~ He Will Equip You ~

Ever since I was young I knew I was different. I knew that I had a unique call on my life and that everything I went through was not in vain, there was bigger purpose. What that was truly I did not know. Getting pregnant and married young was indeed chaotic however God ALWAYS provided. I graduated high school early only to go on to start working at a decent company with a decent benefits package. There was much favor given to me then but did I see that? NOPE. Even when adversity in the marriage struck and it dissolved God still shined his face upon me. He gave me courage to go on. Courage to remarry.

These things I did not do by myself with sheer determination. There was a fire inside of me but at the time I just did not know what/who was my source was until I was older. As I got older and let Christ truly rule in my life I understood that this specific God designed purpose would come to fulfillment in due time. But of course there were/are things that I need to align myself up with. For instance, I need to hate the very sin I once loved. I need to start to renew my mind and understand my identity in Christ. I need to produce fruit and stop listening to the enemy and his plans. I need to love God’s people and not with a phony love. I need to love with compassion and do it purposely. I needed to totally live for the Lord whole heartedly. The only way all this was to happen was to let God be in the driver’s seat and I take His guidance second by second. I could no longer be average because I knew God set me apart. God is a loving God and will wait for us to get our acts together.

Throughout this process and of course even now I have many questions. But each time God comforted me in his word. Each time he made my path straight.

Hebrews 13:21 says God will equip me with everything for doing his will. Philippians 2:13 says that it is God who works in me to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose. 2 Timothy 3:17 says that the servant of God is equipped. Over and over I am reminded that God will equip me and I do not have to worry nor focus on what this world reminds me of. I am to set my mind on above, trust the Lord and do life with excellence in the big and small. If I fall, I get right back up and hold God’s hand.

As believers, we are set apart. The old person we were has died and we are now a new creature in Christ. What holds us back is how we think and what we say about the situations in our lives and about ourselves. I know this first hand.

Today, I encourage you to seek the word of God like no other and find the peace that God so willingly has given you. God does not call you because you are qualified. He qualifies the called. He is waiting on you to see that he has his hand on you. Just because this process doesn’t look or feel pretty does not mean God is not working. You are His child. Tag team with your Father right now and step out to greatness in faith, trusting him. Remember God gives peace not disturbance. Do not block what God is trying to do within and for you.

In Christ,

Monique Smith

Prayer Starter:

Father, you love me. You are for me. You said in your word that you will NEVER forsake me. You died so that I may live. You have much to show me and the process will not be glorious sometimes. I do trust that you know what you are doing. I move out of the way right now so that you can fulfill your plans on my life. I am so sorry for standing in the way. Forgive me and help me to walk hand in hand with you through it all. I love you and thank you for your presence. Amen

~ Biblical Submission: Trusting the Lord in Marriage ~

The other day I was listening to a sermon on biblical submission and the pastor said something that stood out. She said “as a wife you are to submit unto your husband as you do to Jesus and if you do not then you have a trust problem”. I sat parked there for a little thinking that she was crazy first off. Is she saying I do not trust my husband?!?!? Because I love the Lord and I do not know what trust problem she thinks I have. Then I stood back and asked the Lord what is she talking about and why am I bothered by what she was saying. I heard many speak about biblical submission Lord and I have studied your word. So what is it Father? Boy was I in for a rude awakening.

 Ladies, I was bothered by it because she was right. My little rebellious self only submitted when it was convenient for me. Every time I “had something to say” when my husband made a final decision, suggestion or gave his guidance I showed him I did not trust him. I showed him that my way is more important because I just had to disagree. Did I do it all the time? No, but I did it and I recognized lately my part in some disagreements.  Bottom line is: I must trust my husband knows what is best for me and our home. He is the leader and accountable to the Lord. I am his helpmeet, NOT his God (Genesis 2:18). There is a way to go about some things and let’s just say I was going about some things WRONG.

Let’s look at Ephesians 5 though because here is where God shows us true submission, HIS way. I love reading in the CEV translation so that is where I will be okay?

In verse 21-22 it says “Honor Christ and put others first. A wife should put her husband FIRST, as she does the Lord” Verse 23 goes on to say that the husband is the HEAD of his wife just like Christ is the head and Savior of the church.

Jesus did not say honor yourself. He said honor others. In a marriage, who is that “other”? YOU’RE SPOUSE. I would always tell my husband GOD, you and the kids THAT is my priority. But you see every time I choose to honor myself by not letting my husband lead I showed him he is NOT my priority. I want to lead in the marriage and not my husband and that is the reality of what I would sometimes do. Why do I share this with you?

I share this with you because I want you to know YOU ARE NOT ALONE. We are not perfect BUT we can learn from what God reveals to us through his disciples. Letting our husbands lead does so much for our marriage and for truly honoring the Lord. We learn how to truly die to our ways in marriage. When our husbands lead and take direction from God EVEN when we “think” our way is better, they become who God has planned for them to become in our marriages. When we move out of the way and see the big picture we know that biblical submission has a much bigger purpose. We start to take our eyes off ourselves and put Christ first by putting our husband’s first in our homes. As our husband’s helpers, we are to encourage, edify and HELP not hinder. I am not saying we as wives have no voice. I am saying we take our position under our husband and trust him because we know God is leading him. We trust God. Our husbands value our input and they will listen to our suggestions but there is a fine balance to this approach.

Well, Monique God is not leading my husband! He is doing some real foul things, you say. Well, sis that is not up to you to worry about. Your job is to trust God. What he is doing is between him and the Lord. Let him do what he will do and you focus on being the helper in the marriage. You cannot change him ONLY God can. You can pray for his heart and ask God to work in him BUT you cannot keep frustrating yourself because he is not doing what you think a man of God should do. God honors that and he sees your obedience to his word. Remember Romans 8:28? God works ALL things together for our good for THOSE who love him. Stand on this scripture.

Today, I encourage you to trust the Lord. Trust that he knows what he is doing for you and your marriage. If things don’t look like you imagined they would keep pressing anyway. The Lord will NEVER forsake you. God restores, he heals and he turns things in your favors when you believe…J

In Christ,
Monique Smith

Prayer Starter:

Lord, forgive me for not taking my position under my husband. Thank you for showing me your way to love and put my husband and marriage first. Convict my heart, when I try to lead in my marriage. Give me wisdom and direction, Father. Help me to let go and give everything to you in my marriage. My goal is to honor you Lord. Show me how do to that in my marraige. I want to be a wife that demonstrates the fruits of your spirit, please help me. May I honor you in all I do especially in my marriage, Lord. Amen