His Obedience

I think a lot of women fear that their husbands are growing spiritually in the way that they are. I think this has a lot to do with men having demanding jobs, not has much time at home, and our expectations. I really struggled with this until reading a book where the author said "don't expect your husbands spirituality to look like yours." And that has helped a lot. Just because Nate doesn't pray, or read, or think the same way about things doesn't mean he's not devoted to Christ.

Nevertheless, it's still important to pray for this area. Here's what Stormie has to say:

Take your concern to God first. He may instruct you to be quiet and pray. If He directs you to speak to your husband there will be far better changes of him hearing God's voice somewhere in your words if you've prayed BEFORE you speak. Praying that his eyes open to truth and his heart be convicted will be far more effected than you telling him what to do.

You can't receive what God has for you if you're not living in obedience. Jesus knew that nothing would give a man more peace and confidence than knowing he is doing what God wants him to do. 

When we live in obedience God promises

• mercy - Proverbs 25:10
• peace - Psalm 37:37
• happiness - Proverbs 29:18
• plenty - Proverbs 21:5
• blessings - Luke 11:28
• life - Proverbs 21:21

When we don't it brings . . . 

• harsh consequences - Proverbs 15:10
• unanswered prayers - Proverbs 28:9
• the inability to enter into the great things God has for him - 1 Cor 6:9

Obedience is 

-keeping God's commandments

-heading specific instructions like

     -resting when He says to rest.

     -stop doing a certain type of work when He says stop

     -move to another place when He says move.

--Failing to do anything of the sort is disobedience. --

A man who does what God asks builds his house on a rock. When the rain, floods, and wind come and beat on the house, it won't fall (Matt 7:24-27) * Keep in mind that the rains, floods, and wind WILL come. 

It's important to pray so our house won't fall for any reason. Speak when God directs, you're not in charge - He is.

    Dear Jesus, You've said that if we regard sin in our hearts, You won't hear us. Please reveal where there is any disobedience in my and Nathan's life. Show me if I'm selfish, unloving, critical, angry, resentful, unforgiving, or bitter toward him. Show me where I have not obeyed You or lived Your way. I confess it as sin and ask Your forgiveness. I pray that You would give Nate a desire to live in obedience to Your laws and ways. Reveal and uproot anything he willingly gives place to that is not of You. Help him to bring every thought and action under Your control. Make him a great man of God. Remind him to do good, speak well, be peaceable, gentle and humble. Teach him to embrace stretching pain of discipline and reward him according to his righteousness and according to the cleanness of his hands.Make him a praising person, so in worship he can gain clear understanding. Transform by the power of your ward and give him power to live Your way. Help him to hear Your specific instructions to him and enable him to obey them. Give him a heart that longs to do Your will and may he enjoy the peace that can only come from living in total obedience to Your commands. Amen

Jeremiah 7:23 (New International Version 1984, ©1984)

²³ but I gave them this command: Obey me, and I will be your God and you will be my people. Walk in all the ways I command you, that it may go well with you.