Approach - Emily

Morning ladies!

 I'm so thankful to be going through this book/study with you two. I'm excited to see what God is going to do in us over these next 17 weeks. I know He's working in me regarding the things we've read so far so I'm confident He's working in you two too :-) Phil 1:6

This chapter seemed to really be directed at the unmarried girl/woman and her approach to men. We're all married so I'm excited to read what the Lord has shown you two. I read the chapter and have thought on it for a couple days asking God to show me how/where this applies to my life. And sure enough, He is faithful! Yesterday specifically I got to experience myself try to 'get my way' through some manipulative tactics. Nothing over the top and loud but just subtle ways I was going about my own agenda not checking with Joe first. I got the situation all set up the way I wanted it and then talked with him and it wasn't something he wanted to go through with in the first place. And the craziest part is that the Spirit was prompting me against it the whole time and I knew it.... I was just ignoring Him (Ugh, when will I learn to listen the first time!!) So now I have to humble myself today make a call to undo what I had set up.

So I am certainly manipulative towards my husband sometimes. (eek, it hurts just to type that out) Again I would say it isn't anything too over the top but just subtle ways I'm going about my own business and not laying things down, first, before the Lord and secondly, my husband. Lord, please give me a pure heart towards EVERYONE I come into contact with, especially the wonderful man you've given me to spend the rest of my life with.

On pg 48, 49 Mary says " A 'fool' in the Bible is a person who lives life as if God and God's way were of no consequence.... Folly is more than just plain silliness. It actually demonstrates a disdain for God's truth and discipline." and down the page further she talks about how God views this behavior as an abomination (comparable to cat mess, yuck!).
Yes, we do live under the grace of Jesus but that isn't a license to just follow our flesh and do whatever we want. God's law of sowing and reaping is still in effect. We don't see beer commercials glamorizing puking drunk people and the throb of a hangover headache because they don't want us to think about the consequences of our choices.

Matt 5:37 Just say a simple, 'Yes, I will,' or 'No, I won't.' Anything beyond this is from the evil one. NLT

Lord, please cleanse our hearts and help us to have pure motives in our relationships with other people, especially our husbands!!