Women Of Destiny

Women are the most beautiful yet complex creations of the Lord. There is so much to a woman many twists and turns, so much to seek out and discover. So much intrigue and fascination but in all of this it is in finding our true headship that all this is glorious.

 

Every woman in the Bible is placed there by the Lord specifically for us to study her life and God’s dealings in and through her.

 

The following blogs are taken from the book “Woman, One of God’s Greatest Creations” by Ps Lindsey Lefebure

 

Enter Vashti, Queen of the most powerful nation on the earth, of the time. Beautiful, influential, the envy of so many others. The world was her oyster and she had the ears and attention of the most powerful King of that day. She has her own celebration and in charge of influencing the wives of the richest and most powerful men. What an amazing time of sharing her wealth, opulence, abundance and influence. She had purpose and was in the middle of what she wanted to share with the women around her.

 

Then the door opens and she is summoned to appear before her husband and all the hundreds of men her husband was entertaining, he wanted again to show how important and to be envied he was because of the beauty of his wife.

 

No she would not! She was in the middle of something more important, she was more than a beautiful face and body and she was not going to be disturbed from what she was busy with. No I will not come at this time I am busy about my own things which are more important than listening to you!

BUT…

The King is in charge no matter what we think!!!!!!

 

Vashti refused to come at the King’s command and the consequences were dire, she lost everything. No matter who we are or what we look like we need to understand authority and honour.

 

The reason was that with position comes influence and the people around us will always look and see how we handle things and take their cue from the choices they see others making. “The queen’s behaviour will become known to all the women so they will despise their husbands.” This is the message her actions spoke into the minds of those watching this because of the incredible power of influence. Therefore the advice was to deal swiftly and decisively with the lack of respect and rebellion of the queen, so that it did not spread throughout the Kingdom.

 

Our attitudes release a wave of influence even if we don’t realize it. Our choices always are being observed by someone, our children, our friends, family and colleagues.

What are our attitudes releasing?

 

Attitudes start with thoughts and we need to find out what we are thinking so we can decide if the attitude we are showing will bring the right influence. We must understand that as women we are powerful beings meant to influence for good and for godly the people around us.

 

The personal consequence for Vashti was, “Let her come no more into the presence of the King”. She was removed from the position of favour and everyone realized that her power to influence had been stripped from her and she was now the ridicule of an entire kingdom.

 

Sometimes we feel that this is what has happened in our lives, what we have done has caused our King to turn away from us, but with God this is not true. His grace and forgiveness are always there for us.

 

Man’s law gives very little chance of repentance but God is the all forgiving God. Where we see that we have missed it because of our attitudes and refusing to obey the Lord, let us be quick to repent before the Lord and surrender afresh so He can wash away all guilt and shame and restore to us the power of Godly influence. He is faithful and loving and knows we can only truly be successful when we are surrendered and filled with Him and His power to choose and therefore influence for great good.

 

Remember these things [earnestly], O Jacob, O Israel, for you are My servant! I formed you, you are My servant; O Israel, you shall not be forgotten by Me. I have blotted out like a thick cloud your transgressions, and like a cloud your sins. Return to Me, for I have redeemed you.

 

Sing, O heavens, for the Lord has done it; shout, you depths of the earth; break forth into singing, you mountains, O forest and every tree in it! For the Lord has redeemed Jacob, and He glorifies Himself in Israel.

 

Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, and He Who formed you from the womb: I am the Lord, Who made all things, Who alone stretched out the heavens, Who spread out the earth by Myself [who was with Me]?–  (Isaiah 44:21 – 44:24 AMP)

So often we find that the world and life tries to take away the uniqueness of femininity. We begin to despise what we see as being feminine and try to be something else. In the process our identity is destroyed or in the least undermined and belittled.

 

What is the truth about being feminine?

 

Femininity is a very special part of the character and nature of God. This part was already in Adam when God formed him and was the capacity or chamber that God removed from Adam while he was asleep and formed into woman who He presented back to Adam. That is why Adam rejoiced and said: “This is now flesh or my flesh and bone of my bone” and God caused the two to become one-flesh.

 

When we are not truly at peace and confident in our femininity we try to defend ourselves or detract from who we really are. We don’t know how to portray what is truly on the inside in our spirit. We look at what others say we should be and often we think to be feminine is “less than” or is “useful for manipulation”.

 

We have been fractured, marred and misused so often throughout our lives to greater or lesser degrees and feel we need to somehow be the protector and defender or change what does not feel comfortable anymore. Many of the women in the Bible had similar experiences to what we face today.

 

Dorcas – giving so much of herself she had no energy left.

 

Hannah – battling someone who mocks you because she has what you long for.

 

Gomer – carrying a lifetime of hurt.

 

Ruth – taken away from all that is familiar.

 

Mary – a lady with a reputation.

 

BUT God is our Defender, Healer, Deliverer, Restorer and is our greatest fan. So we can bring all this confusion to Him for His answers and the peace that comes with knowing who we are and why we were created the way we are.

 

We firstly need to recognise what it is that has happened to us and then be willing to let the blood of Jesus wash and cleanse us and bring the restoration needed.

