HARD COLD FACTS

As someone who wants to do things right and seek perfection, I feel like a real idiot. I know the word and read the scriptures so much and just left out probably the most important thing in our relationship. What I am going to say is not a teaching or sermon, but just things that are like little nuggets for me and relates to a certain time and area of my life.

After reading 1 peter 3, I got some more insight into the word and realize how much I have neglected some basic instructions and therefore lost much benefits.

I remember the part about wives being submissive and being in subjection to husbands and I still agree but one thing I did not pay much attention to was the fact that in the same verse five, it says that they subjected themselves because they trusted in God.
Verse 5 For after this manner in the old time the holy women also, who trusted in God, adorned themselves, being in subjection unto their own husbands:

Likewise, in in verse 7, husbands get specific instructions and I have failed in this one so bad. More importantly is that our whole family have lost a lot of the benefits that could have been derived.
Verse 7 Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honor unto the wife,  as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered.

What jumped out to me was the fact that obeying the instructions of living with you according to knowledge and honoring you recognizing that you are the “weaker” vessel and that both of us are heirs together, allows my prayers to get through to God’s ears. It could also be interpreted that my correct behavior and treatment to you can allow both of our prayers to get through to God.

This is an instruction with a promise attached and it is only tonight that I realized that I have been hindering mine and our prayers for a long time. Remember that I actually stopped praying together and blamed you for every situation and it was my fault because I was not following this simple principle.

Just looking at the first point I see that I must live with you according to knowledge. The first thing is that I need knowledge of what you desire, what pleases you and what you expect. I have some ideas but never tried to get exactly from you that information was and is. I know that you spoke but because I was not actively listening I did not hear.  Along with that I must live with you according to the knowledge of what God says in is Word about marriage. Number one on the list is that I must love you as Christ loves the church, forgiving and willing to lay down my life for you. I could go on about all the other details that we are familiar with but the thing that fact that our prayers have been hindered due to my actions or lack thereof really hurts, but thank God, he is a forgiving God.

So, I will focus a lot more on gaining knowledge about the person that means the world to me and not take anything for granted. I will earnestly seek ways to understand you and what makes you tick and most of all, give you the opportunity to impart to me a bit of who you are and what your needs and desires are. I feel like a new husband all over again and a new christian who is striving with new excitement to be the best at both.

Hopefully as I seek to learn about you and follow the word, both of us will see the benefits and might even think it is too good to be true, but with God as the focus, we know what He can do. Prayers will be answered not just for us but for our kids and whoever we pray for. Can you imagine, every issue with our own kids being fixed? Every area of finances being made right?

What an awesome responsibility God has put on husbands……I never knew it, but it is true and I am up to the task of being a true Godly Husband.

Looking at Psalms 51 this morning brought light and revelation on why I have not been winning souls.

Real simple but never saw it before…..Psalms 51:10-13

Psalm 51:10-13 (King James Version)

¹⁰Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

¹¹Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.

¹²Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

¹³Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

Sure thing is that my life, my heart, my spirit and attitude along with His Holy Spirit and presence as I allow Him to restore the Joy of His salvation to me, then and only then can I teach the word to others and win sinners to Him.
Additionally, only then can I convince anyone, based on what they see in me that I am a new man in Jesus Christ.

Great instructions for living and effective Christian life.