“Each child came to us directly from the presence of God and a parent's daily work is to lead the child back from whence she came --- back into the presence of God. To simply keep inviting the child into the transformative presence of God -- to live before Him ourselves.” Ann Voskamp (A Holy Experience)

I want to be a Wife of Valor

I am continuing my study of being a submissive wife to my husband, obedient to God.  The best description of a godly wife shows up in Proverbs 31:10-31.  It begins by saying that a "wife of noble character is hard to find."  Some translations say "virtuous" or "excellent."  The original Hebrew word used here is chayil. I find it odd that this word has been translated this way here because its definition is actually strength, might, efficiency, wealth, army.  In the King James Version of the bible, it is often translated as army, man of valor, forces, valiant, strength, riches, power, and might.  So, although "excellent", "virtuous" and "noble" do fit here, they seem like only part of the definition.  When we think of a godly, submissive wife, a picture of a mousy doormat comes to mind.  I don't believe a doormat would ever be described as chayil.  According to this, a godly wife is a force.  She is a woman of action that makes things happen. 

Listen to this description:

"The woman described here is of priceless value. She has physical strength, mental strength, moral strength and spiritual strength. Above all she loves God deeply and reverently. She is characterized in this section six ways, and I'll point them out to you as we just look together at the Scripture...six ways. Her character as a wife, her devotion as a homemaker, her generosity as a neighbor, her influence as a teacher, her effectiveness as a mother and her excellence as a person...the sum of all of that makes the excellent wife. And I might add that this is no woman in particular but this is the woman that every woman should seek to emulate. She is rare, look at verse 10, an excellent wife...by the way, the word excellent in Hebrew means force, a woman of force, a woman of substance, a woman of strength would be another way to characterize her. It's excellent in the sense of her strength spiritually, morally, mentally, physically. She is a woman of substances. She is a woman who has made a dent in society. She is one who makes a difference. There's a force about her life. This kind of wife, he says, who can find? Very rare. Hard to find this kind of woman."

- John MacArthur :: Grace to You

What a wonderful picture to keep in the forefront of our minds as we strive to become the women/wives that God created us to be!  I am excited to study this further.  If you want to study with me, I am in Week #4 of "A Wife's Biblical Submission" (see right sidebar banner).  More specifically, I am here.

Submission vs. Obedience

Wives are called to submit to their own husbands.  This is commanded in Scripture.  (Ephesians 5:22, Ephesians 5:24, Colossians 3:18) I think it is hard for a modern day woman to know what that really means.  We have been raised in an age of feminism and the idea of submission is foreign.  We relate it to obedience.  Yes, it does look like obedience, but there is more to it.  There is the component of attitude.

God does not call us to robotically obey our husbands.  We are partners and helpers to them.  They can bounce ideas off of us and we discuss things.  The wife's opinion is just as important.  But ultimately, someone has to be in charge and make a decision.  God has set it up that way.  Jesus is the head over a man, and the man is head over his wife.  This provides a sense of order.  We, as wives, are called to defer to our husbands and submit to his God-given authority.  Not only are we to obey, but we need to do it with a good attitude.  Our husbands need to feel like we are on their team and not have to fight us at every turn.

So, today I will do an attitude check.  Am I cheerfully submitting to my husband?  When I do, I am ultimately submitting to my Lord.

What to study along with me?  Click the button on the right that say's, "A Wife's Biblical Submission."  I am working on week three.  God bless! 

"The people who know their God, stand firm and take action."  Daniel 11:32

"I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" Mark 9:24