As a woman living in a world that touts its desire to empower women, I find it increasingly difficult to be heard. The irony of it all is becoming more and more apparent in nearly every facet of life. It’s almost satirical, the display of theatrical performance. Unfortunately, what is mocked are values, morals, integrity, modesty, and attributes that are unique strengths of women seen as weaknesses by the world.
Catchy slogans become trending hashtags across the worldwide web known as social movements. As women we are expected to ride the waves of one social movement to the next even as the waves clash into each other fiercely throwing the surfers under water washing them ashore tattered and bruised. One after another women get back up, pick up their surf board, and head out to sea to catch the next wave. We starve for truth while drowning in fallacy calling it empowerment.
Empowered women empower women
Empower is a strong word. To empower others is to make them stronger and more confident putting themselves in control over their lives especially able to claim what is rightfully theirs. An empowered woman knows her strengths and is not afraid to embrace them.
I desire to be an empowered woman who empowers women.
•brave •bold •courageous •stand firm •walk in truth •kind •gentle •loving •while striving for meekness
I pondered today how to share my heart with every woman who reads this blog. I thought of my daughters, my nieces, my granddaughters, and my sisters. I thought of every woman struggling to find their voice as a biblical woman in a world where biblical virtues are scoffed at.
In a world where Jezebels are celebrated, honored, sought after, and praised; I desire to be Esther.
The world celebrates assertiveness, selfishness, manipulation, getting even, taking advantage of others, and taking matters into your own hands. Deceit, sexual immorality, indulging in self-interests, abortion, and exploitation of ourselves is the game we play if that’s what it takes to achieve worldly definitions of success. This generation is in pursuit of equality at the expense of the unique attributes that set us apart and defines our beauty.
Women of positions and titles are celebrated by the masses irrespective of an antagonistic agenda to being a virtuous woman. This world celebrates Jezebel.
Jezebel
Jezebel brought her foreign ideology and gods to Israel contaminating the truth disguising it as tolerance despite it obviously being one sided tolerance. Acceptance of Baal as an equal of God Almighty was her demand. She rose against the prophet of God in anger as he proved Baal to be what it was, a false god with no power. Jezebel had a large following of supporters. Maybe as they sought to seek cultural pluralism, tolerance, middle ground, regional peace, and economic prosperity. We find passage of scripture that describes the work and fate of Jezebel in 1 Kings.
Again, we find scriptural references to Jezebel in the book of Revelations 2 where God has clearly stated his disgust for tolerance of the ways of Jezebel. Her claim to be a prophet while misleading others into denial of the cross, adulterous ways, immorality, and worship of false gods. They are death to the church.
Esther
On the contrary, we read in the book of Esther, she found favor with the king of the land but refused to compromise her alliance to God. As manipulation and impending disaster came her way she humbly submitted herself to the ways of God. She gathered her people across the land to unite in fasting and prayer for the favor of God in what was seemingly an impossible situation.
Esther stood for truth fighting for the good of others even though it meant she was risking sacrifice of herself. For what could be seen as being for naught. If she died approaching the king, her people would still die, but in this case, so would she. Yet, she called on God with a humble heart, and used her position to do his work selflessly for the good of others.
By the standards of the world, a woman who strives for meekness is mocked and considered weak. Meekness in fact is far from weakness. Meekness is the ability to take matters into your own hands but to choose not to. Meekness is the very essence of the ministry of Christ. He was fully able to rescue himself from the hands of those who falsely accused him but he hung on the cross fully submitted to the perfect will of God selflessly loving people for generations to come while they were yet in sin.
As a woman, today, I strive to be Esther. Selfless service for the good of others standing firm in truth, humble and meek, submissive to God’s ways no matter how dire the situation seems to be.
Women, let us empower women to be women of God, lifting each other up, praising modesty, integrity, meek strength, humble, gentle, servants of Christ. Let us clothe ourselves in dignity and strength speaking with wisdom.
Much love, Bobbie
“Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Honor her for all that her hands have done, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.”
Proverbs 31:30-31 NIV
