A Long-Lost Secret of God to Strengthen Our Prayer Lives and Marriages
On March 16, 2010 – God and I had an intense conversation. I had been reading through I Corinthians and came to chapter 11 and it was like I was reading it for the first time. I had always very conveniently ignored the first 16 verses before and had never had any prick of conscience about it in the past. But this time, I could not ignore it AT ALL. God brought it to my attention. I had to deal with it. He would not let me go any further until I wrestled with this passage. And MAN, did I wrestle!!!!
Studying about respect and how God had ordained my husband as my authority had made me realize that I needed to pay attention whenever God is talking about spiritual authority. That is an EXTREMELY CRITICAL topic. There are some PROFOUND truths about marriage and about God’s design in this passage. I pray that you might read it reverently, with new Spirit-filled eyes, prayerfully and with an open spirit to anything God may want to say to your heart.
Now I want you to realize that the head of every man is Christ, and the head of the woman is man, and the head of Christ is God. Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head. And every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head – it is just as though her head were shaved. If a woman does not cover her head, she should have her hair cut off; and if it is a disgrace for a woman to have her hair cut or shaved off, she should cover her head. A man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God; but the woman is the glory of man. For man did not come from woman, but woman from man; neither was man created for woman, but woman for man. For this reason, and because of the angels, the woman ought to have a sign of authority on her head.
In the Lord, however, woman is not independent of man, nor is man independent of woman. For as a woman came from man, so also man is born of woman. But everything comes from God. Judge for yourselves: Is it proper for a woman to pray to God with her head uncovered? Does not the very nature of things teach you that if a man has long hair, it is a disgrace to him, but that if a woman has long hair, it is her glory? For long hair is given to her as a covering. If anyone wants to be contentious about this, we have no other practice - nor do the churches of God.” I Corinthians 11:3-16
THIS DOESN’T APPLY ANYMORE, RIGHT? CAN’T I JUST MOVE ON TO THE STUFF ABOUT THE LORD’S SUPPER LATER IN THE CHAPTER?
I argued with God. I tried to reason with Him. “I’m doing the long hair thing – that is my womanly glory. Isn’t that enough?” I looked up all the different ways people interpret this passage. I dug deeper – or maybe more accurately, I tried to find a way around what God was asking me to do.
I heard from many pastors that I trust that head-covering was a “cultural thing” and that it no longer applies to us these days. That didn’t really make sense to me since Paul referred to the line of spiritual authority and headship between God>Christ>Man>Woman, the creation order of man and woman and to angels as the reason for women needing to have their heads covered – and as a sign of their husband’s spiritual authority over them. Those reasons don’t seem “cultural” at all to me.
I couldn’t help but see as I studied the topic that women in the church had covered their heads to pray/prophesy for over 1900 years. Many Christian women covered their heads ALL the time so that they could pray properly at any moment. It wasn’t until the rise of feminism in the 1960s that women began to abandon head coverings when they prayed and went to church.
WE KNOW BETTER THAN GOD
It hit me. The reason the symbol of a head covering is no longer “culturally relevant” to us is that we ditched the God-given authority of our husbands. We threw out God’s system of authority so we no longer needed a symbol of their authority. We decided that we didn’t want God’s ways. They were “oppressive,” “sexist,” “patriarchal,” ”archaic” and “irrelevant” to the modern woman.
(I will completely concede that there were women who were abused and terribly mistreated by men when men had total power and control over their wives. I believe that was a terrible injustice against women and that those husbands are being held accountable for their abuse of their authority by our just and holy God. Abuse or tyranny is not what God desires for us either. Ephesians 5:22-33 shows God’s beautiful design for marriage.)
So, in the 1960s, w e ditched respect for our husbands, teachers, pastors, government leaders and respect for parents. The feminist movement, the hippies and war protesters in the 60s and 70s gave us “freedom from authority” that God had put in place over us for our protection, our benefit, our provision and to guide us in His ways. Now it is all about ME. What I want. What I think is best. Who cares about authority anymore? We want FREEDOM and INDEPENDENCE!
