Page 64 - #LoveWarrior

relationship with the believers of the region. He was speaking to them in a way where his tone to some would be
considered abrasive or harsh, but to them, it was simply his way of speaking to his friends on a crucial subject:
romantic relationships and how to conduct themselves within one.

“Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the
church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to
their husbands in everything. Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her
to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water
through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant
church, without stain or wrinkles or any other blemish, but
hoody and blameless. In the same way, husbands ought to
love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife
loves himself. After all, no one ever hated his own body, but
he feeds and cares for it, just as Christ does the Church —
for we are members of his body. “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.
However, each one of you also must love his wife as he
loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband” (New
International Version).

A word in which appears three times in this short exert from Ephesians, “submit” has acquired a strong distaste
among women and girls today. And to men — it’s become one of their biggest nightmares. Why you may ask?
Because its resulted in the retaliation and castration they have had to go under, when in reality It shouldn’t be either
distasteful or means to fear. The best “S” word to associate with this subject is not the word submit, but the word
surrender. As women we should feel excited and blessed to have the honor to submit to our partner. We should feel
joy when thinking about surrendering to vulnerability and intimacy, because the man in our life has done what the
Lord directed him to do — cultivate an environment of holiness and provide a safe relationship. The application
behind this passage in the Bible was never meant to oppress women, it was meant to raise them up. And the truth
behind it was never meant to denounce a man, but inspire him to be the gentle, loving leader over his home. Women
are mentioned first as to reveal to us that our man counts on our help to get to his appointed seat, and yes, that does
mean above us, ladies. Because he acts as a barrier between God and us. He has the responsibility of going to the
Father on our behalf and answering to Him for the status of our home. Now ladies, don’t get it twisted, we are still
responsible for our actions and state of relationship with the Lord, but what that does mean is that we have a tangible
shield here on earth between God’s just nature and us. Embrace that. Be grateful for that. Don’t throw away or
disrespect such a crucial asset in battle.

We live in a culture where vulnerability is the exception, not the norm.
Vulnerability is not meant to harm us; it is intended to strengthen us. It is a door to growth, connection, and
empowerment. I understand this is easier said than done, but allowing ourselves the space to be vulnerable is one of
the greatest gifts we can give to our own heart.

Intimacy requires vulnerability. Intimacy is bringing someone good, not harm. Intimacy is trust. It is trusting the
other person with your heart. It is trusting the other person with your body, with your soul. It is trusting them with
your future. Intimacy is loyalty. It is pushing through – together – in the hard times. It is enjoying the good times. It
is receiving one another’s love.

Intimacy should be the prerequisite of sex, not an afterthought. True intimacy and trust as it pertains to sex, are only
available within the protection of God’s plan – in marriage. There, and only there, can we achieve “shameless
oneness” (Wired for Love, Miles McPherson) If you are meeting up with intimacy and vulnerability after sex, you
have cut yourself short.

Sex can be either blissfully bonding or devastatingly painful. You determine which category it falls under depending
on what environment in which you experience the intimate act. In God’s perfect plan, we get to experience sex in all

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