Isaiah 27-28; Ephesians 5

 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

Ephesians 5:21

I like to think of myself as a humble person, but the truth is, I am not. That’s not to beat myself up; it’s just that deep down I am pretty sure that my opinion is the right one. I have to remind myself to truly listen with the intention of understanding, versus half hearted listening and thinking that I already know what the person is going to say and then formulating a response before the person is even finished.

Paul’s description of Christian community requires authentic humility. I KNOW I can’t fake humble in marriage. If I get the idea that I know better and the other person is wrong, too often, I think it’s my job to change the other person. That’s not been a winning strategy for community or marriage. Submission has required that I humbly speak what I understand to be true (and risk rejection, conflict and the embarrassment of being wrong) and be willing to lay all that aside for the good of others. Humility doesn’t come naturally to me. It’s a work of the head and heart that requires God’s mercy on me. If I submit to another in action but not with my heart, ugly, snarky passive aggression comes sneaking out of me. Ugh.

There has been one practical thing I’ve found that’s helped in the battle; it’s taken the form of praise and prayer. I thank God for the other person, for who they are and what God is doing in their life. Then I pray for them as agenda free as possible. In my mind’s eye, I hold them up before God and ask Him to give that person the best for them. I ask God to help me let go of who I want that person to be and what I want from them.

Submission isn’t weak and passive. It’s strong and active. It’s a choice steeped in love for God and for the other person. It isn’t  something that always happens instantly. Sometimes, my actions submit, my heart bucks like a wild horse and then I run back to God to do the heart work. When my proud heart insists that my way is best, it is God that I am shaking my fist at. When I submit to others in love, I submit to God and follow Christ.

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1 Chronicles 22, 1 Peter 3, Micah 1, Luke 10

Parenting – My son, “You will prosper, if you take care to fulfill the statutes and judgments with which the LORD charged Moses… Be strong and of good courage; do not fear … Indeed I have taken much trouble to prepare …  there is no limit. Arise and begin working, and the LORD be with you.” 1 Chronicles 22 

Marriage – Husbands, …dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife…that your prayers may not be hindered.” 1 Peter 3

Rejoice! Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth…” Luke 10  

www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1Chron.22;%201Pet.%203;%20Micah%201;%20Luke%2010&version=NKJV

1 Chronicles 22                Then David said, “This is the house of the LORD God, and this is the altar of burnt offering for Israel.” … Now David said, “Solomon my son is young and inexperienced, and the house to be built for the LORD must be exceedingly magnificent, famous and glorious throughout all countries. I will now make preparation for it.” So David made abundant preparations before his death. Then he called for his son Solomon, and charged him to build a house for the LORD God of Israel. And David said to Solomon: “…but the word of the LORD came to me, saying, …. Behold, a son shall be born to you, who shall be a man of rest; …

               He shall build a house for My name, and he shall be My son, and I will be his Father; and I will establish the throne of his kingdom over Israel forever.’  Now, my son, may the LORD be with you; and may you prosper, and build the house of the LORD your God, as He has said to you. Only may the LORD give you wisdom and understanding, and give you charge concerning Israel, that you may keep the law of the LORD your God. Then you will prosper, if you take care to fulfill the statutes and judgments with which the LORD charged Moses concerning Israel. Be strong and of good courage; do not fear nor be dismayed. Indeed I have taken much trouble to prepare …  there is no limit. Arise and begin working, and the LORD be with you.”

                 David also commanded all the leaders of Israel to help Solomon his son, saying,  “Now set your heart and your soul to seek the LORD your God. Therefore arise and build … for the name of the LORD.”

How is the temple of the Most High God within me? Clean and built well on the Foundation that never fails? Ephesians 2:20, 1 Corinthians 6:19

Question – Have I inquired deeply of the Lord God Almighty what His Will is for each of my children? Matthew 7:7-12 Have a sought God’s answer, waited and implored until He answered? Have I responded to the Lord God Almighty in accordance to His Will? For what am I preparing for my children to accomplish now and after I’ve gone to heaven? How am I preparing, enabling and empowering my children to follow the Lord Jesus Christ in gratitude, passion and whole heartedness – by Jesus’ Holy Spirit and Word? What resources have I poured into my children and given to them physically to equip them to fulfill God’s Will for their specific lives and for God’s purpose and glory? What loss will I suffer if I am not a good steward of my children? 1 Corinthians 3:15, Romans 14:12  And how am I serving God with His Vision in my eyes and heart for my other close relatives, friends and siblings in Christ Jesus? What am I doing today for God’s goals?

