 17:9(NLT)
Note:  You might not know when to extend God’s grace and when to set a boundary in your marriage, so I’ve written this section to help you discern a few things.
Grace and Truth
Grace is extended when the heart attitude of a person is repentant.  For example, Jesus knew the heart of the woman who was caught in the act of adultery and then He said to her, “Go and sin no more.”  John 8:11 He was gracious to this woman as He offered her grace for her actions.
Jesus also knew the motives of the Pharisees.  He knew their hearts were hardened towards Him and because of this, He didn’t extend them grace for their actions and attitudes.
If you’re married to a man who is living a life of habitual, unrepentant sin, read this post for more guidance.
If you’re growing weary because you’re living in a difficult marriage,  read this post.
 “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.”  John 8:7
Join me every Wednesday as I go through the Grace Challenge series!

Homecoming for Husbands

The Homecoming by Jennie Brownescombe

We had a long and hard day. The children are fussy, our head aches and the house is untidy. Your husband will be home in a few hours from work and who knows what you'll eat for dinner.

How will he be greeted?

We as wives always want to feel special and adored, but are we making our husbands feel loved and cherished as well? Are we greeting him each day like an encouraging "help meet" or a "hinder meet"? Do we build up our homes or are we tearing them down with our whining ways the minute he steps through the door?

"Better to live on a corner of the roof than to share a house with a quarrelsome wife."
 ~ Proverbs 21:19

Make your home a haven where your husband feels the pressures from the world melt from his shoulders! Let peace, love and order reign when that front door opens. Let him not dread his one and only domain! Sadly, many women complain that their husbands have so many hobbies that keep them from the home, in some cases it may have been the unpleasant homecomings that helped to create it.

I noticed that the more I give in my marriage, the more affection, love, and consideration is returned. It took me time to figure that out! I expected so much and one day realized that I was doing so little!

"Every wise woman buildeth her house: but the foolish plucketh it down with her hands." 
~ Proverbs 14:1

Pray for wisdom, self control and tenderness when you greet your loved one as both of you may have had a long and hard day. Your actions can either make or break the rest of the evening for your entire family. The homecoming sets the mood in many a house. Your children are watching. How is mama treating their father? Make it a point to give the sweetest greeting you can when he walks through that door and watch the blessings of peace shower down into your home. Once he is nice and comfortable, I am sure he will take the time to make sure that the love of his life is well cared for too.


"A wife of noble character is her husband's crown…"
~ Proverbs 12:4

Reblogged from Strangers and Pilgrims on Earth...

October 16, 2014

Taking advantage of grace



It was a beautiful day to be at the art show. My eyes took in the creativity around me. There were simple folk-art items and detailed oil paintings. There were homemade handbags and clever metal sculptures. But it was the exquisitely crafted jewelry that caught my eye and drew me into the booths. I am always looking for the “perfect” pair of earrings. I never find them, but I keep looking. It was at just one such booth that I found myself having a pleasant conversation with the artist and her husband. Her work was beautiful but very expensive. I browsed with no intent to buy. I complimented her on her talent. The conversation went something like this–

Me: “Your work is beautiful.”

Artist: “Thank you!”

Man (with friendly smile): “You are welcome to try on any piece.”

Me (laughing): “Oh, my. Thank you but my husband would kill me if I spent that much on a piece of jewelry!” (I was slightly exaggerating with this statement).

Man (half-joking): “Well, you do know it is easier to ask for forgiveness than to ask for permission.”

Me (still laughing but very serious): “Not if you want a happy marriage.”

After a bit more banter, I walked away. But I couldn’t help thinking more on his joke about how to get my own way.

I could have bought a piece of that lovely jewelry. My husband, while he would have been a bit upset with me, would have quickly gotten over it. It would not have destroyed our marriage and probably would not have even destroyed our day. But I love him more than that. I want his permission and his blessing and I seek both before spending a large amount of money. He does the same with me. We do this because we love each other.

As I mulled this conversation over in my mind a few hours later, a light bulb came on in my head.

We do this with God all the time.

We want our own way. And, yet, we know in scripture that what we want is forbidden. We know God has either expressly forbidden the exact action or that He hates the sin that is associated with the particular activity we would like to participate in. But we go ahead and do it, anyway.

Because it’s easier to ask for forgiveness than permission.

We can get our own way, be forgiven, and we honestly believe that all is well.

