I have a normal routine in the morning, I get a cup of coffee, spend some time in prayer thanking God, then I read His Word. After that time, I go to my computer and post what His Word tells me to say. My husband is always sleeping during this time, so it is my time alone with the Lord.

This morning I went to the coffee maker, and the coffee was already made because my husband had been awake for a couple of hours. He turned on the TV to the news and began to talk with me. I had a momentary thought that “hey, you are interrupting my quiet time, my routine”. And then I “heard” a still small voice tell me that I was being given a gift to spend time with my husband. I had a choice, I could be cranky about not having my private time with God this morning, or I could be joyful about spending time with my husband I don’t normally have. “Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.” (Eph 5:1-2)

I have been praying that my husband would become the spiritual leader in our home. And the Lord has been encouraging me to submit to my husband. “Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do 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.” (Eph 5:21-24)

This morning I was given an unexpected gift, an opportunity to live out God’s Word. Yes, it interrupted my plans, but it didn’t keep me from having my time with the Lord alone later: on my drive and when I got to work a bit early. I chose not to be cranky because I wasn’t getting my way, but instead embraced the interruption and enjoyed the time we had together, and I did it with gladness in my heart. “You have put gladness in my heart” (Ps. 4:7a)