Submissiveness to God is very important in every relationship, whether in our marriage or in our singleness. How we submit to God determines how we live our lives, such as how we treat our spouse or our singleness. And this is the reason it is difficult to obey God when we are married or dating someone who does not submit to our Lord Jesus. They cannot understand how important our God is in our lives. Jesus gave us advice in this area in 2 Corinthians 6:14, "Don't team up with those who are unbelievers. How can righteousness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness?" The most common conception in a relationship is the mentality that we can change or convince our spouse or the one we are dating to change. We can influence others with our behavior, but there is no guarantee that they are going to change. Everybody has their own choice whether they will accept what is true or not. 1 Peter 3:1 gives advice to wives whose husbands are unbelievers, "Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives."
The way we conduct ourselves should come from our submissive to our God. The majority of the problems in relationships can be resolved by submitting to the will of God. When we disregard what the Word of God says about how we should live, we are rejecting to live in truth and choose to live in sin. For example, God commanded us to be faithful to our spouses and love and respect them. If we are single, God commanded us to be faithful in following Him. We filter everything that we do through the Word of God. What we say and do comes from our obedience to God. How we treat others is based on our relationship with God.
If we want to have a godly relationship, we must submit ourselves to God. Our submission to God determines how we treat others and every situation that comes our way. We react according to the Word of God.
Questions for application: (Think through these questions carefully, meditate on them while answering them, and let the Spirit of God speak to you). How can I have a godly relationship? Why is it important for me to submit to God? Am I willing to submit to God? Why?
Write down all the worries you face today and lift them up to God.
Prayer:
Father in Heaven, you know the right path that I need to take. You know what is best for me. Please help me to submit myself to you so that you can lead me to how I should treat my spouse and other people around me. Please help me to obey you in everything that I do and say. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.