The woman God wants me to be, is not the woman the world tells me to be. Learning to be confident in who we are as a woman of God is extremely difficult in today's age and time.
In the world we live in, it is very hard to be the women that God has called us to be. The world around us is filled with so many negative things, we forget about what we really are supposed to be. God calls us and encourages us to be so much more than this world offers.
The world that surrounds us not only tells us what we should be and how we should act, but it has a larger impact on us as girls than we ever really care to admit. As someone who has personally been affected by the lies and hoops that this world makes us jump through, it is easy to say that anyone can fall trap to the snares that they set. Recently, I have been reflecting on the social, mental and physical qualifications to be considered a "cool, on point and perfect" woman in the world's eyes today.
Today, there are so many lies that women believe at some point that it is very difficult to be who you are. Every woman is affected by the lies that the world plasters on magazines, the news, movies and social media. And it's all a big fat lie.
When did it stop being cool to be ourselves? When did we stop being who we are? When did we stop being the women God wants us to be?
God calls everyone to be in the world, but not of the world. This simply means that we have been called to live in the world and interact with the people in the world, but to not let the world turn us into something dishonoring and unpleasant in the Lord's eyes.
God wants the very best for each and every one of us. He calls each of us to a passion and a purpose that brings glory to Him. Our bodies are living temples that proclaim His glory and power. How are we to fulfill our calling when we loose sight of our original calling and passion? How are we to continue living the way God has called us to be, when we allow the world's opinions of how a woman should act, dress, and look, affect who we are as a person?
The world tells us that to be accepted, we have to dress a certain way, act a certain way, love a certain way, and live a certain way. The world has demeaned who we are as individuals. It has told us that as women, if we are to do anything successful, we must look like it on the outside. The world has told us that who we are as a person, is only based on our outward appearance instead of our hearts.
Why does all of this sound so crazy but so on point?
Because the world is not our home.
We belong to a heavenly Father who loves us and accepts us because of our HEART and not what we look like on the outside.
When the world tells us to be sexy, God tells us to follow goodness and mercy.
When the world tells us that beauty is being skinny and wearing revealing clothes, God tells us that He treasures the HEART that pursues Him.
When the world tells us to show no emotion, to be closed off, and to not care because we'll eventually get hurt, God tells us to take every thought into captivity unto Him so that we may proceed with His direction and His wisdom. God calls us to love and share joy.
The life that the world calls perfect, indeed is not at all.
For all men are sinners and fall short of the glory of God. But it is God who will lift us up, encourage us, show us the beauty He sees in our life, and He will indeed show us the passion and purpose that He has perfectly picked out for each of us.
So what does this mean?
This means that if I am going to be the woman God wants me to be, I will live my life according to the following:
As a woman of God, I will first remember that I am beautiful no matter what the world says.
As a woman of God, I will always remember that God treasures the heart over the body.
As a woman of God, I will always strive to be myself.
As a woman of God, I will care for others and I will be joyful.
As a woman of God, I will be more then just okay.
As a woman of God, I will stay true to myself.
As a woman of God, I will not listen to the world and I will not let their snarky comments affect how I am going to live my life.
As a woman of God, I will always remember that my true identity is found in the Lord.
As a woman of God, I will always, always, always, listen to the Lord before the world.
Let's all strive to follow the pact. Every woman is beautiful; let's make sure that every woman knows that.
If you struggle with this, then you are not alone!
My words of encouragement to you could not be more simple. I will always tell you that you are beautiful, and I will always tell you that the Lord has given you a beautiful heart. Behind all the tears, scars, and trouble, there is a woman who is beautiful and strong. Be the woman who wipes away the tears, gets up, and continues on stronger than ever. Be the woman who goes through life with a testimony that shines the light of Jesus. Because, girl, if you love Jesus and Jesus loves you, then the whole world will know where real beauty and true joy comes from.
So, take my hand, stand up, and let's be beautiful together.
