Month: May 2025

When Your Husband Is God

by Ms. Rita's Minute

Isaiah 54:5

“For your Maker is your husband—the Lord Almighty is his name—
The Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; he is called the God of all the earth.”

In this prophetic word of the book of Isaiah, the Lord is speaking to Israel, but it may certainly apply to those of us who have been adopted into God’s family through repentance and belief in the Lord Jesus Christ.

A notable example is Ephesians 5:31-32, “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church.” That would be us, and it is very fitting to our relationship with our God.

In light of this status of being Christ’s bride, what is a husband and his role as a spouse? Do we really need one? In Isaiah 54:5, the Hebrew word Ba`al is translated “husband” and is defined as “lord,” “owner,” or “master.” As followers of Christ today, we’d describe a husband as a spouse, partner, or mate–a married man. He is the leader or head of his family.

This leader’s chief responsibility is to love God and then his spouse. To feel a deep affection for her, as well as to treasure and value her. In his role as husband, he:

A) provides: supplies, accomodates, and one interesting definition, ministers;

B) protects: keeps her safe from harm;

C) defends: fights against what is threatening her well-being; and

D) supports (via Merriam Webster’s thought-provoking definition):

  • endures bravely or quietly; bears
  • promotes the interests or cause of, upholds or defends as valid or right, advocates for
  • argues or votes for
  • assists, helps
  • acts with
  • provides substantiation, corroborates
  • pays the costs of maintaining a family
  • provides a basis for the existence or subsistence of
  • holds up or serves as a foundation or prop for
  • maintains at a desired level by purchases or loans–maintains the price of
  • keeps from fainting, yielding, or losing courage–comforts
  • keeps (something) going

Each woman’s personal need for a husband may vary in reasoning, yet the Bible speaks of there being a greater strength in Ecclesiastes 4:9-12:

“Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor:  If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”

Now, of course, some people will never marry an earthly spouse, by choice or otherwise. Yet we can see throughout the Bible God’s willingness and ability to perfectly fill the role of husband to both unmarried and married people.

Moreover, our wifely role as Christ’s bride would be to “love, honor, and obey” him. In this, we submit ourselves to His will, respect and hold him in the highest esteem, and do our best to do what he’s commanded us to do. No doubt, this ability is perfected in our sanctification process as we mature more and more in the Lord.

In any event, it gives me great comfort to realize my God is also my husband. The fact that he is the great Creator, all knowing, ever present, and all powerful, yet loves and cares for me, is more than I could ask for in a spouse. Not to mention, he is also willing to provide my own earthly spouse and takes this union very seriously.

God’s role in creating, molding, and shaping us has given him, as a husband, an insight into us that we could never have. He knows what’s best for us as he knows us better than we know ourselves. This reality should help us to rest in trusting him in all areas of our lives, as we know this will produce the peace and fulfillment so many of us long for.

When God’s Got You

by Ms. Rita's Minute

2 Corinthians 1:8-10

 “We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about the troubles we experienced in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt we had received the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril and will deliver us again. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us.” (Apostle Paul)

The Apostle Paul, as well as many others throughout the Bible’s Old and New Testaments, suffered in some way during their obedience to God, but God was there to rescue them and prove his word that “though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again, but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes” (Proverbs 24:16).

We should never underestimate God’s presence and protection. His love for his people is great. He honors our faith in Him and our steadfastness in “The Secret Place” (Psalm 91:1). We have a God who does not change (Malachi 3:6). Though one’s own rebellion and pride may cause a hindrance or delay to bring God’s will to pass in one’s life, He still remains faithful to act on his promises for deliverance, as written.

Here, I’ve highlighted three Old Testament events among many, where men experienced God’s miraculous hand of defense and avengement as they honored God in their behavior. These men were men of faith who were endangered by an evil person, people, or a challenge. They were not only rescued by God, but the people who harassed them were permanently shut down.

David and Goliath, the Giant

After young David kills the Philistine giant, Goliath, with a slingshot and a stone to the forehead, the men of Israel and Judah pursued the Philistines, and the Bible says their dead were strewn along the road and their camp plundered.

The Three Hebrew Boys: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego

In Daniel 3, three Hebrew boys,  Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, were thrown by some of King Nebuchadnezzar’s strongest soldiers into a blazing furnace set seven times hotter than usual. This happened because they refused to serve false gods or worship the image of gold that had been set up. They emerged from the fire without a burn, hair singed, or smelling like smoke. However, just as those strong ones had thrown the boys in, they were killed by the raging flames from the furnace, while the three boys were seen walking about in the fire, unbound and unharmed, with an unknown 4th person described as looking like a son of the gods.

