His commands are for OUR OWN good

Growing in the Lord is so sweet and the pruning process is humbling and comforting when you know it's your desire to be like Christ,even if it doesn't feel good.After all,Christianity is NOT  about feelings-never was!And I must say I'm grateful for the lessons God is making clear to me and the different people he has placed into my life to encourage me in my walk with him;and I'm so grateful for the prayers uttered on my behalf,they're working!

Slowly but surely the Holy Spirit is working on me.When I look back at how I've changed I can only praise God.The main struggle I had was accepting my God-given role-to be a woman.I questioned his clear council on motherhood.I felt it was a bit unfair for me to go to school and then not really bring my degree to use.After all,I went to get a degree to serve the community.And for quite some time I had these conflict emotions concerning God's ideal for marriage.The thought of depending made me uncomfortable-I vizualised myself like a slave and having to go to husband for every cent when I could work for myself.Plus I was proud of not being able to cook.I really hated cooking,just was too domestic for me!

But a year and a few months later,after much prayer and study,I realize I am a woman-girl,created for His holy purpose and it is not by accident.He has called me to submit while he has called the male to lead.It is his order.And I must say,I'm starting to like domestic things now-cooking particularly since I'm a neat freak of some sort,although I first needed a heart change-still being pruned.I started reading Child Guidance by Ellen White and it is then that I realized the solemn duty of a mother.Before, I saw it as demeaning,on the other side I felt inadequate and the responsibility overwhelmed me.It is greater than that of a pastor or a missionary and this opened my eyes to how great and solemn  the work of the mother is and it requires repentance on the part of the mother first and practical Christianity-determining tomorrow's society.I suddenly had this desire to rear children in the Lord;but it was after much prayer.But God will reveal His will further on.For now,I need that Christ-like character,as I'm yet far.

I now know that God's ways are for our own good and for the pruning of our character into His likeness.We can only find true satisfaction when we accept and fill the role we are created to fill.Amid this indecisiveness,God never left me.He was by my side slowly leading me,even in my slackness.This is just how merciful,long-suffering and loving God is,desiring that all may repent and not perish.I was falling into a trip of seeking positions and I looked down on God's calling for me as a woman;but His Spirit kept impressing upon my heart,until I got it-still learning.

My only prayer now is:to be quick to obey,not to take long but to trust God in His leading.I've now learnt  that I shouldn't voice my opinion on a particular subject  that I'm not sure of,lest I lead others astray and misrepresent my Saviour.I'd rather counsel with God and wrestle with Him till he gives me understanding.I really have no words for God.Ever calling me to a higher level and I'm really humbled.



"If Christian mothers will present to society children with integrity of character, with firm principles and sound morals, they will have performed the most important of all missionary labors. Their children, thoroughly educated to take their places in society, are the greatest evidence of Christianity that can be given to the world."9Pacific Health Journal, June, 1890./Child Guidance,p163    

Submission

It's my prayer that our own experiences may not interfere with God's word and the way we view it,especially when it comes to male leadership and our roles as women.

I was raised by mom-God bless her!And so I never got to see how a family was supposed to be like as God had intended it to be-with the Father as the provider and the head of the family and the mother submitting to the man,a home keeper etc.So,my conclusion towards marriage was that I'll first work,get my degree and probably when I'm 30 get married-atleast I'd be independent and I'd support myself.No need to be depend on a man,so I said.

Then I later learnt the concept of the wife submitting to the male.Because I grew up without a father,I perceived this as making women inferior.Plus,if the man who was supposed to take care of me didn't,what good is a man that I should submit to him?After all,mom did a better job.But through God's grace I learnt that Christ submits to God-the father,even though he's equal to him (Philippians 2:6).And the Lord is still molding me regarding this.

See,man and females were both created by God and they both have equal worth in him but he-God,in his wisdom,has designated different roles for the both of them.He created men to be masculine and females feminine-soft,caring,etc--those womanly traits we possess.Now,my sisters,let us not allow our view of our fathers or the males who hurt us in various ways taint our view of God's order.It is God himself who has called the men to be heads/lead.Just like God allowed mankind to have dominion over creation,He has created the women to submit.It's the role we are supposed to fill.Submission is something one does freely-not with force.Just as Christ doesn't force us to keep his commandments-we choose to,so is submission-unforced,freely done and it doesn't make the one submitting inferior.It's God's way.

In fact,in marriage we see God's love for us and the husbands represent God.While the wife represents the church.Isn't it beautiful?Orderly.

If we understand this then we'll understand that God has called males to fill specific roles like being pastors,elders and we'll understand that it is his order-not man's.Just like God the Father comes first,then the Son and the Holy Spirit in that order.But does that mean Jesus is a nobody-no!He has a different role from God-the Father.We pray to the Father,Jesus is our High Priest and the Holy Spirit is our teacher,and he brings regeneration in us.All these roles are of equal importance in our lives.
May we as sisters possess the mind that was in Christ-meekness.

I pray that we may accept our God-given roles.In fact,one gift God has given us is the gift of influence,amongst many.But sadly,in the Bible we've seen how women have influenced their husbands to evil/to mistrust
God(Eve,Jezebel,Sarah).But at the same time we see how women have influenced men to good-like Abigail who prevented David from murdering Nabal by her wise,well-selected words.We see how women have brought up godly men:Like Mary who raised Jesus,John's mother-Elisabeth and Timothy's mom.There's so much good we can do,within our spheres,starting with the clothes we choose to buy,the food we eat,the conversation we relate in and in the way we relate to others.

Let's not allow society to define womanhood for us,instead let us allow God-who created us to do so.And with meekness may we understand that we are not called to be pastors and elders.If we accept that,then it will be easier to accept God's ideal for marriage and the God-head.In fact,if we seek to be these,then that means we are reversing God's order.Instead,we are saying "The wives are the heads,the husbands are to submit.And Christ must submit to the church".And sadly,we'll then go on to say,there is a she-God.

#REVELATION