The Bible lists a chain of authority that we are supposed to abide by. First, we are supposed to submit to God (James 4:7), then to the laws of our government and all governing officials (1 Peter 5:5).

This chain of command continues even into the family. Genesis 2 tells us that God created man, then woman from man, and finally children from the woman.

The wife submits to her husband. Submission finds its band and the husband submits to his wife. Then children submit to their parents.

Submission is the plan God designed to work for our benefit. But those benefits—protection, safety and strength—can never come into play as long as we try to share equal authority.

Although men and women are equal in spirituality, there are definite distinctions when it comes to the mental, emotional and physical arenas. This includes the areas of leadership and headship.

This is not to say that one gender is better than the other—not at all! It's just that men and women were made with different purposes in mind; therefore, their abilities to process information, deal with emotional issues and handle physical challenges differ from one another.

We must be very cautious with the issue of equality or it will lead us into error, deception and disobedience and, ultimately, it will lead us out of the will of God.

When Creflo and I were first married, I (Taffi) had a problem with submission—especially with the word "obey." I didn't see how he could ask me to do something that I didn't want to do.

I wanted to be an independent and career-focused woman. I didn't want to be accountable to him for every little thing I wanted to do.

At the time, I didn't understand God's design for submission, and I certainly didn't know anything about its benefits. Only after I aligned my thinking with the Word of God and learned to submit to the Lord did I become a mighty woman of God.

Once I gained understanding and began to change my responses, I saw miracle after miracle take place in our lives and marriage.

Over the years, I've discovered that for submission to work, you must be willing and able to adapt. That means changing your thinking and your corresponding actions just as I did.

Submission is not for the weak. Anyone can be proud, haughty and independent. It takes a greater person to humble themselves and submit to their proper authority.

It takes courage to submit yourself to God and to those in authority over you. This kind of mental determination is what separates the women from the girls, the men from the boys and the wise from the foolish.

Source: The Successful Family Book by Creflo and Taffi Dollar.
Excerpt permission granted by Creflo Dollar Ministries