THE RHEMA STRATEGY: MARCH 2026 DEEP-DIVE

TAKE CARE OF YOUR HUSBAND: THE SECRETS OF THE VIRTUOUS HELPMATE

MESSAGE BY: PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE

BIBLE READING: EPHESIANS 5:22–24 (KJV)

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 SAMUEL 15–16

HYMN: 28 – GUIDE ME, O THOU GREAT JEHOVAH

MEMORISE: “Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as it is fit in the Lord.” — (COLOSSIANS 3:18)

I. THE ARCHITECTURE OF SUBMISSION

Following our discussion yesterday on the husband’s duty to cherish his wife, we move today, Thursday, March 26th, 2026, to the reciprocal side of the marital covenant. In a world that often views the word “submission” with skepticism or as a sign of weakness, the Word of God reclaims it as a position of strategic power and divine order.

In Ephesians 5:22–24, the Holy Spirit provides the blueprint. The wife’s submission to her husband is likened to the Church’s subjection to Christ. This is not a “master-servant” relationship, but a “head-body” relationship. Just as the body cannot function effectively without the head, a home loses its spiritual coordination when the wife refuses to recognize the husband’s leadership. True submission is an act of worship to God, carried out through the vehicle of marriage.

II. THE THREE DIMENSIONS OF CARE

In Genesis 2:18–22, God identifies the woman as a “Helpmeet.” This means she is designed to be the suitable helper who fills the gaps in her husband’s life. To “take care” of your husband goes far beyond mere cohabitation; it involves catering to three specific departments of his existence.

1. The Spiritual Dimension

A wife is her husband’s first intercessor. You take care of him spiritually by constantly lifting him up in prayer. Men face immense spiritual pressures in the marketplace and the ministry; your prayers provide the “covering” he needs to succeed.

2. The Nutritional Dimension

We must not overlook the practical. Matthew 21:18–19 tells us that when Jesus was hungry and found no fruit on a fig tree, He cursed it. Hunger can provoke frustration even in the best of men. As the African proverb says, “A hungry man is an angry man.” A wise wife ensures her husband’s nutritional needs are met. Providing a warm meal is not “slavery”; it is a demonstration of honor and a way to preserve the peace of the home.

3. The Sexual and Emotional Dimension

Perhaps the most neglected area is the emotional and physical. Some wives spend their days moving from one “prayer mountain” to another, seeking a divine intervention to make their husbands love them, yet they are starving those same husbands of intimacy at home.

The Revelation: If you honor your husband and cater to his nutritional and sexual needs, all other things being equal, you will not need to “jump from mountain to mountain” to find his affection. When a man is well-catered to, his heart naturally responds with love and blessings (Proverbs 31:28).

III. SUBMISSION THAT IS “FIT IN THE LORD”

Our memory verse in Colossians 3:18 adds a vital caveat: submission must be “as it is fit in the Lord.” #### 1. The Danger of Selective Submission

Some wives are respectful to their bosses at work and their pastors in church, yet they treat their husbands with disdain at home. This is “unfit” submission. God is not pleased when you give your best behavior to strangers and your worst behavior to the “head” He placed over you.

Furthermore, “Total Submission” means there are no secret agendas. When a wife submits in public but hides money, information, or desires for selfish reasons in private, she is not walking in truth.

2. Protecting the Male Ego

Men, by design, possess a need for respect. A wife’s total submission caters to his emotional need to feel valued. When a wife refuses to submit, she sends a signal that she does not value him. This can lead to a breakdown in his confidence and even cause him to develop low self-esteem. A wife who builds her husband’s ego through respect is actually building a “king” who will eventually crown her as his “queen.”

IV. COMPREHENSIVE Q&A: NAVIGATING THE ROLE OF THE HELPMATE

Q1: What if my husband is not a believer or is not acting like a “head”? Must I still submit?

Answer: The Bible says in 1 Peter 3:1 that even if a husband does not obey the Word, he may be won over without a word by the conduct of his wife. Your submission is not based on his performance, but on your obedience to God. However, if he asks you to do something that clearly violates God’s commands (sin), you must obey God rather than man.

Q2: Is it wrong for me to hire a cook or a helper if I am a busy career woman?

Answer: While help is good, you must never outsource the “supervision” of your husband’s needs. He should feel your touch in the home. Even if someone else prepares the meal, let him know you were involved in the planning and the presentation. Your “essence” must be felt in the care he receives.

Q3: How do I handle a situation where my husband is taking my submission for granted?

Answer: Do not stop doing what is right. Communicate your feelings with respect and love. Remember that you are doing this “unto the Lord.” God is the rewarder. As you continue to care for him, God will touch his heart and cause him to realize the treasure he has in you.

V. REFLECTION & PROPHETIC PRAYER

THOUGHT TO PONDER: Am I a “home-builder” or a “home-breaker” by the way I treat my husband? Does my husband feel like a King when he comes home, or does he feel like a servant?

PROPHETIC DECREE FOR MARCH 26TH:

I decree today that every spirit of rebellion and contention is cast out of your marriage! I receive for you the “Sarah-Anointing” to honor your husband and call him “Lord.” I decree that as you cater to his needs, the windows of heaven are opened over your life. Your husband shall bless you from the bottom of his heart, and your children shall rise up and call you blessed. Your home shall be a haven of peace and a model for the world, in Jesus’ Name!

PRAYER POINTS:

For a Humble Spirit: Lord, take away every trace of pride and “bossiness” from my heart. Give me a quiet and a gentle spirit which is of great price in Your sight.

For Wisdom in Care: Father, show me the specific needs of my husband that I have been neglecting. Give me the wisdom to cater to his nutritional, spiritual, and emotional needs effectively.

For Protection of the Marriage: Lord, I come against every “fig tree” of bitterness in my home. I decree that my marriage will produce fruit that satisfies the hunger of my husband and pleases You.

For My Husband’s Growth: Father, bless the work of my husband’s hands. As I submit to him, let his confidence grow, and let him become the leader You intended him to be.