He is good at what he does, ya know?! Our culture is so diluted from God's original plan that it's like, "Whoa, who the heck knows what it means to be a Christian man or woman?!?!" I know most days I sure don't. I know women from many walks of life who serve many different roles: Some work full-time, some stay home and teach their kids, and some do a smidge of both. Almost every one of them seems to wrestle with society's pressures and expectations to do it all. But what does God want?
Seriously, because I feel like we as a culture no longer have a clear vision of what it means to fill our Godly roles.
It makes me sad. Not only are individuals lacking God's direction and purpose, but our family's and our relationships are crumbling before our sight because of our lack of reverence for what God wants from us. It's not about us. It's not about us. It's not about us. IT IS ABOUT HIM, THE MOST HIGH GOD.
Wow, I need to say that to myself everyday in the mirror because those words are powerful and life changing.
We will never be perfect, but are we daily surrendering every thought, action, and deed to what God wants? I know the answer for me is absolutely not. If I was doing that, what would my life look like? Way different that's for sure. My soul has been heavily burdened by our lack of reverence for God and what he desires for our lives. I'm ashamed of how I have been living and what I invest my time and energy into instead of time with God. I'm burdened for marriages and families struggle because of Satan's reign in the households of America. We are drowning in our own sin and we don't even know it . We have men who have lost sight of the role of the man to love his bride and care for his family like Christ loves the church.
" Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing[b] her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— " Ephesians 5
Wow, what a role men have. Crazy tough, but wow, what a reward they will get for pursuing this path Christ called them too. I get sickened by the way our culture has taught men to value videogames full of killing and obscenities, movies laden with sex and violence, sports events, and drinking beers with the guys over cherishing and investing in their families and relationships. Every addiction besides being addicted to family has taken over the lives of our men. Women are left feeling alone and not valued, and kids are taught what's most important to daddy and that's sure not spending time with them.
Then of course the opposite side of the coin is what God has called women to do.
"22 Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior.24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything." Ephesians 5.
Let me just say, I am the world's worst at submitting to my husband. I'm a bull-headed, feisty lady who is learning daily what it means to be a Godly women. Then society makes me think I have it all wrong. Then I question maybe I'm pursuing a career God never intended. Then I assert my opinion and try to rule the house. Whhhhhaattt, am I not supposed to do that? OOOPPPs :) Society tells us to be strong, sexy women who "Don't need no stinkin' man." It's not valued to be a mom, to desire kids, or to care our husbands. We have an attitude of whatev, you can join along the ride, but I will do what I want, when I want, I am woman hear me roar!
In my meager 1.5 years of marriage, I have made a lot of "Ooopsies," but God has really laid on my heart to get on my knees in prayer for my role as a wife and woman and for my marriage, and to pray for other marriages to be radically changed. I need to make some internal changes and pursue God's utmost for my life. I've already set my goal to pray daily and read my Bible, which as a medical student are minor miracles some days. Change starts with one person. One. I have also decided to fast from television shows and movies, and feast on God's word to find direction for my life. Women, will you join me as I cry out to God to 1) Transform my heart, 2.) Captivate women across our country, 3.) Call men from their hiding places and show them the extraordinary adventures He has intended for them.
God, please take us back to the basics. (Cue early 90s Christian pop song).
