Titus 2 Men And Women

Have you ever wondered if your husband and you actually speak the same language? Does your husband occasionally say something that makes you wonder if you are even living on the same planet?  This is something that happens often when a person becomes self-reflective.

The way a man or woman perceives himself or herself often affects the way they are accepted. A man that sees himself as a failure will usually fail. A woman who sees herself friendless will have trouble building deep lasting friendships. A person that believes they are un-attractive will not attempt to improve their appearance. The list could go on and on.

Telling an individual they are wrong is ineffective. They will believe you are trying to make them feel better, but they won’t believe what you say.

Obviously, this can have serious consequences in a marriage. Job instability is a major problem. Jealousy will rear its ugly head. Encouragement can be seen as nagging. Keeping quiet is uncaring. It doesn’t take long until this tightrope walk becomes unendurable. So how can this self-image problem be fixed? Prayer is of course the number one answer. So how do you pray about this? The problem is seeing yourself as God sees you. Remember God created each of us. He formed us, he knew our members when we were still in the womb. Do you really believe God made a mistake? You are the height, skin tone, eye color, personality God chose for you! I don’t know why God gave me crooked teeth but he did. Braces weren’t an option when I was growing up so does that mean I should never smile? When each one of us accepts that God made no mistakes, that in fact God designed us to be who we are, and he loved us enough to redeem us we will have better self-esteem.

When we have learned to accept ourselves we will be able to feel acceptance and value in other peoples eyes.

Because of our human nature we all have doubts. We don’t want to doubt God, but Satan is an expert at causing us to doubt. Remember that he started way back in the Garden of Eden when he spoke to Eve. Genesis 3:1b And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? Subtle serpent. He knew that if he said "Hey, Eve come on over here and taste this fruit," she would most likely say, "No way you nasty old snake. God said not to eat that one." Instead he said are you sure that that is what God meant. Maybe you are misinterpreting that verse? He is just as subtle today.

When we spend time in the Bible allowing God through the Holy Spirit to conform us to the image of his son, we will experience peace with who we are.  II Corinthians 3:18 We all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

When we are assured of the work that God is doing in us, our faith is strengthened. Isn’t it easy to doubt the Lord when you really don’t like yourself? How can we, by faith, accept the salvation God has provided and doubt his ability to see something loveable in us. God made no mistakes.

A number of years ago there was a popular Christian children’s song that had a profound message.

"I’m something special; I’m the only one of my kind. God gave me a body and a bright healthy mind. He had a special purpose that He wanted me to find. That’s why I’m something special; I’m the only one of my kind." (Bill & Gloria Gaither)

When we are doubting our purpose. When Satan is causing us to question every or any area of our life, we need to follow the example of the father Mark 9:24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.

When we can trust the Lord’s unerring direction. When we really understand that God has a plan for our lives. When we continually seek His direction in all our steps, then trusting Him with our future is no problem.

There have been pains and sorrows in my life that I would gladly have skipped if the choice had been mine. Stop a minute and think about some thing in your life that at the time seemed to be a crushing experience. It may have been the death of a loved one, perhaps financial loss, maybe a child that has broken your heart, or an unfaithful husband. If you knew before hand that you would experience that pain, would you have prevented it? Now think about how that painful experience changed you. Are you closer to God? Was there a nurturing friend that God sent into your life to help you through? Did you learn in the pain to crawl onto God’s lap, lay your head against his breast, and cry to your Abba Father? That is his desire. God wants our obedience and in the rough times he will be our comfort and fortress.

I told you when I started this series, that God and I had had a real argument about my teaching this series. I was comfortable with who I was and with who my husband was. God changed us both. I’m not about to assume we now know all the answers, but I have a much closer relationship with God.

I have realized that God is waiting everyday for me to speak his name. There is nothing too small, nothing to trivial, God wants me to pray about all the questions and problems in my life. He desires for me to pray specifically and to believe he hears and will answer.

I encourage each of you to return to this series from time to time and read through it again. You may want to focus on a particular area of your husband’s life that needs your prayer support. Maybe you just need to keep a list of the various articles and pray for one area a day or one a week.

Since we can trust him with our yesterdays, let’s also trust him for our tomorrows. The God of eternity holds our future. Let’s continue to pray for our husbands and to expect great and mighty things from the hands of God.

You and I Are Something Special

We Were Created In His Image

Genesis 1:27

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