More Vow Than Wow

I saw on Facebook recently where a fellow mom asked the question, "Does your husband wow you?" I'm sad to say that some of the responses were disheartening. Seems to me there are a lot of women who are unhappy if their husband doesn't "wow" them every hour of every day.

Listen ladies, let's put the same question to your husbands. Does your wife wow you? I'm sure he's going to be quick to comment things like: Oh yes, I love it when she does the dishes. That BLT she made me knocked my socks off. Oooh la la, when she meets me at the door in her yoga pants and college t-shirt I'm in heaven.

Why is it that we expect our men to "wow" us when we're doing very little "wow-ing" of our own? I hear you, I know you're busy taking care of the kids, doing the laundry, and fixing snacks. But ladies, your husband is busy in his own right. Did he just put in 8 or more hours at work? Sat in traffic for 45 minutes? Mow the yard? Fix the leaky faucet? Did he tuck the kids in bed while you did those dishes? Did he literally bring home that bacon you asked him to pick up on the way home?

Don't get me wrong. I'm guilty. I'm so guilty of expecting more "wow" from my husband that they should probably start the Naggers Anonymous club just for me. But the truth is when I sit back and look for those "wow" moments they aren't so hard to find. And I bet you can find some too. And if you can't, I challenge you to give him a few of your own special "wow" moments and just see how he reacts.

Truth is, you didn't stand in front of a bunch of family and friends and vow to "wow" each other. You vowed to take care of each other. To love each other. Help each other out even when you don't feel like it. I know it may be hard to recollect the exact words you used as the rings were passed, but I guarantee no one was promising they'd be in "wow" mode all the time. 

Date night tip: pull out that wedding video or album and reminisce and you'll see that I'm right!

Focus on what you did promise and do that. Help your husband when he comes home by honoring his time. Be supportive and encouraging as he tackles his daily obligations. Be loving and gentle when you communicate your needs and desires.

Focus on the vow not the wow.

Heavenly Father,

Help me to focus on the vow not the wow. Help me remember what it truly means to be a loving wife. Give me the gentle and quiet spirit that I need to love my husband. When I feel the urge to be resentful and angry, give me Your grace and forgiveness. Help me to recognize my husband's needs and the desire to meet them with a joyful heart. 

Amen

"You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God." - 1 Peter 3:4 (NLT)

On Our Hearts: You Are a Warrior

This week our prayers have been focusing on the lies that we are deceived into believing about ourselves. The devil's persistence in trying to break us down may be strong but it is no match for God's absolute truth. This week we're going to expose just some of the devil's lies that cloud our thinking and interfere with us having a triumphant life in Christ.

Unlike what we see in the movies or on television the devil doesn't just appear to us with red horns and a pointy tail. He is more cunning than anything we have ever known. The Bible warns us repeatedly of the dangers of his schemes. And just when you think you've got the devil behind you, he sneaks back up and tries to tear you down, especially with our own thoughts. Hopefully this week as you have been praying God has shown you the places where the devil has set traps for you. Don't let the devil get in your head and try to deceive you. Stay vigilant. Be prepared. Put on the whole armor of God and be ready for the attack.

Gracious Father,

Thank you Lord for being our protector against all that is evil. You have covered us with your righteousness. The devil cannot get to us when You stand in the way. Lord just help us to keep You front and center in our lives. Don't let us become ambivilant toward sin and complacent in the world's ways. Keep us ever mindful of the ways that we are being attacked and give us the strength to stand up and stay strong in our faith. You may have delivered us from sin, but we not immune to it. Thank goodness where we are weak, You are strong. When we feel attacked let us not be ashamed to get on our knees and cry out to You, God. A battle cry that breaks through the darkness and shines Your mighty light for all to see.

Amen

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes." Ephesians 6:10-11

"Be on your guard and stay awake. Your enemy, the devil, is like a roaring lion, sneaking around to find someone to attack. But you must resist the devil and stay strong in your faith. You know that all over the world the Lord's followers are suffering just as you are." 1 Peter 5:8-9

On Our Hearts: Rejection

This week our prayers are going to focus on the lies that we are deceived into believing about ourselves. The devil's persistence in trying to break us down may be strong but it is no match for God's absolute truth. This week we're going to expose just some of the devil's lies that cloud our thinking and interfere with us having a triumphant life in Christ.



We've all been there. Call it denied, overlooked, or ignored - it's still rejection and it still hurts. No one wants to feel unwanted or worthless. And it is especially painful when someone you love rejects you. It is in our nature to want to be accepted and valued. And yet how do we deal with the daily rejections? And let's face it, rejection happens to each of us daily. Our co-workers, our children, our friends, and even our own spouse will reject us at times. Jesus understands how you're feeling when others dismiss you, He felt it too.

Heavenly Father,

We are so thankful that you understand just exactly how we are feeling. Like us, you felt rejected, forsaken, and discarded by people. We've been told we're unqualified, unworthy and unlovable. But your word tells us that we belong to you, Lord. And You have not made us inferior. You have given us Your Holy Spirit and You have equipped us to overcome tribulation. You never overlook us, You never forsake us, and You never reject us. Thank you Father, for we are perfect in Your eyes. We have no need to look for acceptance here on this earth when we have Your unfailing love and devotion. Holy Spirit prepare us for the disappointments that we will encounter and strengthen us when we feel defeated. Remain in us to stand strong and to not let the devil steal our faith. Let us courageously stand up when we are told we are unlovable, and shout - Jesus loves me! When we are told we are disqualified, may we proclaim - I am fearfully and wonderfully made by God! And when we are told we are unwanted, may we declare - My Father accepts me just as I am!

Amen


"Everything and everyone that the Father has given me will come to me, and I won't turn any of them away." John 6:37


"And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast." 1 Peter 5:10

Easter Sunday

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ!

In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead..."

1 Peter 1:3

On Our Hearts: Deliverance From Sin

Heavenly Father,

We're not perfect. We've all sinned, we still sin, and we'll probably sin again. We strive to be perfect like Your Son, yet we all have an area where we fall short. We call them vices, habits, tendencies, or curses, but in truth they are sin and they keep us from an intimate relationship with You, Lord.

It's not comfortable but Lord we're asking that You help us to remove that sin from our lives. Let it be today, God. Right now we walk away from the stronghold that divides us from righteousness. Give us Your strength to resist the sin that our human nature wants to hold onto. Give us the ability to stand firm when we are tempted. Whatever it may be Lord, we ask for a complete removal. And if there are sins that we don't recognize, we pray that You will make them evident so that we may delivered from it.

Amen

"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walk about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith." 1 Peter 5:8, 9a

"He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love." Colossians 1:13