I DO

 

I have been in pursuit of becoming the best wife possible in the eyes of God, and my husband. The only way to do that, I've found, is to

Study the Word
Stop Talking

Listen to my husband and his needs 

1 Peter 3

"Wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the Word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives.

Your beauty should not come from outward adornment such as elaborate hairstyles and the wear of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather it should be that of your inner self. The unfading beauty of your gentle and quiet spirit which is of great worth in God's sight."

Let me clarify a few things, before you make assumptions about what this is trying to say: 

not saying: 

Wives should be seen and not heard

Wives are not allowed to "dress up" 

Is saying: 

Set an example

Don't be shallow

"Actions speak louder than words"   Nagging will destroy a relationship.

"...purity and reverence of your lives..." That only applies in a genuine (non self-righteous)  application of faith. Stop trying to change your spouse and change yourself, instead. 

Have you ever seen someone you're close to start an exercise plan? They get up early every morning and do their routine, and you stand back and watch them steadily loose weight. 

Does this not cause you to look down at your own body, and in a spirit of competition, admiration, and respect, you are driven to follow suit? 

Same idea! 

The second idea in this scripture  

"Your beauty should not come from outward adornment such as elaborate hairstyles and the wear of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather it should be that of your inner self. The unfading beauty of your gentle and quiet spirit which is of great worth in God's sight."

This is so simple:

Don't be Vain 

Don't be Shallow

If you say you have no time to read the Word, and yet you have time to put on your makeup, every morning, you're probably missing something. 

If you want your husband to respect you, demand it with your actions

Something we must remember is that we are valued. Yes, our husbands are the "head" but we are the "heart". Is the heart any less valuable than the head? One cannot function without the other. 

Genesis 2:18

"The Lord God said 'It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him.'"

We are helper to our husbands, because they cannot do it alone. If family were a house. 

God is the foundation. (The strength that any successful family should be built upon)

The Husband is the roof. (The protector, the shelter)

The Wife is the support beams (holding up her husband, and housing her children)

Proverbs 31:10-12

"A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life." 

The scripture goes on to describe a hard-hardworking, faithful, diligent wife. 

When this scripture is brought up, I feel like so much focus is put on all the "stuff" that the described wife does for her family. Making all of us wives feel guilty. 

I am not saying that we shouldn't hold ourselves to high standards, but for these purposes I'd like to focus on the first part of the scripture. 

A noble woman who gives her husband the best of herself all the days of her life is worth more than rubies. 

Us wives/mothers, find ourselves giving 150% all of the time, until we feel almost too exhausted to keep on. 

God understands.

He admires your heart. 

Never forget how great the pay off will be. 

"Lord, help me to have a quiet and gentle spirit. Help me support my husband and do him no harm, all the days of my life. When I am not strong enough to give 150%, please make up the difference. Always bless our marriage and let us never stray from our foundation, in you."