learning respect... part 4...

God... in His faithfulness... continues to teach... lessons... from struggles... in the dark...

R... revere...
E... engage...
S... stand at the crossroads and look...
P... pure
E
C
T

The second E... it came this morning...

Earnest...

Another trip... to the dictionary... (I have a friend who says... it's a holy book... the Merriam-Webster's... the way a simple definition... when we take the time to look... adds depth and increases understanding... of the Word... divinely inspires...)

earnest -- characterized by or proceeding from an intense and serious state of mind; grave, important

Respect... is not just outward... it begins with a thought process... an intense... serious... state of mind...

We often minimize the influence of our thoughts... I was just thinking... some not even realizing... that thought leads to action... or that we can control our thoughts... what we think...

Respect... is forged... by the renewing... of the mind... intentionally... changing the way... I think... about my spouse...

We demolish arguments and every pretension

 that sets itself up against the knowledge of God,

and we take every thought captive 

and make it obedient to Christ.

2 Corinthians 10:5

Thoughts run amok... in need of destruction...

My husband needs to EARN my respect...

I will NOT respect a man who...

Thought... taken captive... made obedient to Christ...

I WILL respect my husband...

Sin... it begins in the mind...

God warns us...

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of the world,

but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

Romans 12:2

Be careful what you think...!

Set your minds on things above,

not on earthly things.

Colossians 3:2

What we think is serious business...

God's Light... in the midst of my run to the dark... revealed a pattern of thought that had taken root in my heart... regarding my husband... 

Thought patterns that have created a deep-seated habit of disrespect... highly polished... but disrespect nonetheless...

By His grace... I have begun to take those thoughts captive... making them obedient to Christ... remembering Jesus alone... is my source of joy... peace... security...

The old thoughts... send me careening down the path of Eve... and my previous attempts to respect were polluted with motive...

Changing my thoughts... begins with the work of breaking up a hard heart... and leads to changing habits... new rows plowed... taking all to Christ... He can transform...

Sow for yourselves righteousness,

reap the fruit of unfailing love,

and break up your unplowed ground;

for it is time to seek the Lord,

until he comes and showers righteousness on you.

Hosea 10:12

Respect... for a husband... is serious...  and cultivated from the proper state of mind...

What is your state of mind... ladies... when it comes to your husband...? or other men... in your life...?

sons... sons-in-law...?

brothers...?

co-workers...?

bosses...?

Remember... we Eves... have a job... to encourage the men God has placed in our lives... to be who they were created to be... and our primary tool... is... R-E-S-P-E-C-T...

Father God... thank You... for Your Word... Your teaching... Your willingness to help us demolish wayward thoughts... please continue... to reveal... what's next... in Jesus's name...