HOLY ANGER
Then I started to feel angry. Really angry – a righteous anger that surfaced when I saw with horror how much our generation has been robbed as women, how much we have lost - the wisdom of God we haven’t known, the design of God for our marriages, femininity, mothering… that is completely foreign to many of us. The generations before us dropped the ball. We are paying the price and the price is astronomical. Look at the state of our marriages today. Even my own marriage has paid dearly for my unquestioning acceptance in the past of these worldly, ungodly attitudes that spit in the face of God-given authority and that teach us to brazenly say, “I know better than my husband! I know better than God! I’m in charge here! I don’t have to listen to You, God! I’m doing things MY way!”
HOW DEEP IS MY OBEDIENCE?
My philosophy now is to embrace God’s Word and obey Him. He is my Lord, after all! His wisdom is higher than mine as the heavens are higher than the earth. How can I say, “No!” to my Lord and King, to the Love of my life? So, I am sharing my journey on this topic, because I believe it will honor God for me to do so. I am definitely not seeking the approval of people. If I were, I would certainly NOT write about this. I have read all the sides of the debate on this issue and I realize it is extremely controversial for many women. But for me it comes down to, “Will I obey God when He asks me to do something or will I insist on doing things my way?”
When I did things my own way in marriage, didn’t understand respect well at all, and took over the helm of my marriage – I made a HUGE mess of things! I did not have the intimacy I longed for. I was lonely, stressed, worried, critical, negative, unhappy and prickly to live with. I was not a godly woman in many respects. My life, my attitudes, my words, my actions did not honor God many times. My husband was unplugged and passive. Our marriage was a far cry from representing the very great mystery of Christ and His church.
I actually wasn’t angry about the order of authority in I Corinthians 11. In fact, I welcomed God’s authority structure in my life because I had already discovered that His way of doing things brought me such peace. I accepted that God had placed my husband over me as my covering, my provider, my authority, my protector. That wasn’t hard for me because I had accepted that when I started to study respect and biblical submission over a year earlier.
What was hard for me was to hear that God was asking me to put something on my head when I prayed. I didn’t want to. It was weird. I didn’t see anyone else doing it. (Well, maybe a few ladies at my large church wear hats, but only a handful out of over 2000 people.) I didn’t want to look weird. It was inconvenient. It was uncultural these days. YUCK. “Do I really have to, God? That is going to be such a pain!”
ASHAMED
Then I realized how incredibly shallow I must have sounded to God. Christ was willing to die a very humiliating and excruciating death in my place. If it brings glory to Christ and honor to my husband somehow for the angels and for Him to see me pray with a hat or a scarf or something on my head – then who am I to say to God, “I won’t make that sacrifice for You. You’re not worth it to me. My faith in You doesn’t go far enough for me to be willing to do what You ask – even if it is something as simple as putting a hat or scarf on my head.”
OUCH.
RESOLVED
So I decided that if God asked me to do this, I would obey Him. I prayed about it and asked God to give me favor with my husband and then asked the Respected Husband if he would be ok with me covering my head with a scarf at home when I pray and during prayer at church – and I was COMPLETELY SHOCKED when he said, “That’s fine.”
WHAT?? REALLY??? Are you sure you heard my question??
Well, THAT was a God thing right there. “OK, God. I will obey You. Even if no one else does.”
Am I saying you have to do this, precious wife, beloved of God? Well… I don’t believe this is really about me and you. It’s about your relationship with God. I am not here to tell you what to do, but to open your eyes to a spiritual practice we as women have lost and to expose you to God’s Word and the benefits of obedience to Him. Your decision is up to you!
WHAT IF THAT PASSAGE TRULY IS ONLY FOR THE 1st CENTURY NOT US?
You know, if somehow it’s a “mistake” for me to cover my head when I pray now - if God says to me when I see Him in heaven, “Oh, I accidentally let that passage slip into the Bible. That was a mistake. I didn’t mean for you to have to do that.” Then what have I lost? The only thing I can see that I lose is that I might look a bit strange when I pray. Not really that big of a deal! It doesn’t really cost me much to do this.
Even if God didn’t care that much about me covering my head because He didn’t think it was culturally relevent in 2012 – wouldn’t He be honored by my obedient and willing attitude to do what the Bible instructed me to do? And wouldn’t my husband be honored that I am accepting and honoring his God-given authority over me? I believe that God honors my obedience and my desire to obey Him. That obedient attitude on my part matters much more to God than what is on my head, I am sure. I am confident that He will be pleased with my desire to honor Him.
