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In 1 Corinthians, chp. 11, Paul talks about the necessity of women covering their heads when they pray and prophesy. He also says that men should not cover their heads and that women who don't cover their heads should shave them; although, Paul seems to import a sort of mockery when referring to the shaving of heads. My question then, should we females cover our heads still in this current age just as women did years ago when attending church services and/or whenever we pray? I mean, I realize our salvation isn't based on whether or not we do this, but is it  not still the proper thing to do, or do the fads of the ages make a difference in how we should present our selves? Would anyone care to explain what Paul is teaching here? thx. 

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lol Michelle,

I have been reading this and am confused now also....
My pastor taught that it was a custom of the times, and is of personal preference now...

However, I like scarves.. I wear them often...But I never cover my head. I have seen that to be a 'religious' custom held by certain 'religious' beliefs. We are free I tell you... FREE! :) :) :)
Hi Linda,

Thank you for taking time to notice my post.. This is something I will certainly pray about and ask the Lord to show me. If I am disobedient in any way than I want to know.

This I do know...
Since my husband is a non-believer, it would make him very uncomfortable should I begin to follow in this custom of covering my head in prayer.
I am almost constantly in prayer. so...When I am praying even during conversations with him, do I then excuse myself in order to cover my head so that I can pray? I believe that would make him extremely uncomfortable, and would likely even start a fight. I know that God comes first...but in this instance I would be acting out in rebellion by dishonoring my husband and putting him in a place of extreme discomfort.

If I do cover my head when I pray with a scarf, it would mean that I would have to do that when he is not home...which is still rather impractical..never mind when he is home. When he is home, I would not pray nearly as much as I do, just to avoid the confrontation that it would bring.

What do you think?....I'd like to hear the opinions of others also.

Blessings sis... Carla
Hi Linda,

Blessings to you also..

Interestingly as I was reading your reply and also typing my previous response, the thought came to me that I could cover my head while in prayer if hubby is not home.. :)

Thank you also for reminding me of God's answer to prayer regarding the idols, He is so faithful.. you are absolutely right.

I believe this may be something I need to repent of...I'll turn to the Lord in prayer and He will show me...

God Bless you.. and Rod.. Carla
Hi Linda :)

I've been praying about this, and have begun to receive an answer. This is an act of submission. It is an important thing for each of God's children to learn and grow and God brings us through different seasons and processes. The act of a heartfelt prayer is an 'act of submission' in and of itself.. Knowing that God is the One who is able to do the things we ask. I believe that covering my head to pray is something that the Lord wants me to do as He teaches me submission continually. However, more importantly, it is a matter of the heart. I have also been shown that just as God will convict us to 'stop doing' certain things (ie:watching tv, drinking wine etc...) for a season or permanently, He will also add things to us as He is teaching us and causing us to grow and learn of Him. God commands that we worship Him in spirit and in truth. When I pray, God hears my prayers whether my head is covered or not when my (or anyone's) heart is right. God looks more at our hearts, and the Holy Spirit searches us constantly as we come to the Lord in prayer. However, the covering of our heads is an act of submission, and as long as our hearts are right before HIm, this act will show outwardly that we are under His Lordship...He is indeed Lord of our lives, and we have a great need and desire for His counsel, and His guidance, protection, mercy, grace..the list goes on. This must not be just a ritual or an 'act' that we do ...not a habit....this is done to outwardly express what we already know to be true in our hearts.

Yesterday I took notice of the muslim population in my area. My children attend a school where there are many muslims. They cover their heads as an 'act' of submission. But they are missing an important aspect ....This is only a rule for them..it is a behavioural custom that has become a 'must' in their society. But it says little about the state of their heart towards God and submitting to the Lordship of Christ in their lives. We know this to be true because rather then submitting to Christ as messiah, they submit to rules and regulations under the 'government' of their leader 'muhammed.' This is between them and God.

I received this devotion today from the 'Institute for Creation Research'

Heart-Felt Prayer
May 8, 2010

"Let us lift up our heart with our hands unto God in the heavens." (Lamentations 3:41)

It is so easy to let our prayers become routine and repetitious, and we need to remember that God listens more closely to our hearts than the phrases from our lips. The Lord Jesus cautioned us about this: "But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking. Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him" (Matthew 6:7-8).

