Week 5 Challenge: Seek Him First

No challenge this fourth week of Lent – good thing since it is now the end of the fourth week.  (Keep reading for the week 5 challenge.)  I have been continuing on in my efforts to encourage Adam and to use the Word to pray for him.  However, it is getting harder to sustain momentum!  For that reason, yesterday, I also fasted again, same as last Friday.  So - there was nothing "new" this week, but there was plenty of “same old, same old” to keep me busy volitionally and challenged spiritually!

Though I haven’t recently heard from anyone within the space of this blog, I have run into at least half of you in the last couple of weeks.  Let me say how encouraged I am by our different conversations, whether short or long.  Your words are very affirming, but even more so than your words is your presence and fellowship on this leg of the journey.  Knowing that I am walking alongside like-minded women has been very comforting and empowering.  Thank you!  (See Phil. 2: 1-2 and I Peter 3: 8)

I have really gotten a sense that we are all sympathizing with one another in this endeavor to keep our husbands as priority amidst the stress and chaos of life and even amidst the attacks of the enemy, which are many, both blatant and subtle.  Each time I engage in conversation with any of you, my will is strengthened and my resolve is renewed.  

Yesterday as I was walking outside at Radnor Lake, I felt God speaking to me about a new challenge for this coming week (starting tomorrow)– and that is to lean into Jesus a little harder.

 

The Week Five Challenge – “Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness…” (Matt. 6: 33).

I’m not really sure what that will look like for each of us, but here are some thoughts-

• If you’re not having your quiet time every day, try to make that top priority.
• If you’re having it late in the day, try waking up earlier to have it first thing.
• If you’re already having your quiet time first thing, maybe try taking 10-15 extra minutes before your husband gets home to be with God.   (I am going to try to do this… as well as writing out a note card that reminds me to pray for Adam first in my quiet time!  Instead of myself!)

God has been speaking to me a lot recently about biblically-ordered living.  Priorities, if you will.  This Lenten blog, for example, stemmed out of a continual desire to put Adam second (in a spiritual economy where God comes first).  I know it goes without saying, but I’ll say it - if we are not first going to the Fountain, we will have nothing to pour out on our husbands. 

When I first heard from God about this yesterday, I felt guilty (NOT from God) about not having “thought up” this challenge earlier in Lent.  God convicted me and reminded me, He is guiding and leading – NOT me.  For some of us, this challenge may seem either too obvious or too easy (so let’s resist the temptation to blow it off, and instead invite God in to have a closer look at our walk with Him).  For others of us, this may feel condemning – rebuke that thought!  “Therefore there is now no condemnation…” (Rom. 8:1)

Again, this could take on many different manifestations in our lives.  The point is more to give our time with God a second (or rather, a first) look.  Invite Him in, and let Him lead us each personally in our walk with Him this week.

In addition, here are a few more ideas for keeping up the encouragement of and prayer over your husband.  Give yourself a personal challenge for next week by writing out (today) the format of daily encouragement and prayer.  For example-

Sunday - Card (Pray a Psalm)

Monday  - Voicemail (Pray a Proverb)

Tuesday - Text (Pray an OT verse)

Wednesday - Small Gift and Letter (Pray a NT verse)

Thursday - Fix his favorite dinner & encourage him during dinner conversation (Pray a Gospel verse)

Friday - Leave a sticky note (Pray an Epistle Verse)

Saturday - Do a meaningful act of service for him (Pray a personal favorite verse)

This past week, I combined my encouragement and scripture prayer together one day in email format, and I think it was the most encouraging day yet for Adam.  There are a million different endless ideas… just take the time today to mull it over, in preparation for the week starting tomorrow.  The point is to be intentional.  And more importantly – “Take it to the Lord in prayer!”  I prayed last week for you ALL by name... will keep praying for us today... and certainly will continue to pray for you next week!