Ephesians 6:1-4

Scripture: Ephesians 6:1-4
1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right.
2 "Honor your father and mother"-- which is the first commandment with a promise--
3 "that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth."
4 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.

Observations:
It's funny because when I read this (since I don't have kids) I put myself in the children category and think of how I can honor my parents. I'd like to think I've been a good daughter, but I've said some terrible things to my mom before. And with my dad, I've struggled with unforgiveness. I thank God that He makes me new, and gives me hope that even when I feel like I've botched relationships, He reassures me that I can mend them. My mom and I are really close now. I have gotten to the point where I really truly enjoy her and my stepdad's company. She has a talent of saying things that rub me the wrong way,  but I eventually realized everybody's mom does that haha! It's my choice to receive her words knowing she means well and loves me. It's my choice to not be defensive or lash out. I get to practice the fruit of gentleness. With my dad it's another story. He wasn't around to raise me, and it took him a really long time to apologize. It took me even longer to forgive. And when I did forgive, I forgave with conditions of him. "I'll forgive, but now you have to follow through! You have to pursue me! You have to stay in touch!" and that backfired to hurt me more, because he didn't. He's come to visit this year and I struggled with all those mixed emotions. I wrote about it back then here if you want to see what was going through my mind. We email somewhat regularly. I get to see him again next month. It's a work in progress :) Good thing God is in charge, otherwise it'd never get done.

Application:
We are called to honor imperfect people whom we know well. We know their flaws, and they raised us, so they really know our flaws. God's design for family is beautiful! He carefully places us in families to shape us into who we are. We care for each other and struggle together. It's impossible to be part of a family without learning what it feels like to be wrong and be wronged. Whether we're the parents or the children, the closeness of a family puts a magnifying glass on the ways we fall short. It highlights how much we need Christ in order to be a good parent and child.

Prayer:
Father, You knew exactly what You were doing when You placed me in my family. I'm so thankful that they brought me up knowing You exist. I praise You for each woman in this group, and how You've purposefully placed them in the families they're in. Give them the strength and the wisdom to bring up their children as loving disciples of Christ. Bless their children with every good thing. Help us also to be gentle and graceful daughters, with loving hearts. God we need You to step in and give us patience, courage, and encouragement.  All these things I ask in Christ's name, amen.

Ephesians 5:21-27

Scripture: Ephesians 5: 21-27

21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

22 Wives, submit to your husbands as 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.

25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her

26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word,

27 and present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.

Observations:
Oh to be a radiant bride! Not like the WE TV shows with the platinum weddings or say yes to the dress, but a holy bride. Radiant because of holiness. A wife of noble character like Proverbs 31. A verse I love is "she brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life" Prov 31:12... I think that defines submission in a different way. Not just "I'll let you lead" but to strive to bring someone only good, regardless of the situation. What I've learned about myself is that my words can be just like sticks and stones. God is refining me and teaching patience as I wait.
        

Application:
The more we submit to God, the better we'll be at submitting to others. How are we submitting to God? That will reflect exactly how we are submitting to husbands and to others. Are we taking control? Are we worrying ourselves sick? Are we despairing? Are we cold? Are we harsh? Are we impatient? Are we angry? The root cause and core of those problems is usually how much we're seeking God, how much we're praying, how much we're surrendering to Him, and how much we acknowledge who is in control. I usually sit somewhere between anxious and impatient. What I need, I have in Him. I know it, but it needs to sink in deeper.

Prayer:
Father, we submit our lives to You. You know best! You loved us first. You've never failed us, yet we hold on so tightly to all these fears and worries. We let the world convince us we are inadequate. We let Satan whisper that we aren't happy, that we're lacking so much. God, You always provide. You always comfort. Encouraged by Your power, help us submit our lives to You. Show us how to be better wives, mothers, friends, daughters, and disciples. I pray we are able to bring good, not harm, to all the people You've put in our lives. Help us to workout those deep-rooted issues that rot away at the core of our relationships. You are sovereign. In Christ's name I pray, amen!