In this Talk about It Tuesdays, we have been talking about praying for our husbands. In week one, we prayed for our husbands to have dedication to the Lord, then faithfulness to Him, and two weeks ago, we prayed for the Lord to protect them.
As a Christian woman longing to fulfill my purpose as a Godly wife, I find that the best way to fulfill my role as a Godly follower is if I have a Godly leader. Of course, I am only responsible for my actions and cannot blame-shift for my lack of obedience. Yes, while a lack of leadership on the part of the man in the relationship is no excuse for a lack of obedience on the part of the wife, the Godly leadership of the man as priest and head of the home encourages a Godly response by offering leadership that is trustworthy, God-focused, caring, and eternally-minded.
A passage we often to turn to when it comes to less-than-sympathetic leadership is Romans 13. It is in this passage that God calls us as believers to lives of humility and submission to those that God has set above us who may not be the best leaders.
I find it incredibly interesting that we focus on these verses for that purpose alone. Times get rough, we realize the foolishness of ungodly leadership above us, and we find ourselves keeping the speed limit, paying our taxes, and even praying for our President based on the aforementioned passage.
However, as a Christian wife (with thankfully, a wonderful Godly husband), I would like to challenge us all that God has not only given us Romans 13 so that we learn to respect our national government but so that we also learn to relate to and pray for the man (our husband) whom God has given to have leadership in our home.
First of all, if I am to recognize Adam’s stance as the leader of the home and to respect it even in those times that I want to challenge him, I must keep in mind verse 1 of Romans 13 [“For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.”] which calls me to remember his role before God. God has placed him in this position of leadership; therefore, my understanding of the leadership role he has is directly influenced by my understanding of the sovereignty and the heart of God Himself.
Continuing on, if I understand that God is in control and that He has a specific plan in the guidance that Adam offers to our relationship and our family, I will more readily submit to his leadership. However, if I start to really think about the responsibility of those that are in leadership, namely my husband, and the warnings that are throughout Scripture as to the responsibility he has to lead those in his care with wisdom [“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.” 2 Tim. 2:15], I am sobered by the need to lift my man up in prayer.
When we understand the greatness of the responsibility and pressure our husbands have before God, we will greater understand what part we have in supporting him, assisting him in leading our home (with regards to children), praying for him to have wisdom in decision making, and understanding and doing battle for him (on our knees) against the devil who is seeking to destroy him as a leader and by default, this family.
The Proverbs talk continually about God directing hearts and paths of man. Proverbs 16 talks about this continually, Ezra 1:1-4 gives a real life example, and Proverbs 21:1 reads: “The king’s heart is a stream of water in the hand of the Lord; He turns it wherever He will.”
What perfect examples to remind us Who is really in control! What joy! Knowing this, we can approach prayer with confidence knowing that God Himself has called us to appeal to Him to change the hearts of mankind (2 Chronicles 7:14-15), to deliver from evil (Psalm 50:15), to ask for our daily provisions (Matthew 6:5-12), and to direct kings (and husbands) (1 Timothy 2:1-4).
When was the last time you prayed for your husband in the area of leadership? Are you trusting that God is leading through him, directing his heart? Do you trust the faithfulness of God to answer your prayers in this regard?
*Here’s an Idea*
Pray specifically. Record your requests and tell your husband those requests. Remind him when God answers them so that you both are encouraged by the way that God directs your husband’s heart.
Making My Boast 