·         There is a big difference between being submissive, and being a doormat.  According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, to submit is defined as, “1 a: to yield oneself to the authority or will of another : surrender b: to permit oneself to be subjected to something <had to submit to surgery>” 

·         Choosing to submit to your husband does not mean you need to live for him.  Yes, you want to do for him as he asks, but that does not mean being at his beck and call.  Look at the ideal wife described in Proverbs 31.  She was there for her husband and children, yet she had her own pursuits as well.  There is nothing wrong with having your own interests, job, and fulfilling God’s calling on your life. 

·         Ask God for guidance as a wife, ask Him to help you become the kind of wife He wants you to be.  This will help you tremendously in being a blessing to your husband, because God knows what He needs- He will help us to meet our husband’s needs. 

·         As women, we seem to have a tendency to lose ourselves when submitting to our husbands.  Ask God to help you not do that.  He will guide you.

Extended reading:

·         Genesis 2:24-25

·         Proverbs 18:22

·         Proverbs 19:13-14

·         Proverbs 31:10-31

·         Ecclesiastes 9:9

·         Malachi 2:14-15

Discussion questions:

1.     Are you a submissive wife?  Explain.

2.     Do you have interests, hobbies, etc. that are just for you?  List some.

Couple’s assignment:

    Pay attention to yourself when your husband asks you to do something for him.  Do you do it willingly whenever possible?  Do you put your own tasks aside to take care of him?  Do you also ask him to do things for you sometimes?  How do you feel when you do that?  Guilty?  Like it is only reasonable for you to take care of each other?  It might help you to write this down.  Sometimes seeing things on paper (or on a computer screen) can make them clearer.