When I was growing up I remember my mother use to always tell me not to ever ask a man anything on an empty stomach. While this seems comical or even as an old wives tale, there is a strategy that worked in her house. When my Dad was hungry, he was grumpy and irritated. When his belly was full he was relaxed and pleasant. I believe that he enjoyed the family interaction of dinner time and the food comforted him after a stressful day of work. He was more likely to respond positively after he ate!
Ecclesiastes 3:1,…7 (NKJV)
Everything Has Its Time
3 To everything there is a season,
A time for every purpose under heaven:
7 ………….. A time to keep silence,
And a time to speak;
While this might not be true with every man, my mother understood that the best time to speak to her husband was after dinner. She was operating with an Issachar anointing (1 Chronicles 12:32) to know and understand the seasons of her home. She was strategic in how she dealt with my father because much of the time he was short tempered and lacked patience. She didn’t say much, but when her opportunity came, she presented what was at hand. I don’t know how long it took her to master her strategy (they were married for 53 years before she passed), but she found what worked. In our own marriages there are times and seasons that we need to be strategic about how we handle what is before us. Even when we know by our Holy Spirit what to do, we have to seek God for His timing and pray for agreement. Peter explains how important it is for wives to not only make themselves beautiful on the outside but to be beautiful in their hearts with a quiet, gentle spirit. He says this type of beauty is incorruptible!
1 Peter 3:4 (NKJV)
4 rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.
A quiet, gentle spirit sounds like a spirit of Peace! We obtain peace by trusting God and seeking His understanding in all things. This will help us know the times and the seasons!
Philippians 4:5-7New King James Version (NKJV)
5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
God wants us to have peace in everything, including our marriages! Our hearts and minds will be guarded with peace and the Lord’s hand will stay on it. Peter also talks about husbands living with understanding of their wives. When he understands her and places honor on her, their marriage is full of grace and nothing will hinder their prayers! When we understand each other grace and peace fills our homes.
1 Peter 3:7 (NKJV)
A Word to Husbands
7 Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.
This does not come without work. We have to study each other to gain understanding. When we pray for wisdom, God will surely give it. It is time to evaluate our marriages. What areas are we experiencing frustration? Do we know the patterns of our spouse? Do we know when to speak and when to keep silent? Are we praying or complaining? Are we ignoring areas instead of addressing them? This is a group effort. We are heirs together in the grace of life because we are one flesh. We are a team that wins together or loses together. There is no separation. Agreement is necessary and the will of God for our lives. Peace, grace and ultimately the joy of the Lord will strengthen our marriages and we will know and understand whatever season that we are in.
Father we thank You for the Wisdom of Your Word. We ask You for the anointing to know and understand the seasons and timing of our marriages. Forgive us for not studying our spouse. Forgive us for complaining instead of praying for strategy. Lord, we want to know when to speak and when to keep silent. Show us how to be gentle and quiet. Give us grace and peace in our homes. Let our prayers not be hindered. We want to be beautiful from the inside out. We want our marriages to give You glory. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen!
Ecclesiastes 3:1,…7 (NKJV)
Everything Has Its Time
3 To everything there is a season,
A time for every purpose under heaven:
7 ………….. A time to keep silence,
And a time to speak;
While this might not be true with every man, my mother understood that the best time to speak to her husband was after dinner. She was operating with an Issachar anointing (1 Chronicles 12:32) to know and understand the seasons of her home. She was strategic in how she dealt with my father because much of the time he was short tempered and lacked patience. She didn’t say much, but when her opportunity came, she presented what was at hand. I don’t know how long it took her to master her strategy (they were married for 53 years before she passed), but she found what worked. In our own marriages there are times and seasons that we need to be strategic about how we handle what is before us. Even when we know by our Holy Spirit what to do, we have to seek God for His timing and pray for agreement. Peter explains how important it is for wives to not only make themselves beautiful on the outside but to be beautiful in their hearts with a quiet, gentle spirit. He says this type of beauty is incorruptible!
1 Peter 3:4 (NKJV)
4 rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.
A quiet, gentle spirit sounds like a spirit of Peace! We obtain peace by trusting God and seeking His understanding in all things. This will help us know the times and the seasons!
Philippians 4:5-7New King James Version (NKJV)
5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
God wants us to have peace in everything, including our marriages! Our hearts and minds will be guarded with peace and the Lord’s hand will stay on it. Peter also talks about husbands living with understanding of their wives. When he understands her and places honor on her, their marriage is full of grace and nothing will hinder their prayers! When we understand each other grace and peace fills our homes.
1 Peter 3:7 (NKJV)
A Word to Husbands
7 Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.
This does not come without work. We have to study each other to gain understanding. When we pray for wisdom, God will surely give it. It is time to evaluate our marriages. What areas are we experiencing frustration? Do we know the patterns of our spouse? Do we know when to speak and when to keep silent? Are we praying or complaining? Are we ignoring areas instead of addressing them? This is a group effort. We are heirs together in the grace of life because we are one flesh. We are a team that wins together or loses together. There is no separation. Agreement is necessary and the will of God for our lives. Peace, grace and ultimately the joy of the Lord will strengthen our marriages and we will know and understand whatever season that we are in.
Father we thank You for the Wisdom of Your Word. We ask You for the anointing to know and understand the seasons and timing of our marriages. Forgive us for not studying our spouse. Forgive us for complaining instead of praying for strategy. Lord, we want to know when to speak and when to keep silent. Show us how to be gentle and quiet. Give us grace and peace in our homes. Let our prayers not be hindered. We want to be beautiful from the inside out. We want our marriages to give You glory. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen!
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