After I received Christ and was baptized, I tried to live a godly life. As a young woman, I tried to keep myself pure. I participated in Church worships and weekly activities, gave offerings and paid my tithes. I do take time to pray and fast and helped others in need. When I got married I continued with the routine. By this, I thought I was spiritual and living a righteous life, and felt I was at the peak of my Christian journey and needed just a few steps to arrive at perfection.
When Jesus showed his light on me I realized that the journey had just begun and all along it had been a celebration of religion. I had wasted time focusing on my husband and pinpointing his short-comings and judging him. Anytime we had an argument I used to blame him because I thought he was the sinner and I the saint; I always had a reason for doing whatever I was accused of.
The time the Holy Spirit opened my eyes to see who I was I could not stand the sight of my rottenness. I discovered I was the most wretched woman; my sins were the heaviest and the ugliest. I realized that even though I had been talking about grace I was not depending on it. I was boasting of my own good works setting aside the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Which sin can be uglier than that? As the Holy Spirit opened my eyes I cried to God for mercy and he heard me and forgave me; he flooded my heart with His peace. Now it is no longer about how good I am, it is not about the knowledge of the Bible, but it is all about Jesus; yes Jesus alone.
At this point I shifted my attention from pinpointing my husband’s short-comings to myself, praying to God to help me to always see my spiritual poverty for it is only then that I would trust in the righteousness that comes from Christ. Self-righteousness does not produce the righteousness of God; the bottom line is what Jesus accomplished on the CROSS for me. It is no longer my husband did this or that, but it is all about asking God to help me be a woman after His heart. Things have taken a different shape now, it is my own short-comings that are glaring to me, and I am always praying to God for help that I may continue to grow in His grace.
I am most grateful to God for Jesus Christ who showed mercy to me. I will live to appreciate the mercies of God over my life, for without Christ in me; my life is worthless, baseless, and meaningless. Christ is my all in all, whatever he helps me to do the credit goes to him and I know that I don’t deserve anything from him, everything is purely his grace.
Dear reader, what is the state of your mind? Do you trust yourself so much that you think you deserve much from your husband or any other person around you? You feel you are trying but the whole problem is him? Perhaps all along you might have been praying that God should change your husband (which is good), but are you sure you don’t need change too? I have heard women in the fellowship saying, “pray for my husband so that he would change”, rarely would you hear a woman saying “pray for me so that I will change”. We are always pointing fingers at our husbands forgetting the fact that we are also descendants of Adam. If Jesus would not want to be addressed ‘good’ then who are we to claim that we are good?
Sister, don’t you think you need a rethink? I appeal to you in the name of Jesus Christ, take a sincere look at yourself inwardly and see if you are spotless. If you notice any spot, don’t you think it is a wise idea to do what I did? The Bible tells us that if we say we have no sin we are lying and the truth is not in us, but if we confessed our sins He is faithful and just to forgive and cleanse us from all unrighteousness (1 John1:8-9). We all need Jesus Christ to succeed in this Christian race so no need to waste time pointing fingers; instead let us hold each other’s hands and walk together in the grace of God setting our eyes on Christ the author and finisher of our faith (Heb.12:2)
Remain blessed.
Leave a Reply