Eve
“The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful, and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too.” Genesis 3:6
“I will sharpen the pain of your pregnancy, and in pain, you will give birth. And you will desire to control your husband, but he will rule over you.” Genesis 3:16
Our adversary is quick to make claims through deceptive implications. This is why it’s imperative for our identity as women to be anchored in Christ’s firm foundation. It encourages us to boldly accept the authority and strength we hold as daughters of God. Without this grounding, we risk our identity becoming misleading. In this story, it’s easy to critique Eve’s decision to eat the apple. I encourage you to take a moment to pause and ask yourself, “What deceptions do I tolerate, justify, and then consume?” Focusing on the Cross empowers us to stand firm and expose the temptations that arise from our choices. Today, let’s allow Christ to deliver us from all forbidden fruit!
Consider these reflective questions: What steps can we take to effectively protect our lives? Are we setting clear boundaries? What kind of environment are we fostering in our household? What type of content are we engaging with on our phones and televisions? What entertainment do we choose? What jokes or gossip do we share? How do we behave in the privacy of our home? All of these questions reflect as a reminder of our stance in what we tolerate.
In our new covenant with Christ, scripture tells us, “… anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!” (2 Cor. 5:17) Our enemy aims to take advantage of our vulnerability. Thinking that he can entice us, convincing us with “ his version of the truth” about our spiritual condition. Satan’s goal is to dismantle our sense of self. He does this by undermining the sanctity of our marriage. He creates chaos within God’s family and tries to affect both our physical and spiritual lives.
Each of us has a distinct threshold at which we become open to negotiation or compromise. As long as these limits exist, we find ourselves tempted to engage in behaviors we know we should avoid. It’s crucial to examine whether there is any resentment or hostility with us when we submit to authority. Fake submission can be detrimental to our spiritual journey. Let’s be honest about it- it’s a form of rebellion! If you feel voiceless, seek guidance from the Holy Spirit to help you express yourself. Your voice is important, but it’s the intention and attitude behind it that truly shapes your response.
A more pressing question to consider is: what are your non-negotiable? What makes you firmly set up a boundary and declare, “That’s enough!” These same temptations are prevalent in our society today. When believers start to embrace secular mindsets, they often start to mirror the behaviors of the world around them. “For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father but are from this world.” We must stay alert when we start to feel less offended by our sins. If not, we start to tolerate them instead of rejecting them.
Jesus came to redeem the fruit from the tree where Eve was misled. He bore our burdens and sacrificed Himself on the cross (the Tree) to break off our generational curses. The sins of our ancestors and our transgressions. The cross has not only redeemed us but also restored our bloodline. This empowers us (through Christ) to cancel out any agreements we have made. We can see this in our lives, our spouse’s lives, and within our family.
Testimony: I spent time in solitude with the Lord. I asked the Holy Spirit, “What can I do to be a better wife?” I also inquired, “How can I support my husband more effectively?” It was a sincere question. It was born from a deep desire to live righteously. I desired to mirror the woman of God He aspires me to become. Yet, there was an unsettling feeling within me. The Holy Spirit replied, “What hidden control issues, manipulation, and personal desires have you been feeding your husband?” This phrase caught me off guard and offended me. In my mind, I began to justify my actions. Suddenly, my initial reaction was to turn and walk away. I was frustrated and wished I never asked the question. I got up and as I started to move, l felt a gentle urge to return to Scripture.
I opened to Genesis chapter 3 and found the verse that stated, “..you will desire to control your husband.” In that moment, a profound realization struck me! I began to think back on all the instances where I had tried to impose my wishes on him. It dawned on me that i had prioritized my desires over God’s plan. Regardless of whether my reasons seemed justified, they didn’t excuse the intentions of my heart. I recognized that I had been offering my husband my wants “one” poisoned apple at a time. I was diminishing my husband’s strength and I was slowly peeling back his defenses. My actions yearned for him to yield to my desires. This act left him exposed and possibly spiritually deaf. Then, I would have the nerve to say, “When will you take charge as the man of this house?” Overwhelmed with emotion, I cried out to the Holy Spirit, “Please! Help me recall every instance I offered my husband an apple that led him astray. I choose to renounce those actions and seek true restoration.”
As I sat there, tears streaming down my cheeks. The Holy Spirit began to unveil each moment to me. I began renouncing the curses I had spoken, one by one. I lifted them off him and replaced them with blessings. These blessings reflected who Christ declared him to be. The process took time, obedience, and patience. When I was done cleaning out my house (temple), I called my husband into our bedroom. I wanted to repent and seek his forgiveness. I had been misled by the pride in my life. I looked deeply into his eyes. I declared, “I commit to wholeheartedly support you. I will follow your lead. I will submit to your authority no matter the cost.”
I started to vocalize everything the Holy Spirit had shown me. At that moment, I renounced and was delivered from a Jezebel spirit that I didn’t recognize residing and controlling me. A profound transformation occurred within myself, my spouse, our marriage, and in our household. With each passing day, we recognized that our willingness to obey God positioned us under Christ’s authority and blessing.
The journey was undeniably tough on the physical level. However, the spiritual liberation it offered made it all worthwhile! I chose to submit, even though I had my reservations. It felt incredibly liberating to Know, trust, and believe that my husband can freely hear from God. Did he always do things right, No. But he was able to begin learning how to embrace his role as the man of God. He became free from my unrealistic expectations and need for control. This placed me in the role of becoming a healthy supportive helpmate and partner that he needed.
I encourage you to: Ask the Holy Spirit if you have fed any curses to yourself, your husband, or children. Take this time to hear His answers. Ask the Lord if these curses have opened doors that need to be shut -then listen. Remember, Jesus already paid the price for your freedom and Restoration! It’s time to redeem all the curses we have allowed to be tolerated in our family. We must cut these trees down from their roots. This fruit is no longer our identity! Today we redeem all our forbidden fruits and replace them with The Fruit Of The Spirit! Galatians 5:22-23, “But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is love [unselfish concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such things, there is no law.” Amen!
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