Created To Be His...Help Meet | pt 3

Today, I will post part 3, excerpts from the book by Debi Pearl, Created To Be His Help Meet. This section is called "A Thankful Spirit" which ties into part 2 about having a Merry Heart. May you be encouraged today!

Genesis 2:18
And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone;
I will make him an help meet for him.

A Thankful Spirit

A wise woman sets a joyful mood in her home. Through laughter, music, and happy times, she creates a positive attitude in her children. She knows that a lighthearted home relieves her husband of stress.

A Merry Heart vs. a Poor-Me Attitude

You might be one of the women who often complains about her family's lowly financial state and how she much "do without" because her husband "cannot support the family decently." This downcast, unthankful attitude is a dishonor to God and an attack upon your husband's ego. If you have ever been guilty of this attitude, now is the time to say, "Never again."

Some women remain perpetually discontented because they must live with stained carpet and damaged furniture. Some women feel their family is in desperate straits if they cannot afford to serve fresh broccoli and salad. Tension rules their home. Their sad, withdrawn faces reflect their suffering. They cultivate expressions of grief, reflecting, they suppose, the heart of God sorrowing on their behalf. Some women learn to accept the poor state of their physical surroundings. They don't want to be carnally-minded. They live only for the eternal. So they save their disapproving expressions for those times when they think it is necessary to remind their husbands of how sad they are that he sits in front of the TV, plays video games, or engages in any number of carnal activities. They keep the pressure on - just like the Holy Spirit would do. At least, that's their justification for doing his job so "faithfully." Some women get it in their minds that if the family would just move to the country, they would be happy and their children would not be getting into sinful habits. Or, if they lived closer to the church, or away from bad neighbors, or spent more time in family devotions, or any number of ifs, ands, or buts, then life would be better. This is a sure recipe for disaster. Discontentment is not a product of circumstances; it is the state of the soul.

Proverbs 15:15 - "All the days of the afflicted [are] evil: but he that is of a merry heart [hath] a continual feast."


Paul said in Philippians 4:11, "...for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content."

Hebrews 13:5 - "...be content with such things as ye have..."

1 Timothy 6:6-8 - "But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

Recently, I walked into a home that did not have running water, nor did it have an indoor bathroom. It had none of the things we consider necessities today, no washing machine or dryer and no kitchen cabinets, though they did have carpet - a remnant that covered about half the room, with its cut and frayed edges showing. Yet, this sweet new bride was smiling from ear to ear, telling me how thankful she was to have her own place. She told me over and over again how her husband made this shelf, and that place to store stuff, and how he is going to build a cabinet right here later. Thankful people have a view of life that begins somewhere deep in their souls, and outside circumstances just can't mar their joy.

Quite often our attitudes hang in the balance; by making a conscious choice, we can tip our souls into dark moods of complaining, or into thankfulness and praise. It is amazing how much your mouth controls your soul. You can smile with your mouth and say, "Thank you, God; thank you, husband; thank you, children," and your spirit is directed into gratitude with joy following. Thankfulness is how you think; joy is the abundance it produces.

Practice makes perfect. Practice having a merry and thankful heart.

Learn to enjoy life. Be thankful. Smile. When you catch yourself becoming irritated or disturbed at circumstances, stop and laugh at the little things that steal your peace. Count your blessings and learn to be appreciative. Thanksgiving is good; thanks-living is better."

Colossians 3:15 - "And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful."

Galations 5:22-23 - "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law."

Joy is a fruit of the Spirit. If you are a child of God, joy will be a visible reality in your life.

1. Where does joy start?
2. Have I been discontent about my lot in life? Am I, on occasion, a "poor-me" person?
3. Do I verbally show thanksgiving every day?
4. Do I daily remember to thank God for my husband?
5. Would my friends describe me as joyful, thankful, and content?
6. How can I add practicing joy and thanksgiving to my life?
7. Am I willing to lay down my grievance toward my husband for the hope of a heavenly marriage?

Philippians 3:13-14 - "Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus."

Getting Serious with God

The book of Philippians is full of instruction to help us learn to become a woman of God. Philippians 4:6 tells us to "be careful for nothing," which is to say, don't worry and fret about everything being just perfect, but be content with what you have. Paul tells us in chapter one that every time he thinks of his friends, he prays for them. Philippians has only four short chapters. Read the book of Philippians and ask God to work His Word into you.



    Running With You,