WHAT IF GOD’S WORD, INCLUDING 1 CORINTHIANS 11, ACTUALLY DOES APPLY TO ME TODAY?
What if God DID intend to have that passage of scripture in the Bible? What if He in His sovereignty meant for those verses to be there – and I decided to disobey Him? What if I waved away God’s commands by using an excuse that “Oh, no one does that anymore. Surely I am exempt from this command of God’s Word.” How would I answer to Him when I refused to do something so small? How could I defend myself? What excuse would I have that would hold water with the King of kings and Lord of lords? I couldn’t come up with any.
I believe that God honors and blesses my obedience to Him – even when I don’t understand why He might be asking me to do something. Even if it is unpopular. Even if I am the only one following Him.
THE BLESSINGS OF COVERING MY HEAD WHEN I PRAY
I was not prepared for the blessings I would experience as I obeyed God about covering my head during my private prayer time and at church during prayer.
- It is SO MUCH EASIER for me to have the proper attitude toward my husband’s authority over me when I pray knowing I have a symbol of his authority on my head. It helps me assume a proper mindset in prayer, a proper mindset toward my husband, and a proper mindset toward God.
- I tend to be much more humble and grateful for my husband when I pray and cover my head, knowing that God has placed my husband over me to protect, guide and lead me.
- I respect my husband more as I pray. And when I approach God out of a sense of respect (for my husband and his leadership), THEN I see prayers answered in mighty and miraculous ways that I never saw when I was being disrespectful toward God and my husband in prayer. I BELIEVE THIS IS A HUGE KEY TO AN EFFECTIVE AND POWERFUL PRAYER LIFE! It’s not that a piece of cloth is magical, or that God doesn’t hear me if I pray without covering my head – but it definitely affects my attitude and posture in prayer and helps keep me from being too prideful. I could be legalistic about it. But that’s not the point. It is my attitude in prayer and toward my husband that matter most to God. The outer symbol is a reminder largely for my own benefit, but also for my husband’s benefit and the angels.
- I feel so much more spiritually connected and close to my husband when I put a scarf or hat on my head and pray alone at home. Somehow, having a symbol on my head reminding me of my husband’s authority and protection over me makes me feel much more secure in his love and in God’s love, and helps me to rest more in my husband’s love and God’s love.
- Putting something on my head before I pray is a daily and continual reminder of the importance of my husband’s authority over me and helps me to maintain the proper perspective about our relationship, it helps me to respect my husband more.
- When my husband sees that I put a sign on my head signalling my willingness to recognize his authority over me – his confidence as the spiritual leader in our family is bolstered and he is reminded of the profound responsibility he has before God to lead me and our children in God’s ways. Men are visual creatures. When my husband sees my willingness to honor him before God in this way, it speaks powerfully to his soul.
THE MYSTERY OF THE DEEP THINGS OF GOD THAT ARE TOO WONDERFUL FOR ME TO UNDERSTAND
Even apart from the blessings I have seen in covering my head during prayer… there are the things Paul himself listed in this passage of scripture.
- Somehow, my covering my head to show my acceptance of my husband’s leadership and authority over me impacts the angels in heaven.
- Somehow my willingness to cover my head shows my respect for God’s order of headship and spiritual authority which is extremely important to Him.
- Somehow my covering my head covers my hair – my glory so that MY glory is not being seen during prayer. My husband’s head is to be uncovered because he represents the glory of Christ. Woman is the glory of man. Man’s glory is to be covered during prayer. This is how God desires our worship and prayer to look in order to serve His purposes and glorify Him.
- My covering my head has something to do with the order of creation with man being created first and woman being created for man, not man for woman. Like God was first (of course, He always was, He was never created) and people were created for God, not God for people.
These are some very intense mysteries of God that I humbly acknowledge I don’t begin to understand. I don’t know how a piece of cloth matters exactly. There are things going on in spiritual and heavenly realms that are impacted by my willingness to wear a sign of my husband’s authority on my head. So I believe it is wise for me to follow God’s prescription for me, even though I don’t really understand it. Thankfully a patient can take a prescription that a doctor orders and it works if she takes it properly and follow the doctor’s directions even though that patient might have no idea what is happening pharmacologically or biochemically in her body. The prescription works apart from our understanding – as long as we take the medicine. I think the commands of God are like that, too. My obedience is required, not my understanding, in order to benefit and to honor God.