Daniel in the Lions’ Den

In Daniel 6, Daniel, one of the exiles of Judah, continued as usual to pray to his God three times per day. A decree had been made that during the next thirty days, anyone who prayed to any god or human except for the King would be thrown into the lions’ den. Hence, Daniel was thrown into the lions’ den overnight.

The next morning, the King, joyful (as Daniel so distinguished himself by his exceptional qualities that the king initially planned to set him over the whole kingdom), found him unharmed and released him. However, those who made false accusations against him were thrown to the lions along with their wives and children. The Bible tells us that before they reached the floor of the den, the lions overcame them and crushed all their bones.

Keep in mind that these Old Testament characters of the Bible were not perfectly sinless people. They had not even known Jesus as their redeemer. Yet they honored God in their lives, and He took great care of them.

Paul and Silas in Prison

In the New Testament, the Bible shows us that Paul, as well as other ministers, experienced setbacks, dangerous hardships as believers. Nevertheless, often they were repeatedly delivered and given the grace and space to live out their callings.

Acts 16:16-40 is the account of Paul and Silas in prison. One day, they were going to prayer, and met a slave who had a spirit that enabled her to tell the future. Because of her fortune-telling ability, she made a lot of money for her owners. She followed Paul and Silas, and for many days she shouted, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved.”  Paul was so irritated that he turned around and commanded the spirit to come out of her in the name of Jesus Christ, and it did right away.

The owners grabbed Paul and Silas and took them to face the authorities, as they realized this to be a loss of their income. Then they accused Paul and Silas of causing trouble for the city by supporting customs that were unlawful for the Romans to practice.

The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods. They were then thrown into prison after being severely flogged, and a jailer was placed to carefully guard them by putting them in an inner cell and fastening their feet in stocks.

Later, around midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, while the other prisoners were listening.  Then, suddenly, there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken, and all the doors opened, and the chains fell loose.

The jailer awoke and was set to kill himself as he thought that everyone had escaped, but Paul told him not to harm himself as they were all there. The jailer brought them out and fell before them, asking what he must do to be saved. After which Paul answered, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.” Upon Paul’s talk with them, the jailer cleaned his wounds, and he and all of his household were baptized. The jailer fed them, and he and his household were full of joy because they had believed in God.

God not only released his men, but also added additional blessings in that a man and his whole household were saved. Not to mention, God’s miraculous power was shown to those jailed in the prison.

There are so many other stories throughout the Bible that testify to God’s goodness and care for his children. We should read them repeatedly to remind us of the kind of God we are honored to call Father. It really is a wonderful position to have!

Let It Go!

by Ms. Rita's Minute

Hebrews 12:1-2 

“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.“

Ever wish you could sit with someone, take their hands, look deeply into their eyes, and say, let it go? You want to encourage them toward a better way. You want to comfort them and inspire them to let go of all the bullying, manipulating, name-calling, belittling, and nagging abuse they’ve received. You understand they want to ignore it or get revenge, but they’re too empathetic to act on their feelings. So, they embrace the perceived right to be angry, grudgeful, hateful, and dismissive, all at once. Yet their heart still aches, and they feel used and taken for granted.

They meditate on all the days, all the words, they should have done this, or they will do that. They’ve taken them on like a coat of honor. They’ve got this, they can handle it. Yet they actually mustn’t take it at all. They must cast it! Jesus wants them to cast their cares and not brood over or worry about them. All that was done to them was not their doing or welcoming. All of that bad belongs to the enemy of their soul, not them.

Wallowing in unforgiveness will kill them if not addressed. God’s word commands that they forgive as He has forgiven them. Furthermore, do they know what belongs to them? God’s forgiveness and grace. They are theirs to take and give. His “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23) are all for them. The Father’s thoughts for their pondering are all that is “true, noble, just, pure, lovely, good, virtuous, and praiseworthy” (Philippians 4:8). His plans are to prosper them and not to harm them, plans to give them hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11). Also, that they would then call on him, go and pray to him, and he will listen to them.

CraftonArtPrints

As those stormy thoughts of sadness and regret begin to drown their mind’s hope and faith in God’s blessing and abundant life for them, they should grab them and throw down every word sent to weigh them down with the heaviness of unforgiveness, and recall and speak God’s promise to give them rest and the desires of their heart as they delight in him. Those cares don’t belong to them as they become worries which hinder a peaceful and sound mind and promote fear and anxiety.

