Part 2 - A Woman After God's own Heart

I will be continuing on here with my comments and observations about the book A Woman After God's Own Heart, by Elizabeth George.  I've been leading a small group using the Precept course In and Out,  A Marriage Without Regrets and the book I"ve been reading goes along with it very nicely.  I love when God hands me other materials that are consistent with what I'm studying.  I also love when authors are true to God's Word.

I will continue on here with Chapter 5 and this also starts the section on marriage and a woman's role in marriage.  This chapter is titled A Heart That Serves.  Here, the author goes on to say as she studied the Bible for ways to please God being a wife and mother, she used a pink highligter marker and highlighted every passage that spoke to her about being a woman.  I love this idea!  What a way to have the Word of God jump out at you, for you!  You will be able to see exactly what God has to say about every area of your life.  The first thing God says and it's right in Genesis, is that God created woman to be a helper to man.  This isn't just any man, but your husband only.  You answer only to him (and the Lord, of course).  Here is where some men get out of control and abuse the Word for their own purpose, but I won't be talking about that here.  We should desire to serve our husbands.  Our first and foremost ministry is in our OWN homes.  I also love that the author uses this term, "I am on assignment from God to ...."  in this case she uses the terms, help my husband.  A helper comes along side and helps.  You are not to dominate or "rule" over him.  He is to be the leader and you follow.  Oh, how wonderful our homes would be if we ladies would just sit down and be quiet!  We are to be behind and supportive of our husbands, not competing in a race.  We should be eager to promote our husbands and stay in the shadows, to be the woman behind the man.  In all this, this is the beginning of having a servant spirit. 

Here are two questions the author gives for helping your husband each day.
1. "What can I do for you today?"
2. "What can I do to help you make better use of your time today?"
Don't panic over the answers you may get.  Make your husband your number one priority.  If you're asking yourself, "Well if I have to cater to his needs, then my day will be ruined!"  Then you need to check your servant heart, dear sister.  Remember, God created you to help your husband.  He is your first priority.  Oh, and don't forget, slap on a joyful heart while you are being the helper!  Do you think you're really being a helper when you don't have joy in your heart.  Your actions show what's inside.  And, also remember, your husband is your FIRST ministry.