Lord,
I pray we would be women of obedience, faith and who are filled with the full power of the Holy Spirit who boldly profess the Word of God and who lead many to Christ! Use us to set a godly example in our marriages and families. Let us be willing to make any sacrifice to be obedient to You. Change us! Make us the holy, godly, beautiful women You desire us to be! Let us give ourselves completely to You, holding nothing back!
Thank You for the authority of God over Christ, and the authority of Christ over our husbands and the authority of our husbands over us. Thank You that we have direct access to Christ and God through Jesus’ blood. Thank You for revealing the paths that lead to Your greatest blessings in our spiritual lives and in our marriages and families. Give us ears to hear Your voice! Give us hearts that are willing and eager to obey You in all things! Use us to honor You and bring great glory to Your Name and the gospel of Jesus Christ!
Amen!
It’s really interesting that head covers disappeared with the rise of feminism, I hadn’t put the two together before in my mind. Your obedience to Christ is encouraging, I feel the same awkwardness, but if that’s what the bible says then why aren’t we doing it? Pride just isn’t a good enough reason.
I love this! I found myself agreeing through out. Literally shaking my head. What really IS wrong with a scarf?! It certainty would be something different.
Thank you for this spiritual thought!
I have to agree with Sis! Your obedience is so encouraging. It’s my favorite debate. Many people misinterpret what it means, and it’s disappeared with feminisim. An unfortunate result of being regarded as a lower class. Not what the Lord wants for us. Thank you for your encouragement. As I am learning and trying to be a more obedient wife for my husband, letting go of the reigns.
I was all ready to go put on my hat, then I told my husband about it. Here is his take. He says that Paul was speaking to a very specific church in Corinth. At that time, there was a temple where women were prostitutes and used their hair to symbolize their prostitution. He said that people were mistaking the women from the church as prostitutes because of their hair. This was hurting the gospel message so much that it was necessary for them to cover their hair just so people wouldn’t think that they were prostitutes. Their husbands “having authority over them” meant that they belonged to someone and weren’t available for prostitution.
I still don’t think it is a bad idea to wear hats, but it is good to know the context of the verse.
Sis,
Thanks for sharing your husband’s response! I am so proud of you for taking it straight to your husband to get his take.
I definitely understand that in that particular culture, having an uncovered head had far more implications than it does in our culture today. And your husband’s view is probably the most popular Christian viewpoint of this passage that I have seen.
If Paul had said, “Cover your head when you pray so that people don’t think you are a prostitute.” Then it would have been really obvious that it was a cultural thing to me.
My concerns are that the arguments Paul gave were very weighty, non-cultural, theological arguments. And then at the end of the passage in vs 16, he says, “If anyone wants to be contentious about this, we have no other practice – nor do the churches of God.” So the veiling of women during prayer, in my understanding, was to be done in all the churches. And Christian women did cover their heads during prayer for over 1900 years. In fact, Christian women in many cultures today still do cover their heads to pray. Many of them look at American Christian women and wonder why we don’t!
Still – this is an issue that a wife would want to discuss with her husband. If my husband was extremely opposed to me covering my head in church, and he felt disrespected by an act that is supposed to show respect, then I may have to only cover my head in private prayer times and pray that God would give me wisdom to honor Him and my husband. There are many ways this may pan out in individual marriages. It would be something to pray about and hash out how to handle it in your marriage between you, God and your husband. I certainly do not claim to have all the answers for every situation. Our husband’s God-given authority is a gift to be treasured and respected. So no matter what we decide on this issue, we must be respectful of our husband’s leadership and God’s system of authority over us.
Thanks for the comments, Sis!
You’ve got a good point! Maybe regardless of the culture, Paul intended this to be for all Christian women.
Sis,
That is my understanding. But of course, there are many who will disagree.
I appreciate your thoughts and comments so much! I am glad we can discuss these things, even if we reach different decisions in our marriages.
For me, I had to go through the Bible and ask God to teach me His design for me as a wife and as a woman and just start all of my understanding from scratch a few years ago!
I don’t want us to drop the ball. I pray God will show us how to be the women He wants us to be, even if that looks radical in our culture.
Amen! interesting post! love the research u included.
