A Valentine's Revelation

Ever read Scripture over and over again, or pick up a chapter to read that you know you've read a dozen times before? Ever read it and realize that you thought you knew (intellectually) what it meant, but you've not quite done it justice in your life? Tonight after returning to my room, I realized that I have read Ephesians 6 and Genesis 1-3 so much. Not enough, of course, but it's not unfamiliar or new....and the Spirit slapped a revelation across my forehead. I know that I am to submit to my husband. I know that I was created to be his helpmate. I know that he is to have authority over me for a divine reason. However, only tonight did I realize some thought patterns that I possess before we are even married. We are at exactly five months from being married, and the Lord revealed to me that most of the time, I expect and wait for Scott to be my helper. I expect for him to walk in the other room and get something for me that I am more than capable of picking up myself... yet if he ever decided to insinuate that I didn't pick it up and could have, I would be offended and probably think he deemed me incapable. My, how the father of lies deceives God's children! I have so much head knowledge and have so much to transmit into my thought patterns and everyday life. I realize that this will not change overnight and that five months into marriage I will probably struggle with the same issue... but this evening, on Valentine's Day, I recognized this tempting thought pattern and my need to be absolutely intentional and deliberate in praying for its reversal. Our Father in Heaven is so faithful to bring new wisdom and insight to His children through His word!! Thank you, God!

Today, after a really rough school day, I met my sweet fiance. I knew he was up to something, but I didn't know quite what...only that food was involved! He spoiled me with an indoors picnic, complete with votives, candles, and rose petals scattered throughout the room. He cooked lemon pepper chicken with angel hair pasta, sauteed zucchini and squash, and made the best-looking monster cookie the world's ever seen. It definitely beat Cheddar's, for sure. I did not deserve one bit of that. Tonight is a night when I am just overwhelmed at my ignorance and foolishness and awestruck by the goodness and faithfulness of God. I am thankful that where I screw up, where I fall into unconstructive or damaging thought traps, where I am too concerned about myself, there is no condemnation in Christ Jesus. Hallelujah - what a Savior!