The truth is they are dearly loved by their creator, who, at their very worst, paid a great price for them. They are now the redeemed of the Lord! They should no longer carry the lies and taunts of the evil one. They no longer live in those past spaces, but are now the Body of Christ, and he is the head!

Therefore, what the Lord says is true. Let’s all cast our cares on him, as he is our great caretaker and caregiver. We are called to be free in Christ, the author and finisher of our faith.

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever! Amen.” (Ephesians 3:20-21)

Exiled, But Not Forgotten

by Ms. Rita's Minute

Jeremiah 29:13-14

 “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”

This past weekend, I felt impressed by the Lord to read some interesting passages from two chapters of the Bible: Jeremiah 6 and 29. Though the circumstances that would unfold may be disheartening, there are many lessons we can learn and apply to our lives in knowing what to do as God’s children and ambassadors to turn from evil to pursue good. Not to mention just how patient and watchful the Lord is with his people.

Upon his calling as a prophet in Jeremiah 1, young Jeremiah is instructed by the Lord to “go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you” (Jeremiah 1:7). According to the Lord, he was appointing Jeremiah over nations and kingdoms to “uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant” (Jeremiah 1:10). What a large responsibility for a young man to carry out.

The Lord told Jeremiah that he had put his words in his mouth and that he wasn’t to be afraid, as he would be with him and rescue him. Jeremiah’s excuse that he was too young and didn’t know how to speak would be no suitable justification for him to decline. Of course, the Lord knew all about Jeremiah before he appointed him and so eloquently tells him in Jeremiah 1:5, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”

In Jeremiah 6, the prophet foretells the impending destruction of Jerusalem and the exile of its people by the Babylonians, due to their widespread wickedness and rejection of God’s word. The chapter details a coming military invasion from the north, emphasizing the severity of God’s judgment and the people’s lack of repentance. 

In verse 16, the Lord stated his disappointment with what was happening: “This is what the Lord says, ‘Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls. But you said, ‘We will not walk in it.’ He continued in verse 17 with, “I appointed watchmen over you and said, ‘Listen to the sound of the trumpet!’ But you said, ‘We will not listen.’ As a result, there would be some unfortunate circumstances that the Israelites would have to endure.

However, later in chapter 29, the Lord, via a letter from Jeremiah to the surviving elders, priests, prophets, and all the others King Nebuchadnezzar had carried into exile from Jerusalem to Babylon, is faithful and merciful to provide helpful and encouraging instructions. In short, as amazing as the Lord is to still communicate with them, He told them to:

+ build houses

+ settle down

+ plant gardens

+ eat the produce from the gardens

+ marry and have kids

+ find wives for their sons and give their daughters in marriage

+ increase in number and do not decrease

“Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper” (Jeremiah 29:7). Interestingly, the Lord did not say King Nebuchadnezzar, but “I” himself, signifying his sovereignty in the whole matter.

Moreover, as stated further in verses 11-14, God’s plans were to prosper them, not to harm them, but to give them hope and a future. Upon calling on the Lord, praying to him, he would listen. Upon seeking him with all their hearts, he would be found by them and would bring them back from their captivity to the place from which he had carried them to exile. God was still showing them the way of repentance, as he loved them so much.

From all of this, we may notice that God’s great care and mercy are not only awesome toward his children, but in the fiery furnace of disobedience and chaos, God did not stop watching and helping. Life was not to stop with the Israelites’ misfortunes and exile, but with them God made a way of possible escape, and they were not only to move on with their lives, but with blessings, even while in Babylon. If he’s not a magnificent God, I don’t know who is.

Upon reading those chapters and further, more closely, we can see the vast measure of God’s grace toward the Israelites when they turned their back on God to do all the terrible things he told them not to do, yet God relentlessly pursued them.

In conclusion, don’t count yourself out when you fail or disappoint God. The Bible shows over and over again the great love and patience he has for his people. Just pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and sincerely call out to him in repentance, then follow his instructions as best you can to continue to the next chapter of his plan for your life. He’ll be with you, counsel, and strengthen you along the way.

You can trust God will be there to help and often add an extra blessing to it. He’s just loving and generous like that, even when we are rebellious, proud, stubborn, and lack remorse. We may suffer consequences he never intended for us, but He’s still faithful to intervene and show us a better way to live.