But is it?

If I would have bought that necklace against my husband’s wishes, it would have symbolized that something is not quite right in our relationship. It would have been a sign that I consider my wants and desires more important than his. And I would have been taking advantage of the grace and forgiveness I knew that he would have extended under the circumstances.

This same principle can be applied to our relationship with Christ. When we involve ourselves in sin of any kind on purpose, we are telling Christ that we don’t care about his desires. We are saying that our desires are number one. And we are taking advantage of his grace and forgiveness.

But let’s not forget: True love does not take advantage.

You know, according to the modern church, many things fall under the “gray” area in the Christian life today. Movies, music, dancing, gambling, personal debt, and drinking are some of the many things that fall under the wide, expansive “gray” area that is “permissible for some Christians but not for others.”

But is there actually this big “gray” area or is there simply a church taking advantage of God’s grace? A bunch of people who say they love Christ with their mouths but it never quite reaches their hearts?

I am reminded of something I read the other day–

“It is amazing how clear lifestyle issues–often called gray areas by many believers–become when examined against the commitment to be thoroughly Christ-centered.” (Jim Berg)

Love and commitment truly do bring clarity to these areas of our lives. We either show our love for our Savior with our choices or we don’t. There isn’t much in between.

And if we all are honest with ourselves, we know whether or not the TV show we watched last night or the music that we listened to on the way to work or the book we finished last night was pleasing to God. We know if the words we spoke to our spouse before they left this morning or the way we handled the accidentally spilled juice last night was pleasing to Him. We know if what we ate, drank, and played yesterday was glorifying to God or it wasn’t.

Oh, we will never be sinless and we will constantly be confessing and asking for forgiveness. And God’s marvelous grace is available for those moments. But as we grow in Christ, our desire to willingly do something that we know will not please Him should grow weaker and weaker. Our desire for sin will diminish as our love for Him grows.

Our choices are the evidence of just how close our relationship is with the Savior. But most Christians today are not interested in hearing this. Instead, we want to do our own thing and be forgiven for it. We want to take advantage of grace. When you really stop to think about it, that is a pretty tragic thought.

Yes, it is easier to ask for forgiveness than to ask permission but that is not love.

 Great blog...check it out! http://growing4life.net/

October 14, 2014

Finding Happiness in Your Husband




She tells me she is "so unhappy" and tells me she wonders why she ever married her husband. I explain to her, "You will never find your happiness in a man. Let me repeat myself. You will NEVER find happiness in a man." If you marry a man to be happy, you will be disappointed. He will disappoint you. He will never be able to live up to your expectations. NEVER.

Your happiness in marriage is not important to the Lord. Your obedience is what matters to Him. He commands that you be a vow keeper. He commands that you LOVE your husband, please him, serve him, obey him, and submit to him. Your happiness is NOT what matters to the Lord. Spreading the Gospel is what He cares about.

When you are loving and serving your husband, the world notices. If your husband isn't "Mr. Perfect" and you still love and serve him, the world wonders why you stay with him, but they will respect you. As you live with your husband in a joyful way, regardless of the circumstances, the world will see Jesus.

The world needs to see Jesus. The world is lost and floundering in the dark. They need lights that live out the Christian life. They need to see wives loving their husbands through good times and bad times, through sickness and health, though rich or poor. They need models of Christ's power working through His people or else how will the world see Jesus?

Yes, you may not have any more "feelings" for your husband. So what? Feelings come and go for everyone. Love is a decision. It is a commitment. It is a "death until we part" vow. Yes, it's hard but the narrow road isn't called "narrow" for no reason. It's a lot easier to jump on that worldly broad path that leads to destruction than to stay on the narrow road of God's Truth BUT along this narrow road is Life, abundant and free.

Sure it's hard to smile at your husband when he acts like a jerk, but I bet you act like one at times also. Even if you don't, we should still smile and love for love forgives easily and is not easily offended. {Meditate on I Corinthians 13}

If you are having a hard time in your marriage, go on long walks {take the children if you have them} and get in the fresh air and sunshine. Stop eating sugar. It causes depression and lots of other bad things. Fill your home with God-honoring music and solid Bible believing sermons. Spend time in the Word and read it to your children. Stop watching trash television and movies. In this way, you are sanctifying your family with Jesus.

