Thoughts from daily Bible reading for today- February 15, 2014
Listen to whatever Sarah tells you, because it is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned. Genesis 21:12
Listen to your wife; she can be God’s voice of wisdom and/or His heavenly sandpaper. Especially when you are in distress over a decision, she can bring perspective and calm to the situation. If you are tempted to make a dumb decision, she is there to remind you of your convictions. She is built-in accountability, even when you do not want to hear her voice. It may rub you the wrong way, but this irritation is how the Lord gets your attention.
Why does God frequently speak through your wife? One reason is that she has your best interest in mind. You became one in marriage; as your decisions go, so go your marriage and family. She wants you to be successful because your success or failure is a reflection of your relationship with her. Furthermore, she wants you to make wise decisions because she loves you.
“Love…rejoices with the truth” (1 Corinthians 13:6).
Still it is sometimes hard to listen to your wife, even when you know it is God’s desire, and the benefit it provides is obvious. Perhaps you question her motive, or her way of communicating is overbearing. If it is a question of motive, ask her why she is suggesting her advice. If her method of communication is harsh or untimely, address this with her, but still receive the truth. Suggest to her how and when to speak the truth in love.
You benefit by making wiser decisions, and she benefits by becoming a better communicator of truth. Value her objectivity, as she intuitively knows if someone or some situation does not feel right. God gives her uncanny discernment. So wives, share in love and in a timely fashion; and husbands, listen intently and respectfully with an eye toward implementation.
Are you listening to learn from your lover? “It [love] always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres” (1 Corinthians 13:7).
Prayer: What wisdom is my wife imparting that I need to heed and follow?
Related Readings: 1 Samuel 8:7–9; Isaiah 46:10; Romans 9:7–8; Hebrews 11:17–18
Taken from the February 15th reading in Boyd’s 365-day devotional book, “Seeking Daily the Heart of God vol. 2” … http://bit.ly/Tv6y9a
Post/Tweet today: Truth may rub us the wrong way, but this irritation is how the Lord gets our attention. #influentialwife
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Amen
As a wife, I think this is very wise advice!
Calling all husbands…your wife can be your helper.
Wonderful and timely as usual. My husband and I both read your daily word. We are faced with making a decision concerning a family member. My advice was no because it would put added stress on him which he doesn’t need with his heart conditiin…nor I with my high blood pressure. This word has helped to put the matter in perspective. I can’t express to you in words just how much you have helped us. In the very nrar future I will giving donations. Gotta keep this site up. Thank you and many blessings upon you!
Considering women were created from the rib of man, in which the ribcage protects organs, like the heart. A Wife is wired by God to protect her husband’s heart interests. So yes, husbands, God does use your wife to speak to you. =) (And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.Gen 2:22)
some younger wives do not help their spouses only to spend, spend, and spend some more like my daughter-in-law so not all wives are influential.
Dear Maria~
Thank you for reaching out to Wisdom Hunters with your response to the devotional “Influential Wife”. As I read your comment about your daughter-in-law, I thought~what a great opportunity to be a role model for her. There is this awesome verse in Titus just written for us (older gals~and here I am speaking only for myself…) It says:
“Likewise teach the older to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one can malign the word of God”. Titus 2:3-5
I just love that challenge! It has such purpose!
We are so thankful you are a fellow wisdom hunter. Blessings to you and yours.
Believing and trusting~
Gwynne
Dear Anne~ Thank you so much for your response to the devotional “Influential Wife”. Wow! I love that perspective about “the ribcage protecting the organs, like the heart”. What a powerful analogy of the importance of a wife. (And so true) Thank you!!
We are so thankful that you are a fellow wisdom hunter. We hope you will continue to be blessed by the Wisdom Hunters devotionals and will contact us with more of your insight.
Blessings to you and yours.
Believing and trusting~
Gwynne
Dear Jeanne~ Thank you for contacting us regarding the Wisdom Hunter devotional, “Influential Wife”. Your comments were very encouraging to us. Your story about making this important decision concerning a family member was a perfect example of what the devotional was all about. “You became one in marriage; as your decision go, so go your marriage and family.” I am very thankful that you and your husband have each other. I think my favorite quote in the devotional is the first line “Listen to your wife: she can be God’s voice of wisdom and/or His heavenly sandpaper”!!! Sandpaper never sounded so good!
Blessings to you and yours.
Believing and trusting~
Gwynne
P.S. You mentioned that the devotional was “wonderful timing”. Don’t you just love God’s Perfect Timing on all things?
Thank you Louise! We appreciate your enthusiasm and desire to spread this important message. You are so right~ “your wife can be your helper” Amen!
We are so thankful that you are a fellow wisdom hunter. Blessings to you and yours.
Believing and trusting~
Gwynne