30 Days of Praise … Day 17 – Submission

Welcome to “30 Days of Praise!” Every once in a while I go into a month long journey of fasting, praying and praising. It helps me re-commit my life to Christ, keep my priorities in order, slow down from the craziness of everyday life and take time to really listen to what God wants to tell me. I am always amazed and excited where my journey takes me, and this time I will be journaling everyday and sharing my experiences with you.

Day 17~
We have a teeny tiny deck and our table and chairs don’t fit on it so they have to sit on the grass and we have to move them every time we mow. I’ve been wanting a bigger deck for several years so I could put some of my lawn furniture on it and make mowing, and clean up easier. So yesterday when a friend was tearing down their old deck and they offered it to me, I was so excited. Finally I get my deck! Well I went to my husband and he didn’t even hesitate, “Absolutely not!”. AH I felt crushed and had to hold back the tears. My deck was finally within my reach and I couldn’t grasp it. I tried to explain all the reasons I wanted it, and he told me all the reason’s why we couldn’t have it. In a way we were both right, there were pros and cons to getting the deck. I could see that he was not going to change his mind so I had to take drastic measures.

I had to pray!

I did not pray that God would change my husband’s mind, I did not pray that someone could convince him to give me my way. Instead I repented. I don’t want to be one of those people who cries and throws a fit every time I don’t get my way. And even though I really, really wanted this deck, I want to be obedient to God and submissive to my husband more. I am not saying this prayer was easy, and I’m not saying I didn’t struggle. What I am saying is that God gave me peace about my husband’s decision because I was putting God’s will for me above my own desires.

My husband came to talk to me a short time later and I said, “I’ve already prayed through and I’m fine but I don’t want to talk about it either. I just want to let it go.” And he said, “Sarah, I know you really wanted that deck and I’m sorry but I feel I made the right decision. I will try really hard to build us a new deck in the next few months.”

Although it was very sweet of my husband to want to make me happy and try to build me a new deck, I am more pleased that I was obedient to God and realized that my emotions were getting out of control and get ahold of myself.  I know God will bless our family because of my willingness to submit even though I wanted things my way. Deck or no deck, I felt blessed by God today!

Ephesians 5:22-24 “Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: as he is the saviour of the body. Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in everything.”