Response – I have done much, repeatedly. But most importantly is earnestly living by the Holy Spirit and God’s Word and Praying in all manners for my children. Fasting, praying and being diligent to not let go of Jesus Christ’s priestly garment’s hem. And for many others, too.  Colossians 4:12, James 5:16, 1 Timothy 2:1,8, Ephesians 6:18, 1 Peter 4:7, Ephesians 1

 1 Peter 3               “Wives” … may you have “chaste conduct accompanied by fear. May your adornment be  … the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.”     “Husbands, …dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife…that your prayers may not be hindered.”          Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous;… that you may inherit a blessing. …  For the eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the LORD is against those who do evil.” …sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit,

                    Kindness, gentleness… the Fruit of the Holy Spirit, is needed in Every aspect of life, including sanctified marriage. (Galatians 5:22-25) Sharp repercussions are given by God if we do not live by the Holy Spirit. Prayers will be hindered and the Face of the LORD will be against us. (v.7,12)

              So what makes hearts so hard to not repent and be changed by the living Word? Why does pain continue so needlessly? Lord God, may my husband and I live Your Word for You. Please enable the impossible!! For Your purposes in our children’s lives and outsiders, and for Your glory alone! Amen.  Mark 10:27; Luke 18:27; Luke 18:29-30; John 15:7-8; John 15:16-17

Micah 1               Let the Lord GOD be a witness against you,  The Lord from His holy temple. For behold, the LORD is coming out of His place;  He will come down And tread on the high places of the earth. The mountains will melt under Him, And the valleys will split …All this is for the transgression of Jacob And for the sins of the house of Israel. …All her carved images shall be beaten to pieces,  And all her pay as a harlot shall be burned with the fire; …  For her wounds are incurable. …  But disaster came down from the LORD … For the transgressions of Israel were found in you.  

                  When will God’s people realize their offences and harlotry against the Lord God Almighty Who made them for His delight and glory? When will they awaken to the HONOR it is to be called into an intimate relationship by God? When will they repent and turn away from idolatry in loving the created rather than loving the Creator? When will they soften their hearts and mind to the One Who heals, restores and gives limitless Joy, Hope, Wisdom and Peace? When will True Worship of the Holy One replace titillation of the temporal? When will I and my family take God’s Word as TRUTH and live it by God’s Holy Spirit? Oooohhhh, the agony of watching evil being chosen by children? Oooohhhh no wonder God is called “Long Suffering”!! Your agony Oh God is far greater than mine!! Lord Jesus, please keep me on a short leash, close to You!! I want my Joy Full!! Matthew 23:37, 1 Corinthians 13:4-8; John 15:5-14

Luke 10                the Lord appointed seventy others … “The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray …

                  Lord God Almighty, send workers out today! Bring a harvest of souls in great numbers!! May the souls you save bear much fruit for another large harvest for You!! And continue the bounty until You return!!

                     May Your workers heal the sick and teach Your Word! Protect them from the enemy of their souls.  Please have them remember Your Words: “He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me.”  (Do I equate this with my family members? Please Lord, may it be so.)  

And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven…. rejoice because your names are written in heaven.” … In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes.

Can I not also REJOICE in the Holy Spirit GIVING THANKS to God?!! Happy ThanksGiving!!

He turned to His disciples and said privately, “Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see; for I tell you that many prophets and kings have desired to see what you see, and have not seen it, and to hear what you hear, and have not heard it.”

                     What an HONOR to be called and used by the Lord Jesus Christ!! How can I not be acutely aware of this?!! Every day I rejoice the gospel for Jesus Christ made me His New Creature (2 Corinthians 5:17 ) !! 

“Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” … ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,’ and ‘your neighbor as yourself.’ … which of these three do you think was neighbor … And he said, “He who showed mercy on him.” Then Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

                 I must be like “He who showed mercy.”  Lord God Almighty, You have abundantly blessed me in the Riches of Christ Jesus. All encompassing: spiritual, physical, mental, emotional and … Philippians 4:19. Please bring to my mind now when I have been selfish and short sighted. Please re-train me for Your Perspective and Ways so I will not sin again. Please forgive me Lord Jesus Christ. (Psalm 51). Increase my capacity to Love You on Your terms and by your Holy Spirit and Word. Thank You!!

“Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word.” … And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”

                 Worship is the most important thing I can give You Lord. To hear your Voice and do Your Will. John 10:27-30 Fill me Lord Jesus! Amen!!

Crystal (PsalmThirty4)