Soon after I became a Christian in 1975, a little old lady named Bertha gave me this first passage to memorize... It's met my need on many many occasions and proved invaluable--especially when I didn't understand circumstances and feelings:
"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths." Proverbs 3:5-6
This passage explained the mystery of love to me, a person who was terribly confused about love and what it was ... it helped me grow more and more in love with my husband. It taught me "how" to love beyond the feelings... the platitudes... the worldly stereotypes of fairytales and Hollywood make-believe. This kinda love is true love... when practiced, it corrects a multitude of errors and mistakes in a relationship and builds strength in a marriage:
"4 Love is very patient and kind, never jealous or envious, never boastful or proud, 5 never haughty or selfish or rude. Love does not demand its own way. It is not irritable or touchy. It does not hold grudges and will hardly even notice when others do it wrong. 6 It is never glad about injustice, but rejoices whenever truth wins out. 7 If you love someone, you will be loyal to him no matter what the cost. You will always believe in him, always expect the best of him, and always stand your ground in defending him.
8 All the special gifts and powers from God will someday come to an end, but love goes on forever. Someday prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge—these gifts will disappear. 9 Now we know so little, even with our special gifts, and the preaching of those most gifted is still so poor. 10 But when we have been made perfect and complete, then the need for these inadequate special gifts will come to an end, and they will disappear.
11 It’s like this: when I was a child I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child does. But when I became a man my thoughts grew far beyond those of my childhood, and now I have put away the childish things. 12 In the same way, we can see and understand only a little about God now, as if we were peering at his reflection in a poor mirror; but someday we are going to see him in his completeness, face-to-face. Now all that I know is hazy and blurred, but then I will see everything clearly, just as clearly as God sees into my heart right now.
13 There are three things that remain—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love." 1st Corinthians 13:4-13
Among these longer passages was this particular verse for me... I learned early on how to do this... messed up a lot during the early going and even today I blow it... but this is key for women... as far as I'm concerned: "Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord." Ephesians 5:22
And for those men out there who might take time to read my post... my husband didn't have to work on this one... he started following it the day he said "I do" and has never stopped: "Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her," Ephesians 5:25
My husband has sacrificed all for me.. has put me first in so many ways I can hardly think of one time he didn't (and of course there are a few). He would die for me... though he chose to live for me. He's blessed me beyond measure with dependability, tolerance, love, mercy, forgiveness, kindness, gentleness, friendship, generosity, and goodness. If all men did this without complaint, nor asking anything in return, I do believe every woman would have zero problem wanting to "submit as unto the Lord" to their man. Just a few verses in thousands that has helped us celebrate 50 years of marriage. selahV