You can stay married to this man all the days of your life for with God ALL things are possible. Love him, even when he is unlovable. Respect him, even when he is not worthy of respect for this pleases God and when you live to please God, you will reap beautiful fruit.

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking
 but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
Romans 14:7

Reblogged from Always Learning:

http://lorialexander.blogspot.com/2014/10/finding-happiness-in-your-husband.html

October 9, 2014

How a Godly Wife Should Live.....




Jesus Christ has set us free! The world says that freedom is the right to do what we want. But the freedom we have in Christ is the power to do God’s will. We have the power to choose not to sin when His Spirit is flooding our souls.
The only power we lose when we obey God and fully submit to Him as Lord is the power to destroy our marriages, ourselves, our husbands and children and others.
We gain the power of heaven to breathe life, healing, blessing, joy, peace, faith, kindness and goodness into our families.

GALATIANS 5:13-18
You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.

SOME CHARACTERISTICS OF GODLY FEMININITY THAT GOD WILL CULTIVATE IN A WOMAN MORE AND MORE AS SHE ABIDES IN CHRIST AND HIS WORD ABIDES IN HER (these are all very brief descriptions):

AS A WIFE
She is a helper to her husband. (Genesis 2:18)


She brings all of herself – her personality, her talents, her gifts, her intellect, her emotions, her ideas, her desires, her vulnerability to her marriage. She cleaves to her husband. (Genesis 2:24, Proverbs 31, Song of Songs)


She is authentic – but she is not her old sinful self anymore. Some wives say, “I want to be free to by myself in my marriage,” but what they mean is, they want to be free to be their sinful selves. That is always a destructive choice. A godly wife has the power and ability to be her new self in Christ. She lost the destructive power of her sinful nature because her sinful nature died with Christ and was buried and now she counts herself dead to sin and alive to God in Christ. (Romans 6-8)


She respects her husband genuinely and finds the good in him to appreciate (because of her character and the Spirit of God filling her soul – not because he always “deserves” it) and she honors her husband’s God-given leadership, allowing him to make the final call if there is a disagreement and trusting God to lead her through her husband even when she doesn’t understand and can’t see how it will work out “for good” from her current perspective. When he asks her for something, she makes it a priority to try to do what he has asked of her with a godly attitude. (Ephesians 5:22-23, 33, Colossians 3:18, Titus 2:3-5, I Corinthians 11:3 


She does good to her husband all the days of her life, not evil. (Proverbs 31)

—–
She is open and receptive to her husband. (Song of Solomon)


She studies to understand her particular husband, what speaks respect to him, his needs and the things that most bless him. (Proverbs 31, Ephesians 5:22-33, I Peter 3:1-6)


She assumes the best about her husband, not the worst. (I Corinthians 13:7)


She is loyal to her husband and doesn’t badmouth him to others. She never bashes him to their children, extended family, coworkers, church members, friends or on social media. (Ephesians 5:22, Proverbs 31, Ephesians 4:29-30)


She deals with any sin in her life before approaching her husband about sin in his life. (Matthew 7:1-5)

—–
She is affectionate with her husband. (Titus 2:3-5)


Her presence, attitude and respect for God and her husband speak much more loudly to her husband about her faith than any words she could ever say. (I Peter 3:1-2)


She has a gentle, peaceful spirit that does what is right and does not give way to fear that is of great worth in God’s sight. (I Peter 3:1-6)


She comes to her husband humbly, gently and respectfully with his sin privately first, and only if he won’t repent, does she involve a godly male mentor/pastor to help them if there are serious problems. She does not smear him to family and friends or ream him out on Facebook. (Matthew 18:15-17) 


She seeks godly, biblical help if there are very serious issues in her marriage, but she rejects ungodly and unscriptural counsel and seeks God and His Word and His Spirit above all else. (Matthew 18:15-17)

—–
She depends on the wisdom and power of God to know how to respond to her husband’s sin and she is sensitive to God’s Spirit and responsive to what He leads her to do in a given situation. (Isaiah 30:21) 


If her husband is an unbeliever, she shows the power and love of God to him without words but by her respectful attitude and by honoring his leadership. (I Peter 3:1-2)


Her husband feels safe with her spiritually, emotionally, sexually, physically and in every way – and he knows he can always trust her. She is never violent toward him. She doesn’t yell, scream, cuss or make threats. She is not scary, intimidating or threatening. She does not bully him. (Proverbs 31:11)


