A Great Post from At The Well regarding the Positive Influence of a Woman:
Influence your husband. I recently read the book “Girls Gone Wise” by Mary Kassian, and wow! I was much more “wild” than I thought…not really in my actions, but in my heart, oh yes. When I got to chapter 18 of 20, I had already been made aware of my wildness, but yet I was reminded again. Here’s an introductory excerpt:
“The Lord created women with a unique relational bent. Therefore, women are powerful influencers – particularly in their relationships with men. How do we use this gift wisely? How can we make sure that we are influencing others in a positive way?”
I paused here. I pondered. Am I influencing my husband in a positive way? I continued…
“A wise woman knows that it’s not her words, but her behavior that carries the biggest clout when it comes to compelling change. The more Christlike you are, the more positive your influence will be. If you truly want to influence someone else for good, you won’t focus on changing his behavior. You’ll focus on changing your behavior. You’ll work at becoming more godly, and on interacting in a more godly way.”
Wow. So it’s not about our husband’s actions…but, it’s about our actions. It’s about a desire to change what we control, not control someone else. It’s about influencing by our life. I continued on further for practical application…
“A positive influencer is very wise and careful with her words. She wins others over “without a word.” She’s not a blabber, jabber, nagger, whiner, complainer, or yammerer. Nor does she use wiles, charms, smooth talk, or sweet talk to manipulate. She gives very little in the way of advice – so the little she says is extremely powerful and effective.
I don’t know about you, but this hits right at my heart. Many times in my interactions with my husband, I am not influencing him wisely, or positively, or effectively. It’s more of the blabbering, whining, charming kind of way…
Influencing Your Husband
Be Still
Projects from At The Well:
To be still.
Are you like me? Move, move, move. Go, go, go. My feet rarely stop moving from the moment I get out of bed until I lay my head on my pillow. This is exhausting! Also, I think that I do this sometimes because I feel that I have to take care of things, I have to get things done. If I don’t, then who will? What will happen?
During especially busy or stressful times in my life, I am continually reminding myself of my need to be still before the Lord. Psalm 46 is titled God Is Our Fortress. It starts by saying, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
The Psalm continues and includes this little line, tucked in near the end, “Be still, and know that I am God.”
Most recently when I was reading this I thought about how when I am moving, moving, moving and getting things, I seemingly accomplish the tasks set before me in my own effort. However, sometimes when we are still we allow God to work and we get to see first hand His wonderful works and know that He is God.
Is there a situation in your life that you have been trying and trying to resolve with no progress? Could it possibly be an opportunity to be still and witness God do amazing things?
Be still with me this week.
Contentment
Project on Contentment from At the Well:
to practice contentment. This is a HUGE sin in my life that God has been giving me growth in, by His grace! It is so easy to get into a complaining attitude and take our blessings for granted. It is so easy to go through difficult times and doubt God’s goodness. During these times, it is important to have habits that cultivate a content and grateful attitude.
I’ve read two books recently that have been encouraging me along this journey to practice contentment.
One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp was the first one. Wow, God used her writing in this book to show me the importance of giving thanks in all things, looking for His gifts.
Ann says, “Our fall was, has always been, and always will be that we aren’t satisfied in God and what He gives.” God showers blessings on us, but yet we aren’t satisfied. We always want more. However, this kind of life can lead to nothing but deeper feelings of lacking and discontent.
Ann’s book tells us about how we can fight against discontent and live fully for God by learning the skill of gratitude, more specifically by counting God’s gifts (We had this challenge already). Gratitude helps us become more content, because we see how blessed we are, and it also helps us to build our trust in God!
The second book that I’ve read recently is The Greener Grass Conspiracy by Stephen Altrogge. The tagline is finding contentment on your side of the fence.
This was the perfect book to read as I continue to learn more about and seek to live my life with contentment. Stephen says, “Biblical contentment is not rooted in circumstances but in the infinitely stronger foundation of God himself.” This is the key!
We cannot live content in and of ourselves. We must seek God. We must see Him blessing us. We must realize that His will is good for us and trust Him.
