If our heart or thinking is out of alignment with the will of God, we are not representing Christ but ourselves. 

"For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh;  for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please."  (Galations 5:17)

In the same way, when we marry a man, we take on our husband's name.  On June 3, 2006, I became a "little Barnett", a representative of my husband.  In order to properly represent him, I must align my heart and thinking with his.  I must be in alignment with him in thought, word, and deed.  God must give me a soft and submissive heart in order for me to be subject to my husband's will and thinking.

"But as the church is subject to Christ, so also the wives ought to be to their husbands  in everything."  (Ephesians 5:24)

To do this honors my husband and also the Lord because marriage was designed by God to be an earthly representation of His relationship to the church. 

Just as Jesus and the Father are one (John 10:30), a husband and wife are one.  Jesus and the Father are different persons but are one God.  My husband and I are different persons, but we are one in marriage.  Jesus joyfully submitted His will to that of His father as he went to the cross and died for His people. 

"...Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross..."  (Hebrews 12:2)

In the same way, we are to joyfully submit our will to that of our husbands eventhough  there may be some suffering as we deny our flesh its desire to rebel.  He who suffers in the flesh has ceased from sin. We are to arm ourselves for the purpose of suffering in order to cease from sin and glorify God.  This particular suffering is not physical in nature, but as God is bringing us into alignment with our husbands and ultimately Himself, there may be protrusions of our rebellious attitude that have to be cut off.  This may hurt for a time, but the pain will be well worth it, Sisters!  How glorious is it when we subject ourselves joyfully unto our husbands.  It's an act of God, a miracle of our Father.

"Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin..."  (1 Peter 4:1)

I praise God that He has given me a husband who's thinking is saturated with Biblical principles, who's motivation for all things is the glory of God, and who leads with confidence in His Lord.  May I, by the power of the Holy Spirit,  align my will and thoughts with those of my husband without fear or question because he has always proven to be one to view everything through the lens of Scripture.  If it weren't for the rebellious nature of my flesh, submitting to him would be easy.  May God beat the sinful attitudes out of me, cut off the protrusions of my rebellion,  and so fill me with His Spirit that the overflow is beautiful, husband-honoring, God-exalting, Christ-like submission.