She is her husband’s crown. (Proverbs 12:4)


She learns to speak her husband’s language and to become fluent in his way of relating and speaking and learns to interpret him accurately and to understand his heart with compassion. She seeks to see him with God’s eyes and love him with God’s love. She wants to treat God’s beloved son well. (I Corinthians 13:4-8)

—–
Her focus is on Christ not self. She has no insecurity – because she trust in God not self or worldly things. Her security is based on heavenly realities and truths and the promises of God in His Word. (Romans 6-8)


She doesn’t have to argue – she has way more powerful methods of communication at her disposal than arguing, nagging, criticizing, complaining, condemning or humiliating her husband. She knows exactly how ineffective and destructive and sinful those things are and they do not even tempt her. She knows how to use her power and influence for good, how to share in a respectful way and how to submit to Christ and to her husband even if they lead her in a way she did not anticipate.
She does not submit to her husband if he clearly asks her to sin (according to the word). She submits first to Christ.
She doesn’t try to control or change her husband, but seeks to bless him. (Proverbs 31, Ephesians 5:22-33)


She builds her marriage and family up and does not use her words, attitudes and actions to hurt or harm anyone. (Proverbs 14:1)

—–
She appreciates and values her husband’s headship, covering and protection over her. (I Corinthians 11:3)


She joyfully gives herself sexually to her husband whenever possible and seeks to meet his sexual needs (even if they are greater or less than her own biological desires at the time). (I Corinthians 7:1-5)


She honors her sacred marriage covenant and does not threaten to divorceor seek divorce. (Matthew 19, Malachi 2)


She trusts God’s Spirit to work in her husband’s heart to draw him to Himself and does not attempt to verbally drag her husband or force him to God, she knows her words are not the most important or effective tool. (I Peter 3:1-2)


She values and appreciates her husband’s masculinity. She sees and admires the good things about her husband’s manhood and supports him being a man, she doesn’t try to make him be more feminine or think more like herself. She marvels at his strengths and protects his weaknesses. (Song of Songs, Proverbs 31)

—–
She is comfortable in her own skin and feels beautiful even if she doesn’t meet the world’s current definition of beauty. (Song of Songs 1)


She enjoys being attractive for her husband in a healthy way. (Song of Songs and Proverbs 5:19)
She smiles often. She is a delight for her husband to be around. Her beautiful attitude, contentment and joy in Christ draw him to her. She is not needy, clingy and desperate for his attention. (Philippians 4:4-8)


She is glad to talk with her husband about things that interest him. She loves to learn about his masculine world and perspective. She rejoices in his uniqueness and his masculinity and does not shame him for being different from her. (I Corinthians 13:4-8)


She is ready for adventure with God and with her husband (Exodus – a picture of God leading His bride through the desert to the Promised Land)

—–
She is willing to wear a hat/scarf as a tangible symbol of her willingness to honor her husband’s God-given leadership at church/during prayer. (I Corinthians 11:3-16)


She supports his leadership even when she doesn’t agree. She shares her heart, concerns and needs respectfully, then trusts God to lead her through her husband.
She brings her husband comfort. (Genesis 24:67)


She brings beauty to her home and to relationships. (Genesis 2, Song of Songs, Acts 9:36-39)


She desires to make her husband look good that he might receive honor from others. (Proverbs 31)


She doesn’t look down on her husband (or anyone) but humbly acknowledges that the ground is level at the foot of the cross. There is no room for her to boast or brag in anything except for Christ and what He has done for her. (James 2, 1 Peter 5:5, Proverbs 22:4, Philippians 2:1-11, Ephesians 2:8-10)


She is not abusive in any way – physically, sexually, verbally, mentally, emotionally, financially, etc… (1 John 4:20-21)

AS A MOTHER
She values, cherishes and nurtures any babies or children that she has before and after birth. (Isaiah 49:15)


She seeks to train and teach her children to know and love God and His Word. (Deuteronomy 6)


She loves them with the very love of God. (I Corinthians 13:4-8)


She desires to be a godly example to them. (Deuteronomy 6, Titus 2:3-5, Malachi 2)


She does not put her children above her husband or above God. (Genesis 22, Matthew 10:37-39, Luke 14:25-34) 


She is affectionate (Titus 2:3-5)


She extends the truth, mercy, grace, love and forgiveness of Christ to her children. (I Corinthians 13:4-8)

