Order in the Home

 A couple at our church presented Ephesians 5:20-27.  "An orderly home is arguably our greatest witness to a disorderly culture."  The encouragement was in the order of a wife honoring her husband, and then caring for her children and managing the home.  It is in the atmosphere that comes with that honoring- he in turn loving her, and able to embrace the comfort in the home- that transpires any messes that did not get attention.  I so focus on the messes.  Lord, help me to focus on first priority, submitting to you so that my heart and mind is in the right place to submit to Chris.  

Upon reading Help Meet, I am further called out and encouraged.  Pages 177-182:  My selfish "worry" for my own mental and physical health (which is such a mystery and yet I have built a castle around myself in which to try to protect myself from all the triggers and harms that could be fall me), has not only kept me from loving Chris well, but loving the kids well. This fleshly temptation- self preservation- is the physical me, it will always be with me.  Lord, help me to trust You for  the physical.  Even now, as I fast into day 3, trusting You for my physical health.  My projecting fault, or otherwise my needs to others must stop.  This is so unhealthy for bonding.

Even my demanding time in the Word could be counter-productive when I am disrespectful to the way God calls me to care for Chris.

I am Chris's help meet.  My house doesn't have to be perfectly orderly, but my devotion to him must be.  I must be ready to listen to him.  To speak with kindness, gentleness, self- control, and encouragement.  I can practice with the kids.  Soften me, Lord, that I would mold into him and experience You in our marriage and in our home.  Lord, forgive me for how I have mis-treated Chris.  Erase the ways in me that have led me astray and instead grow in me life that is abundantly gracious.  Help me that the impact on the kids leads them to beautiful marriages.  Lord, you are good, and your desire for us is to live in blessing, as one, just as You, Christ and the Holy Spirit are One.  

Ephesians 4:1-2, Paul urges, "live a life worthy of the calling you received.  Be completely humble and gentle: be patient, bearing with one another in love.  Make every effort to keep the unity of the Sprit through the bond of peace."

Ephesians 4:29-32, "do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.  And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, whit whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.  Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.  Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."

Ephesians 5:1-4 "Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children, and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a grant offering and sacrifice to God.  Let there be not even a hint of sexual immorality (even me thinking about another or not inviting Chris), or of any kind of impurity, or of greed (me first mentality, or I need more....), because these are improper for God's holy people."

Ephesians 5:15-20  "Be very careful, then how you live--not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.  Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is.  Be filled with the Spirit.  Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs.  Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."

21  "Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ."  

22-24  "Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord.  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.  Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything."

32 "This is a profound mystery--but I am talking about Christ and the church.  However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband."

Lord, help me by the day to get this more and more "right".