Peaceful — I appreciate your post and took the liberty of re-blogging it on my own wee blog, ronfurg.wordpress.com.
Ronfurg,
Thank you for your support!
What a wonderful blog. Full of great thought provoking ideas. I have long been looked at as being not the “weird” side of Christianity because of my long held belief that if we really believed what the Word said wouldn’t we really live our lives differently. My main focus for this belief comes from the ideas the the power of the life and death is in the tongue and we have what we say. But now after reading your blog this gives me more cause for seeking God’s plan and truly following it. Thanks for your insight.
Your writing reminds me of Our Lady, the Blessed Virgin, and her submission to her Spouse, her true Husband, the Holy Spirit. She is the greatest, most obedient disciple of Christ. She is always depicted with her head covered.
All nuns used to wear the head covering of the habit, and lay women wore head coverings in Church. Since the feminist movement this is seen less and less, but has not been totally lost.
Unlike the angels or the animals, we were created to be both spiritual AND material beings. Therefore, material objects serve a purpose in prayer and worship. God knows this. Some Christians have an attitude of “spiritual = good, material = bad. But, they are both good in proper form. You said:
“I BELIEVE THIS IS A HUGE KEY TO AN EFFECTIVE AND POWERFUL PRAYER LIFE! It’s not that a piece of cloth is magical, or that God doesn’t hear me if I pray without covering my head – but it definitely affects my attitude and posture in prayer and helps keep me from being too prideful.”
That is similar to what my tradition refers to as a “sacramental.” Things like holy water, medals, rosaries, etc. are not magical, superstitious things. They affect the attitude and prayer life of the believer who knows their rightful purpose.
Peace.
thank you for your insights, Thomas! This is definitely the kind of thing that we sinful humans could turn into a legalistic or “religious” thing and use it to judge others or be prideful about ourselves.
But when the believer is acting out of obedience and a desire to honor God and marriage, then I believe it is a very beautiful thing and a constant reminder to keep godly priorities and attitudes in place.
Thank you so much for sharing!
I am single christian woman and I grew up seeing a group of women go from wearing coverings to not wearing them through the belief that it was out of tradition.. I received the gift of the Holy Ghost my freshman year in college 3 years ago and the Lord dealt with me while reading the scripture as well… I cover my head regardless of me being single. I received the holy ghost at a church I’m attending while in college and when I came home for the first summer break I went to service without my head covered because I was “ashamed, embarrassed” that I was going to be the only one with my head covered the Lord convicted me and I sat in the service convicted because I knew that I was wrong. When I got home I covered my head I repented to the Lord wept and he told me “to remain consistant”! No matter what others think holiness is still right! God has a standard, through the Holy Ghost if we allow it to lead it gives us an understanding of his truth and he is the word and his word=truth. I just love the fact that you are addressing truth. Understand I am 22 years old and it pains me because God has dealt with me concerning order that he created the man to lead to be the high priest and yet there are so many woemen wanting to be out of order…God has order he has blessed both the man and the woman but we each have or designated roles we as individuals are held accountable and it is us that will give account if we are disbodient all unrighteousness is sin… revelation says nothing that shall make a lie (Rev 21:27) shall enter into his holy temple. I just pray that the Lord continues to bless you I was so moved by your testimony I picked up the phone to call one of the elder’s at my church because only God can move our hearts as he has done me as he has done you… I’m reading a book called changed into his image by Jim berg… and today’s chapter talked about how we must be dependent upon God through humility… We know nothing, we cannot give life, we live, move have our being because of Jesus Christ.. So my prayer today was Lord clothe me with humility and what I read today in your blog is an example of just that humility… No matter what people say I want to be that daughter of sarah, pray like hannah and work like ruth to be blessed with Boaz that submits to God and we can grow to be in the perfect stature of Christ! God bless you
Reblogged this on Sown in Tears reap in Joy and commented:
John 17:17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. This blog is a wonderful testimony of Humility… God desires us to be in his will and through humility he brings sanctification to his believers(holy ghost filled/baptized).