IN HER WALK WITH CHRIST
She holds nothing back from Christ. She knows He gave ALL of Himself for her, and now she delights in giving ALL of herself for Him. There is nothing she wouldn’t do for Jesus. He is her LORD. He is her Master. She is willing to deny self and sacrifice anything in this world for Him. (Luke 14:25-34, Matthew 10:37-39, Genesis 22) 


She hungers deeply for God, His Word, His presence, His Spirit, His will, His wisdom and His power in her life and the lives of those around her. She has a very healthy spiritual appetite. (Matthew 6:33, Matthew 5:6)


She does not merely read the Word, she listens, prays diligently to understand properly and applies it to her life – allowing God to transform her priorities, her heart, her soul, her words, her desires, her behavior and her attitudes. (James 2)


She fills her mind, heart and mouth with the praises of God. (Exodus 15:2, almost the whole book of Psalm and many other places as well)


She desires “to live a life worthy of the calling (she has) received (and to) Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.” (Ephesians 4:1-2)

—–
Her heart is soft, responsive and malleable in the hands of God, she does not have a hard heart against God and His Word or against others. (Ephesians 4:18, Hebrews 4:7)


She “(puts) off (her) old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of (her) mind; and (puts) on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” (Ephesians 4:22-24)


She is open, receptive and tender hearted toward God. (Hebrews 3:15)


She has a sense of wonder about all that God has made and has done and will do. She is in total awe of Him. (Mark 9:15, Acts 3:10, Luke 7:16)


She is submissive first to Christ (James 4:7) and she practices biblical submission by honoring her husband’s God-given leadership (Ephesians 5:22-33, Colossians 3:18, Titus 2:5, I Corinthians 11:3-16) so that the Word of God is not maligned (blasphemed).

—–
She leans on God’s wisdom, truth and understanding and does not trust her own human wisdom. (Proverbs 3:5)


She desires to live a holy life and to bring great glory to God. (I Peter 1:16)


When she sees sin in her life, she does not become depressed and withdrawn and paralyzed with worldly sorrow that leads to death, but has godly sorrow over her sin, mourning over her sin, rejecting her sin and turning to Christ in true repentance, longing to walk in obedience to Him in everything. (2 Corinthians 7:8-11, I John 1:9)


She is not overcome by fear, worry or anxiety, but has a Spirit of power, love and a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7)


She prays fervently and continually – in a spirit of godly power, not a spirit of worry, anxiety or fear. (I Thessalonians 5:17, Philippians 4:4-7, Romans 12:12, Romans 15:30)

—–
She makes time daily whenever remotely possible to spend in deep prayer and study of God’s Word, asking Him to change her and make her more and more like Christ. (John 15)


She prays for her husband and others – not to tell God what to do or make demands – but to seek God’s will and His blessing for them and to seek God’s best for those she loves. She prays with godly motives, not selfish, greedy, condemning, self-righteous, prideful, malicious or vengeful motives – but with the love and power of Christ. (1 Timothy 2:1-5, James 4:1-10)


She knows that she is more than a conqueror through Christ. (Romans 8:37)


She knows that nothing can separate her from the love of Christ. (Romans 8:35-39)

She savors and enjoys her blessings, her life and her Lord. In fact, she rejoices in Him always! (Philippians 4:4-8)


She is able to be at peace because she understands and trusts in the sovereignty, love and power of God to work all things for her good because she loves Him and is called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28-29)


She prays the promises of God into reality by her unwavering faith in Him and His Spirit working powerfully in her. (Daniel 9:4)

ENCOURAGEMENT:

God will develop these qualities more and more in us as He sanctifies us and grows Christ more and more in our hearts, minds and souls. This is a life-long process. It is not about us trying harder to be “perfect.” On our own, we are a branch that has been cut off from the Vine and we are laying on the ground. We cannot do ANYTHING unless we are attached to Jesus – the Vine – and His nourishing truth and Spirit flood our souls. THEN we will be fruitful in His kingdom. We cannot be perfect until we reach heaven. That is ok. But our God is so strong that He is able to empower us and to give us victory in sin and the power to walk in holiness as we abide in Him. This is all about us being in an intimate relationship with Christ and allowing His power to flow full blast through us and transform us according to His will for His greatest glory!

John 15:1-17







Excerpted from: 
http://peacefulwife.com/2014/10/07/what-is-godly-femininity-part-2/