Submission is one of the most beautiful ornaments a woman can wear in marriage.
Esther demonstrated submission through wisdom and prayer, before approaching the king, she sought the face of the Lord and called for fasting.
Her strength was not merely in her position, but in her humility and dependence on God.
Abigail demonstrated submission through her words and wisdom.
Even in a difficult situation, she responded with humility, discernment, and gracious speech.
Ruth demonstrated submission by honoring and listening to Naomi, the mother figure in her life.
She followed her counsel faithfully, and we all know how beautifully her story unfolded.
True submission is not weakness, rather strength, soft power.
It is humility, wisdom, honor, and the willingness to follow God’s order.
And in each of these women’s stories, we see the beautiful fruit that came from a heart that is submitted to God.
In this Section, we will rightly divide what submission is, in the light of scriptures.
Several women, have lost this all important virtue in life and in marriage which has caused them pains and gross bitterness, do not join the next cohort.
I ask that all get healed and find the light, which is the word of God.
Submission according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary is the act of yielding to authority, or presenting a document or proposal for consideration.
Major dictionaries define submission in two main ways: Yielding and Obedience.
Surrender: The act of giving in, yielding, or surrendering to a stronger power, force, or control.
Compliance: The quality or condition of being obedient, humble, or submissive.
Submission is the voluntary, humble choice to place oneself under God-ordained authority and to prioritize the well-being of others out of reverence for Christ.
Let’s take a look at Submission in Marriage
Ephesians 5:22-23 KJV
Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. [23] For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.
In the biblical understanding, submission in marriage is the voluntary ordering of oneself under God’s will and, within marriage, the wife’s willing respect for her husband’s God-given responsibility for the marriage.
CORE MEANING OF SUBMISSION
Voluntary Choice: The primary New Testament Greek word for submit is hupotasso, a military term meaning to arrange or place under in an orderly way.
It implies a willing decision, not forced subjugation or weakness.
Rooted in Humility: Biblical submission reflects the attitude of Jesus Christ, who “humbled himself” and yielded His own human will to the Father ~ Philippians 2:8; Luke 22:42
Spiritual Protection and Power: Submitting to God is the prerequisite for spiritual warfare and victory.
As James 4:7 states: “Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you”
Submission is a heart posture which concurrently works with our thoughts patterns.
Submission should not be only in actions, rather in words, inactions, thoughts, posture etc.
Submission of a Wife to Her Husband in the Light of Scripture
- Submission means recognizing the husband’s God-given role in the marriage
- Ephesians 5:22–23 teaches wives to submit to their husbands and describes the husband as the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church.
- This presents marriage as having an ordered structure rather than two people competing for authority.
- Recognizing your husband’s role make you the Queen of the family and not the 2nd King of the family, take note.
- Submission means respecting her husband
Men tend to place a strong emphasis on respect.
Diplomatically, accord him the respect due him. He is married to a Queen, not another King.
Show incessant gratitude where necessary. Jeremiah 30:19 admonishes us to be thankful always.
It’s funny how certain ladies desire marriage but don’t seem to understand the importance of self-respect, let alone respecting others.
How then do they expect to build a healthy, respectful relationship with their husband?
Esther was a Queen, yet respected the rules governing the kingdom, wisely she fasted before taking a step further.
Some of the ladies just take things for granted, that is why, they are also taken for granted. Be wise!!!
- Ephesians 5:33 specifically says, “and the wife see that she reverence her husband.”
- Submission therefore includes showing respect for her husband’s position, decisions, efforts, and responsibilities.
- Submission means willingly cooperating with her husband
- Ephesians 5:22 calls wives to submit to their husbands “as unto the Lord.”
- Biblical submission is therefore presented as an act of obedience to God, rather than merely compliance because of fear of the husband.
- Cooperation not competition, not the second King of the house. Proverbs 12:4, Revelation 5:10
- While reading Mama Faith Oyedepo’s book “The Effective Minister’s Wife”, I came across a powerful statement she made emphatically: a pastor’s wife should never compete with her husband for the pulpit.
- My spiritual mother, the highly esteemed Mother of Holy Hill Chapel, AG WorldWide, Lady Pastor Mrs. Patience Ketura Bempah, was very intentional during our meetings as executives of the Women’s Ministry.
- I have heard her say several times, during executive meetings that she is not in competition with her husband, and I believe that is so true. You see her serving with humility, faithfully doing the work behind the scenes, without striving to be in the spotlight.
- She ensured that our programmes were carefully coordinated so they never clashed with our fathers’ programs, not even in the area of advertisements that could overshadow or take precedence over the church’s programmes.
- How many ladies know this truth? Yet they want to become First Ladies, without being chosen by God, without reading, proper training, no divine character, sacrifices and experiencing the wilderness.
- Do not be deceived, “A Responsibility without a corresponding capacity, truncates destiny”.
- Submission means accepting her husband’s leadership
- Ephesians 5:23–24 presents the husband as the head in the marriage relationship and compares the wife’s submission to the church’s submission to Christ.
- This means a wife is called to recognize and cooperate with her husband’s leadership rather than continually seeking to undermine it.
- Submission means having a gentle and respectful spirit
- 1 Peter 3:1–4 speaks of wives demonstrating a “meek and quiet spirit” and emphasizes character rather than outward appearance.
- This does not mean a woman must have no voice or opinion. Rather, Scripture commends a spirit characterized by gentleness and respect.
- Submission means doing good to her husband
- Proverbs 31:11–12 describes a wife whose husband trusts her and who does him good rather than harm.
- Her submission is therefore connected with faithfulness, trustworthiness, and actively contributing to the wellbeing of the household.
- Submission means supporting rather than competing with her husband
- Genesis 2:18 describes the woman as a “helper” corresponding to the man.
- The biblical picture is one of partnership with distinct responsibilities, not rivalry between husband and wife.
- Submission involves respecting the husband’s leadership without losing devotion to God
- Ephesians 5:22 qualifies submission with the phrase “as unto the Lord.”
- God remains the ultimate authority. A wife is not called to participate in sin simply because her husband demands it. Acts 5:29 establishes the broader principle that obedience to God takes priority over human commands.
Written by Lady Phebe Kekeli Dewodo, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirt.
Convenor of:
WOMAN EXTRAORDINAIRE COMMUNITY,QUEENS ANTIDOTE CONFERENCE