The Lord dealt with me about covering my head after receiving the Holy Ghost which is why I love this testimony. Our souls will be blessed as we continue being hungry and thirsty after righteousness: for they shall be filled… I hunger and thirst for righteousness and his truth to be in his will Lord clothe me in humility that I may obey your word- In Jesus name -Amen
I have contemplated the head-covering issue alot over the years. I came from a church background that was very issue-orientated (perhaps legalistic) and had to re-evaluate many things in my desire for healing, freedom, joy and ability to share Jesus Christ with others without the influence of others’ strong personalities and opinions that had me in ‘spiritual knots’ because it was all so complicated with all the ways I could be offending God. I have never found any paticular verse or explanation that could make me feel comfortable not wearing a head-covering though, specifically when publicly praying or prophesying (or in my case, teaching). Note: I often experienced what I perceived as the Lord’s guidance through a verse, concept or other influence that ‘set me free’ from other ‘convictions’, for example, leaven in the Communion portraying Christ as having sin and therefore an offence to him (for the kingdom of God is not meat and drink, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Ghost..) but never anything that seemed to justify not wearing a head-covering, despite how simpler it would have been… from my human perspective anyway. I did quit wearing a head-covering in my home, feeling that a submissive and humble attitude was the only re-quirement as Paul’s context seemed to be a woman’s public testimony and awareness of her submissive role as protection from spiritual entities/angels. Will re-evaluate and pray about that again though. For now, I am just very thankful to be somewhere where I am not making others uncomfortable or offended by wearing a head-covering for the Lord’s Supper etc. although not everybody does. I have often wore hats (not the old-fashioned Baptist-style ones- no offense to those who still wear these quaint accesories)so as not to alienate or freak out friends and acquaintances when I am giving the gospel or inadvertently teaching in someway, but I no longer stick my hand on my head in a crunch when I quote or share something spiritual with a friend or acquaintance spontaneously. By common sense, it has occurred to me that my God is not that riduculous or small. Anyways, I found your post refreshing and encouraging. May we always be open and teachable for the Spirit of God without being contentious and legalistic or judging others. Love in Christ.
Michelle,
Thanks so much for sharing your experience, journey and feelings on this difficult subject!
I don’t always cover my head every single time when I pray. Whenever it is possible, I do, but sometimes I don’t have a scarf and I want to pray, so i go ahead and pray! I asked my husband about if I should keep my head covered all the time – and he didn’t feel that was necessary. I would have done it if he wanted me to. But I don’t want to be disrespectful of my husband as I am trying to show respect – if that makes sense? But I do pray many times throughout the day, so I could see where always being covered would be rational and practical.
I cover my head when I am purposely having my quiet time and at church during prayer – unless my little girl stole my scarf and is laying on it – then I don’t worry about it and just check my attitude. I haven’t been in a teaching position since this issue has come up – but I have thought about that I would probably need to wear a hat. I don’t want to be legalistic about it, and something like this could DEFINITELY become a battle ground of legalism.
For me, this issue is similar to modesty – it is the humility and attitude of the heart that I believe is the primary thing. I don’t think that lists of rules and hemlines or mandating hats or scarves is the answer at all. But I do think that when we cover our heads out of respect for God, His Word and our husband’s authority over us – it is a beautiful thing to God and somehow to the angels in heaven. Just like when we cover our bodies out of reverence for God and a desire to prevent ourselves from causing our brothers to stumble into temptation – I think that is a beautiful thing to God, too!
I personally struggled SO MUCH with learning what respect meant and learning to respect my husband that when I began covering my head during prayer it REALLY helped me tangibly focus on the fact that my husband has spiritual authority in our marriage, not me. I need that reminder. Often. I am SO easily tempted to take over and try to control – or I used to be. God has changed me and I am INCREDIBLY THANKFUL EVERY DAY!
Do I judge women who don’t cover their heads during prayer? Nope. This is a very personal issue between them, God and their husbands. But I do think it is worth thinking about, considering and praying about. Even though it is such a “small” thing – I think what the covering symbolizes is extremely important in our walk with God and in our marriages!
May God richly bless your walk with Him, your marriage and your ministry!
I was born and raised in a Christian home, and I dont ever remember seeing women covering their heads in church. My mother and I were just talking about when she stopped seeing heads being convered, and I find it ironic to see this post just days later of our conversation. I am very glad I read this; even though I am not married yet, I can see this helping me with my future husband as we share our lives together.
i completly had to agree with you with the topic of women ditching respect. At first I felt like the world, “This is old and outdated, it doesint apply to me.” but the more I read, the more I felt like God was tugging at me. I deffinitly felt like God wanted me to read this.
