Wow…this womens online Bible study continues to amaze me! We just finished reading week six of Lies Women Believe by Nancy Leigh DeMoss. Last week as we discussed God’s priorities for women, the conversation heated up here at the Womens Bible Cafe™. Some of you agreed with the author, while others felt angry and uncomfortable with her. Others sent me private emails and I was deeply touched by your comments. Most evident from last week’s discussion is that Nancy Leigh DeMoss has us stepping outside our comfort zones. We examined our priorities and see if they’re in alignment with Scripture. This week the lesson continues as we discuss lies we’ve believed about marriage.
(image: Unsplash)
We now realize that marriage “was designed by God to reflect His glory and His redemptive purposes” as Nancy writes in chapter six. This is not an invitation to choose the meanest, smelliest, most offensive man you can find….marry him…and then say…Lord, show me the glory! The point of this week’s lesson is to encourage those who struggle and wonder why their marriages are not overflowing with joyfulness. “Happiness is not found in any relationship. True joy can only be found through Christ,” says Nancy.
If we depend on our husband for joy, then we’re likely to place him on a throne and pressure him to continue serving us. He’ll quickly become an idol. We are reminded in Scripture not to place anything above God as an idol, including our husbands. God meets all our needs, not our husbands.
We also learned to allow God to change our husband’s heart and stop trying to “fix” our men. In the book Surviving a Spiritual Mismatch in Marriage
Finally, we learned about submission from a spiritual perspective. We’re reminded to submit to God’s will and remain obedient to the Father, unless your life is in danger from an abusive husband. I’ve often recommended the book How to Act Right When Your Spouse Acts Wrong
- Choose to LOVE………………..rather than hate
- Choose to SMILE………………rather than frown
- Choose to BUILD………………rather than destroy
- Choose to PERSEVERE………rather than quit
- Choose to PRAISE…………….rather than gossip
- Choose to HEAL……………….rather than wound
- Choose to GIVE………………..rather than grasp
- Choose to ACT…………………rather than delay
- Choose to FORGIVE………….rather than curse
- Choose to PRAY………………rather than despair.”
My grandparents modeled perseverance in marriage and so I asked why their marriage was so successful. My Grandpa said, “Each morning when I get out of bed, the first words out of my mouth are ‘I’m sorry.’ I know I’ll do something during the day to offend her, so I start my day with an apology.”- Christine Abraham
Safety Note
On page 69 of the Companion Guide Nancy writes “If physical danger or abuse is involved, a woman should seek protection, direction, and intervention from the appropriate civil and/or spiritual authorities, rather than attempting to handle the situation on her own.”
Assignment For Next Week
- Pray for the women who are doing this study with you.
- Read Chapter Seven in your book and companion guide.
- Look at the list of Key Resources on page 269 for topics addressed in this book
- Check in with your Small Group Leader
Have a great week…share what you are learning with others as you grow in truth!
God is good…always!
