Subject to or Submission Part 1

If you were reading carefully yesterday, you noticed the phrase "subject to" in the scripture and in the definitions. I don't know about you but when I first read that, the definition bit me! I think my pride swelled so that I could have spit!
To so many women the word "submission" is a bad word. I think mostly it's just used badly. Many words can be a weapon of mass destruction if used in malice or a way to "lord over" someone. To hear my husband yell at me "Submit!" was enough to send me the polar opposite direction and try even more so to rule him (...yet your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you. Gen 3:16). I believe over time he and I learned more about what position we are to stand in and he no longer reminds me to submit. Now I hold that position as something I want to do to be honorable before God.
There have been a few who say to not submit so much to our husbands that we may lose our identities. I beg to differ on this, the word says, ... and they will become one flesh. Gen 2:24. He is my identity and I am his. We are each other in essence (something that exists; in particular, a spiritual entity). Though we are separate we operate as a whole in so many areas of our lives we just can't help but identify each other.
One of my most favorite fairy tales is about a woman and man who loved each other deeply. She had beautiful long hair that he admired and he played beautifully his guitar for her which she loved.  The day before they were to marry, they wanted to gift each other and she sold her hair to have it made into guitar strings and he sold his guitar to buy her a beautiful barrette for her lovely hair. Each gave up something for the other that had great worth to them. It reminds me of the passage that says for us to do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value (or esteem) others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. Phil 2:3-4 . In this case looking out for the interests of our husbands.
I know this seems to veer away from the heavy topic of submission a bit but this is background work that leads up to learning to submit.

Word Study:

Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value (or esteem) others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. Phil 2:3-4 

selfish -  Lacking consideration for others; concerned chiefly with one's own personal profit or pleasure

ambition - A strong desire to do or to achieve something, typically requiring determination and hard work
vain conceit- false pride

humility - Humility is the quality of being humble: modest, not proud, doing something out of the goodness of your heart, not for yourself

value - The regard that something is held to deserve; the importance or preciousness of something

esteem - Respect and admire; Consider; deem

~Shalom

Let's Begin!

I would like to start first by defining the below scripture which is the basis of this blog:

Titus 2:3-5

  Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good.  Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children,  to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.

I believe that we see and call words on a day to day basis without really knowing the true meaning of them.  I know I have been guilty of that on many occasion then later realizing that I didn't really understand what I read or even heard. Those misunderstandings have had some negative impacts on my life. As the word says, In all things to get an understanding (Proverbs 4:7)... this includes God's word. 

Reverent- showing respect or reverence; respectful

Slanderer- one who attacks the reputation of another 

addicted- Physically and mentally dependent on a particular substance

self-control- the act of denying yourself; controlling your impulses

pure- Wholesome and untainted 

subject- Under the authority of

malign-  To make evil, harmful, and often untrue statements about; speak evil of

The best exercise I use to understand what I am reading is to find the definition and then replace the word with that defined word or phrase. For example:

Titus 2:3-5

  Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent (to show respect or honor) in the way they live, not to be slanderers (one who attacks the reputation of another)

or addicted (Physically and mentally dependent on a particular substance) to much wine, but to teach what is good.  Then they can urge (persuade, encourage) the younger women to love their husbands and children,  to be self-controlled (the act of denying yourself; controlling your impulses) and pure (Wholesome and untainted, without stain), to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject (Under the authority of)to their husbands, so that no one will malign (  To make evil, harmful, and often untrue statements about; speak evil of) the word of God.

My first encouragement to you is to redefine the words in this scripture or even another scripture and replace them with the truest definition and reread it. It will be so very eye opening. 

-Shalom

Allow me to introduce myself...

My name is Marion. I am a lover of the Lord Jesus Christ, a disciple of His and a Christian wife. My mission is to spread the word of my King to all who will listen and my audience is women. Married and to be married women.

I have been led to lead women out of the misunderstandings and misconceptions of what marriage is suppose to be like and help to expose God's true meaning of marriage, the role of a wife and how we lead wonderfully blessed lives as wives to our 'head of households'... our husbands.

We will be talking and learning about the word submission and God's intended purpose of power it brings into a woman's life; forgiveness and it's importance in the role of a spouse; bitterness and how it can ruin our lives and so much more.

You will be challenged to do things that you thought you'd never do and to find out things that you never knew about yourself or your husband.

This blog is not intended to be a quick fix or a cure all to any one but it is my duty to share with you what has been shared with me by the Holy Spirit and through the word of God. I will tell the truth and will expose lies of our enemy with the hope of helping you keep your eyes on the Lord... even when it gets tough and you want to quit.

Titus 2:3-5

  Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good.  Then they can urge the younger women to love their husbands and children,  to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God.

I pray now in the name of Jesus that the word that is shared here is anointed by His power and will move in the lives of women in need everywhere. I also pray for the grace of God to be upon on all the readers and that this will be used as a tool to help those find their way back to you again. I love you LORD and trust you to have your way in my life. Amen.