Thank you for posting =)
Thanks for posting this, April.
I’ve covered my head for several years now, and have experienced many of the same blessings you have named. I really struggled with submission because I was used to leading in my marriage and other relationships, and it helped me to remember to honor my husband and respect God’s design for our marriage. My husband is nonbeliever, so it has also been a comfort and a powerful reminder to me that scripture says our husbands can be won over to the Lord by our (submissive, respectful) conduct.
For those whose husband’s disagree with covering, I think the best thing to do is to obey him, ask them to study and pray about it, and then pray that the Lord will change their heart. I wanted to cover full-time at first, but my husband disagreed, although he said I was free to cover for worship and at home alone. Over the years, he has decided I am free to cover any time, although he asks me to go with certain styles that are less “religious” looking when we are out together or around his friends and family.
Oh Peaceful Wife, I love how you get the cogs of my obedience issues turning! I too use the ‘I have long hair’ excuse, and I too am feeling the very same GODLY ANGER you do when I think about the downfall of relationships since the liberated woman began poisoning the respect women should have towards their husbands and therefore God. Also the ignorance and lack of care factor this world can show towards the order of things righteously designed by our Father God. You described it so well!
You are truly gifted by the Holy Spirit and have stirred up in me a feeling I had forgotten, one which I used to experience with my Dad all the time. When ‘Making a fool of yourself for God” can bring such intimacy with Him and the scoffs from those around only seems to increase the intimacy!
Your words spoke to my spirit so much that when I read your concluding prayer I pulled my bedsheet over my head!
I then became perplexed by the trials of “ALWAYS” carrying a scarf or covering my head ALL the time, as I am in almost constant conversation with my Heavenly Father. Yet I must agree with the comments and the wonderful discussion that followed.
My belief concurs that God is all about the obedient heart that He can SEE is WILLING to obey, and the symbol of covering your head in certain circumstances connected perfectly with that. Sometimes we will and sometimes we won’t, but He will not hold against us the times we don’t, He will be so focused on the obedient heart of His child and the relationship being developed out of loving submission and not legalistic restriction.
Thanks again! Love it!
http://innerangelsandenemies.wordpress.com/
I’m single, but I’m a learning a lot from your blog. I too, had been taught about the cultural significance of the head covering and the how the prostitutes of the day shaved their heads. But as I read your post, I could absolutely see God instructing women to do this. I don’t know if the instruction is just for you personally or for all women, but I honestly don’t have a problem with it. If God required it of me, I would obey. Thanks again for sharing. Looking forward to the book!!!
Oh, April, you & I are a part of that sweetness that comes when Spirit joins Spirit! His annointing flows thru your writings and testimony. God has encouraged me so much thru you. Head covering is something I just dismissed because of previous teachings as quoted throughtout these comments. I am pondering this subject now. I so get everything you have written in your blog I have to wonder how I could not think differently on this subject. It makes sense, yes, maybe even resonates….what is that rearing up in me? excuses…excuses! Now that is something I reconize – spiritual warfare! My flesh attempting to dance with the enemy?? I’ll not have it! He who is in me is greater than he who is in the world!
Wow April, I just linked back to this post from one of your recent posts and this is revolutionary! I totally get what you’re saying here. The mysteries of God are amazing. I am going to step out in faith with this one too…wow! awesome.
Emily, Yes… it is! It’s time for us to pick up the ball and decide to define femininity, marriage, parenting, faith and family by God’s Word instead of unquestioningly accepting what our ungodly culture teaches us. It is totally revolutionary! Let me know how things go! This one thing REALLY helped me to keep a respectful attitude towards my husband’s God-given authority. It’s a great reminder for me.
Thanks for sharing!
Emily,
I know this one seems totally insane to most women in 2012. But, it sure works for me! It’s such a great tangible reminder for me to respect my husband’s authority and take shelter in his covering over me. Let me know how it goes! It’s wonderful to meet you!
