"Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit; which is of great worth in God's sight."
As I prepare to leave this weekend for a Women of Faith conference I am excited to be fed on the word by the speakers and encouraged in worship by those leading but I'm also looking forward to spending quality time with quality women of faith. Being a woman means so much more than what so many today make of their feminity. Being a woman can be a wonderful adventure. We have the ability to bring new life into this world. We have the ability to love deeply, connect more intimately, and offer a side of Jesus that men may not understand.
When I was a young girl, this scripture found in 1 Peter was used to ensure that a woman "knew her place". According to many in the church I belonged to, women were second class to their spouses. They were to be silent and opinions not wanted nor valued. Instead of taking the true meaning of this scripture for what was being shared with the women of that time and all women to come, it was taken as a scripture of what the woman was not to do. I'm thankful that as a woman maturing not only in age but in faith that I can see more into this scripture.
My role as a woman, as a daughter, a friend, a sister, a wife, a mother are all uniquely designed for me and my journey. This scripture wasn't to tell me about what not to wear or how I was to look on the outside but it was to tell me that my value, my worth was inside me. The beauty found in me is my spirit, the very being of who I am resting in Christ. My clothing doesn't define me as a woman, my hair doesn't define me as a daughter, my jewlry doesn't define me as a friend. What defines me as a woman is my relationship and submission to my father, my heavenly father. I am who I am because of who HE is. I am a Princess, my father the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
Once I realized for myself that the scripture called out to the very heart and nature of a woman, I realized how valued and loved a woman is for the qualities that she and she alone possess. God designed a man and a woman different for this world with purpose and plan behind those designs. Women have the gentle and quiet spirit of the living word dwelling in their hearts by natural gifting. Somewhere along the way, many have gotten away from that thinking that this is a man's world and to survive we must behave and think like men. We were purposed to be helpmates, to compliment our physically stronger counterparts and its more than ok to be a woman. Never confuse being gentle and quiet in spirit with weak and incapable. Learn to listen to God's leading, to listen to the Holy Spirit guiding and directing your spirit. It's a gift you've been given to be a woman...to be a life giver. Never use that power you've been given to take life away from another.
I thank you Lord today for being a woman of faith and for surrounding me with women of unfading beauty.
Blessings,
Heather
