Last year, I took on the challenge to read through the Bible in 90 days. It was amazing. At the same time I was going through a study of Genesis with Community Bible Study. This too was incredible. But one thing (of many) that both struck me and convicted me at the same time in both of these studies was how often in Scripture, women are the tool that throws a kink in things! Eve should not have talked and debated with the serpent, and then she gave it to Adam once she decided to disobey. Sarah and her 'helping God out' with Hagar. Rachel, plotting and leading Jacob to trick Isaac. Rebekah, and her flippant behavior toward God's chosen man. These are just a few. I am not saying everything these women did was bad, as a matter of fact the New Testament remembers Sarah fondly, but I distinctly being struck in my study of Joseph that when He is being tempted by Potiphar's wife the passage does not say he ever even debated with her, in fact it says "he did not listen to her" (Gen.39:10) and of all of the patriarchs, there is nothing bad recorded about how he acted.
I have met several woman who are very independent, others who are 'in charge" in their homes, others who feel like they have lived long enough to have earned the right to say whatever they think to whomever they want. It is so unattractive. I so very much want to be a soft spoken (not wimpy or weak-just not loud and overbearing) woman who imparts grace to my hearers. I want to bless my children, my husband, my friends, strangers, and i do not want to leave any of these doubting who is in control of my tongue.
This is and always will be a struggle-this will be my challange. But, I pray that I never, 'give in' or 'give up' and that I will speak life and not death. Please pray for me in this.
5 comments:
I agree! And it's something God has worked on me most of my life.
This is a hard balance. In the world we live in today, where women are encouraged to "go get 'um" and "do it all", it can be hard to balance our roles as women of God.
I pray we all work hard daily.
Bless you for speaking the words.
I was going to say about the same thing as Summer.
Emily, I'm so glad to hear you say this because we as Christian women need to encourage each other in the fact that this is GOOD! I don't want to take control, but all around me I hear women saying that they have the right to be loud and dominant.
I'm going to read what you wrote again because you spoke the truth so beautifully.
Thank's for backing me up on this one ladies! I am just so shocked at the lack of integrity and restraint in the use of our words these days. There is WAY too much entitlement going on and we too often thik that our opinion on things is invaluable!
I found the best cure for this is doing everything in a second language. You sure do think twice about everything you say and choose your words wisely.
Post a Comment