Hello! I’ve been stumbling upon different blogs, looking for women of the same mind. I just began to headcover, as a personal conviction. The Lord directly told me to do so. It’s amazing. I feel so spiritually blessed, so much closer to God. I want to jump for joy, cry with joy, smile with joy. I have struggled with depression for so, so long and placing this simple garment upon my head has been such an answer to prayer. It’s a way to belong solely to God, to bow to his sovereignty, honor Him and my husband, lessen ME, uplift HIM, remind me of who I am in Christ so I can teach properly my children. Thank you for sharing your heart and example!! ~AMY
Amy,
It is a very simple thing – but the meaning behind it is holy and profound. Covering my head when I pray really helped me to remember that my husband is my covering and to respect him and his leadership over me as I pray – instead of praying pridefully – like I sadly used to do!
I agree, covering my head when I pray has brought me much joy. It also helped me feel much closer to my husband spiritually even when we weren’t talking much a few years ago when I first started. Thank you for sharing your story and how this one little tiny act of obedience has blessed your walk with Christ and your marriage.
Hi April, I just found this blog from your recent one on long hair, and it is so encouraging to hear what you have written!! A couple of years ago the Lord spoke to me about headcoverings for many of the reasons you have listed. It has been one of the hardest journeys, especially in regard to what other people might think….but I figured that the words in the Corinthian passage, ‘because of the angels’ was not a cultural thing but a spiritually relevant thing and that all scripture is relevant for todays living. I first covered my head with a friend praying and as we did we both received some revelation of the feminism within us and the need to ask for forgiveness. I now cover my head for prayer at home and during the church service prayers and any other prayers. A short while ago I asked the Lord to confirm that I was on the right track by covering my head as it often seems strange, by giving me one other woman who would cover her head in the church. He answered my prayer that week and now there is one more woman that covers her head! It has certainly created a storm as it brings up many emotions – especially within women, which I understand….but whenever I struggle with it, I remember that the Lord gave his life for me and my small act of obedience to his word and my loss of reputation if that be the case, is a way that I can honour him and in covering my glory, allow more of his glory to shine through….
I believe that the Lord is coming for a pure and spotless bride and as a church he is calling us to realign ourselves to his word and to take his word seriously so that it can again become powerful in our midst..
Allison Joy,
Thank you for sharing your story! Yes, there are many women who REALLY hate this idea today. But it is such a small thing – and obedience to God’s Word always brings joy. You articulate my feelings exactly – remembering what Christ did for me and desiring to honor Him. Thank you so much!
This is a very interesting post. Especially to see what God is doing all over the world. I am not in the US infact I live in China and God has recently convicted me to cover my head while praying. Infact right now its after church and I have like the only one covering my head there for months. It’s not easy. Most women would rather I don’t. I don’t say why I do it but I think many women guess as I am sure the spirit is working in the hearts of many people and those who choose to disobey would rather no one obeys so they are not convicted every time they see you. I was getting a little overwhelmed today and decided to google whether God has been leading others in the same way or I got it wrong, and I have to say I am highly encouraged. I am glad to have found this blog and I am sure God lead me directly to it. Thank you Jesus. Thank you too peacefulwife and continue in obedience. The Holy Spirit is doing a new thing in the body of Christ and I am sure as many obeys and finds themselves alone, they are going to be encouraged a lot by the footprints you have left behind. I didn’t realize that all this was lost with the advent of feminism, but the Holy Spirit has been leading me in the recent past to pray for obedience in the body of Christ especially the women. Because we are in rebellion, knowing what we should do but too ashamed and worried about what people will think to obey. Thank you for reminding us that Jesus suffered shame terrible shame for us, what is a little discomfort for His sake? Sometimes I get this picture in my mind that when God looks down on earth, He sees all these rebellious and disobedient children going about their business and it makes His feel bad and I always pray that He will lead me in the way of obedience such that when He looks down in the midst of rebellion and disobedience, He will see me in obedience and I will bring a smile to Him. May that be our prayer for there is a lot of rebellion in the body of Christ today. Will we stand up and be the ones to bring a smile to God in the midst of a rebellious world? It is a tall order and we cannot do it without Him, but He can lead us in the way of obedience. I am sure most of the people who have found this blog have been led here because God has seen their desire to please Him and May the Lord God richly bless all of you in Jesus name. Amen
Kslita,
I am so glad to meet you!
Yes, there is much rebellion in the church today. I know it breaks God’s heart. I love that you are praying for the women of God to walk in obedience. Thank you for your prayers for the church and for your willingness to obey God, even in such a small way, even when no one else around you does.
May God richly bless your walk with Him!
Much love to you!