Women are doers. We’re always doing things. We feel good about ourselves when we do for other people. We do things without questioning why and what we’ll get in return. We have a heavy schedule and routine that affects other people. If we don’t cook, the family doesn’t get fed. If we don’t go to the grocery store, the fridge is empty. Sounds familiar? Speaking for myself, I love to tell people how many things I can do in a day – and how good it makes me feel when I get through everything.
Yes, I will have written several blog posts on the topics of uncovering our gifts and using the gifts in service to God. I love to exhort you and encourage others, particularly women, to do great and mighty things for God. BUT, and this is a big but, before we think about what God wants us to do, we need to understand clearly who God wants us to be.
Without knowing ourselves and who God wants us to be, we live aimlessly, following traditions and social rules that really separate us from the blessings and enriched life experiences that God wants for us. It’s easy to follow a crowd that’s following God. People who follow a crowd that’s following God are probably doing the all the right things. They’re going to church, singing on the choir, helping out at the church dinner, going to Bible study. These are all good and right things to do. But what I want to do in my first session is to really help us all understand who God wants us to be, as women of faith.
Understanding who God wants us to be comes first before we understand what God wants us to do.
In his letter to the Colossians 1:9 – 10, Paul says: For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, SO THAT you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, (NIV)
Paul made two points in these verses (i) each person needs to know God’s will for his/her life, so that (ii) he/she will live a life that is pleasing to God, a life that is fruitful and filled with good work.
Throughout Paul’s letter to the Colossian Christians, he emphasised that Jesus Christ is supreme and sufficient. He pointed out that knowing God – having a personal relationship with Him, leads to doing good work for the Lord. I want to drive home the point that before we think about what we want to do for God, we firstly need to understand who God wants us to be.
Understanding who God wants us to be requires us to:
- Get rid of some false beliefs and ideas about women and their ‘place’ in the church and in the world.
- God created women equal to men, capable of understanding His will, of developing their talents and serving effectively in all areas of ministry.
- Women are not in the back row, we are to come forward to do God’s work, as we are directed by God to serve Him and the world.
- Understand what the Bible teaches about women.
- The Bible exalts women. The Bible applauds and honours women as they take part in the home and in the society.
- We are all beautiful – fearfully and wonderfully made by God
- Accept ourselves as being created by God to do good things. Our strengths can become weaknesses and our weaknesses can become strengths.
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- Let no one downplay who you are or make you believe that something is radically wrong with your personality.
- Your personality traits make you who you are so that you can do the good work that God intended you to do. On the other hand, your personality traits can become destructive and offend God and people.
- Know the difference between personality traits and talents. Personality traits make you who God created you to be. Talents are the gifts that God has given you so you can serve Him.
I will expand on these points in subsequent posts.
Glory Matters 