Many people will lift their hands to pray or prostrate themselves on the ground. Some will stand; some will kneel. Some shout, some pray silently, some even leap and dance. Some will write out their prayers and then read them to an audience; others will pray eloquently and at great length. But the thing that counts far more than posture or eloquence is our attitude of heart. We must lift up our hearts to the Lord, not just our hands or our voices. Then He will hear in heaven!

We need to feel as the psalmist felt: "As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God" (Psalm 42:1). Our hearts need first to be right, of course--pure and true in His sight. "Call on the Lord out of a pure heart" (2 Timothy 2:22). "If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me" (Psalm 66:18). "Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance
of faith" (Hebrews 10:22).

Our prayers must also come from a believing heart. "Let him ask in faith, nothing wavering." Otherwise, "let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord" (James 1:6-7). With these conditions met, the Christian is ready to pray, but then he must pray from deep within his pure, true, believing heart, and God will answer. "The effectual fervent |one word in the Greek, energeo| prayer of a righteous man availeth much" (James 5:16). HMM~Institute for Creation Research
-end of devotion-

Jhn 4:23 But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him.
Jhn 4:24 God [is] a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship [him] in spirit and in truth.

Blessings dear sis.....God Bless you for pressing in on me to pray further about this.

In Him, Carla
Yay... Praise God!
(and I'm awake it's now 5:30 am, i've been up since 3:00 'cause my cat woke me (he was injured by a racoon and has a cone on his head)...my son was up, and hubby's neck is hurting so he is tossing and turning) ugh.....
I can't even drink coffee today to stay awake 'cause of my heart....i'll try to nap later.
(okay i'm done complaining) :) (sorry God)

I'll pray again for you for tonight. :)

Love you sis.. Carla
Wow Linda... This is amazing. This adds a new dimension to my pray life.

I Thank God for you here. Thank you for sharing that incredible dream with me...it is wonderful that God gave you the interpretation also.

I think we all need to settle this prayerfully in our hearts with God leading us.
Blessings, Carla
Okay, David -- Ginnybee is troubling me!

For a long time, I've had the same understanding of this passage as you've presented. Now I'm not so sure. I've always felt that any 'sign of authority' would be okay -- I live in the Pacific northwest, and here, a woman wearing a dress is modeling submission.

Okay, David, here is what is troubling me:

1. The covering that Paul is talking about is not hair. Verse 6, for example, makes that clear. If a woman does not cover her head, she should have her hair cut off....

2. What about the angels? Paul, in verse 10, adds the angels, and gives specific instruction regarding this: For this reason, and because of the angels, the woman ought to have a sign of authority on her head.
I agree with you Geoff - that is why i am stuck. I will probably have to do what i still don't want to do and research it a bit more.

Of course I will also ask my Lord to lead me to all truth.

It is bugging me too man. It's all Ginnybee's fault. hahaha J/K sista. Don't you beat me up again. hahaha
Come on, bro! I'm really counting on you! Help!

I've gotta say, I love you guys and gals! I keep finding myself stretched and challenged in ways I would never have expected
If we are to be true to the word and follow after the Lord with our whole heart, Then we need to live by every tennet and letter of His law as written in His Book. We cannot just select some of the word that suits us and follow that....... we need to live by and believe every word that is written in His Book....... I have a real problem with Submitting....... I am not married so this is not a problem.... I am totally submitted to my Lord but my pastor is also a man to whom I must submit... and I sometimes have a real problem with this.......... I am a very strong personality... by reason of my Prophetic gift........ but sometimes i still have to submit to my pastor and this is something I the Lord is really dealing with in my life right now......
haha... I will say this. I continue to stand on my earlier explanation in that it seems to me women should cover their heads. It just makes more sense to me. Sorry bro David. :-) I do agree though, the main idea is that we regard the order of submission. And that order is plainly stated.

Regards,
Glenda
Hi Ginnybee and Glenda,

I agree whole heartedly, this is someting that the Lord taught me very early in my walk...... He said I have called you to be a prophet and because you are not married, I will be your husband (Isaiah 54) and I require that you dress modestly in white garments and that you do not cut your hair and that you cover your head when praying or during prophesy, so this means that I carry a head covering with me at all times. Because one never knows when God wants to speak......

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