 

We need to begin to know who we are and begin embracing the fullness of our femininity. Anything that is overused becomes misused and this is something that happens to a lot of women because they feel they need to compensate for what has happened in their past or what others have said to or about them.

 

Have you ever felt “I’ll show them”

 

Made a joke about well I’m only a woman or made generalisations about being a woman?

 

God wants to heal, empower and fill us for His Glory. So let’s begin by meditating on some of the godly characteristics that are unique to being feminine.

 

Strength to endure and carry fragile life.

 

Compassion and discernment of the inner heart of others.

 

Courage to never give up.

 

Nurturing and encouraging the beginnings of new things while giving grace for mistakes and learning.

 

Soft but with Power in her voice!

 

These are but a few of the traits of our amazing God that He has chosen to place in the heart and life of His feminine creation. Embrace the wonder of who you are as a woman and let God bring out of you all He has desired to see you become and accomplish.

She lays her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff. She opens her hand to the poor, yes, she reaches out her filled hands to the needy [whether in body, mind, or spirit]. She fears not the snow for her family, for all her household are doubly clothed in scarlet. She makes for herself coverlets, cushions, and rugs of tapestry. Her clothing is of linen, pure and fine, and of purple [such as that of which the clothing of the priests and the hallowed cloths of the temple were made].   (Proverbs 31:19 – 22 AMP)

 

Today’s passage in Proverbs is all about attitudes of the heart and mind. The first thing that stands out is that God’s woman does not fear. She knows her God so deeply and trusts Him so fully that fear has no place inside of her. Her attitude of trust and confidence in the Lord frees her to do many things.

 

She does not worry about finances and money because she is convinced in her heart that God is the supplier of everything she and her family need. She trusts the Lord to give her the ability to do things to bring in either finances or creativity for the home and making or sourcing clothing and furnishings for the family. Not just any clothing or furnishings but the best, beautiful, unique and special.

 

God has creative ideas that humans have yet to tap into. The Lord always wants His children to tap in to the richness of ideas, inventions, blessing and favour that will astound others and get them wondering where you get these things and how come your home and family are always wonderfully attired. He will never run out of new ideas and creativity and He wants you as His woman to be a partakers and partners with Him of these. He has placed within us such ability to think outside of the box and be discerning in so many areas. We need to allow the Holy Spirit to develop the gift of discernment in our lives. If we don’t finely tune this we won’t know the difference between discernment and suspicion and we will end up accusing many of things they were not even thinking. If we do develop the Godly gift of discernment, we will see things from Gods perspective and have insight for our families and others around us. We will be able to put things together in unique ways that bring so much blessing.

 

Not only is Gods woman able to look after her family, but her heart is also open to help others. She opens her hands and her heart to those in need in a way that meets the real need, not just gives for the sake of giving and only meets the need of the giver, not the receiver. God’s woman has the ability to discern the real need of those she is reaching out to. People who have needs don’t always show the depth of what is really happening on the inside and the real reason the individual is in need whether spiritual, emotional, financial or physical. God’s woman gives because she loves deeply, not because she has enough. She gives generously knowing that her source is the Lord and not her paycheck. Her hands are filled when she gives because her trust in who she serves and who her Father is cannot be shaken. This is God’s Woman! This is YOU.

 

Be blessed as you enter the season that is focused on giving and on family and friends and let God show you how He has empowered you to be a blessing and a carrier of His love and provision to many.

 

-Lindsey Lefebure

She girds herself with strength [spiritual, mental, and physical fitness for her God-given task] and makes her arms strong and firm. She tastes and sees that her gain from work [with and for God] is good; her lamp goes not out, but it burns on continually through the night [of trouble, privation, or sorrow, warning away fear, doubt, and distrust]. (Proverbs 31:12 – 31:18 AMP)

 

The strength of a Godly woman is so beautiful. We don’t need to have the physical strength of a man because God made us with our own form of strength. Proverbs tells us though that strength is something we need to gird ourselves with. It is something we must put on as we would clothing or armour. It is something that needs to be put on in all areas of our lives.

 

Nehemiah 8:10 tells us that the joy of the Lord is our strength. This is not the feeling of happiness when things are going well but rather the deep joy of knowing that you are loved by God and are the apple of His eye and that He is crazy about you. As you go about your daily life, fulfilling His will and purposes for your life, you know that not only are you in the right place but you are doing what God has asked of you. The joy of the Lord will well up inside of you and give you the strength you need to keep going.

 

We all need strength for each day and knowing that the Lord is well pleased with you is amazingly energizing. If you don’t know that what you are doing is pleasing to the Lord or if you have been taught that you will never amount to anything and have never been able to please others, just don’t give up. Find someone to help you get through the lies the enemy has been sowing into your life and then take time out with the Lord to hear His voice and get His peace on the different roles and activities in your life. Once you are settled that you are in His will then it is a sure thing that you are pleasing to Him. Even if you did not do anything for the Lord He will still love you, so just relax and be guided by His peace deep in your heart.

 

Strength comes from our relationship with the Lord and our drawing on the very resurrection power of the Holy Spirit who lives in us. We don’t have to do it on our own.

 

Proverbs also alludes to the industriousness of a Godly woman who makes sure that everything is done and in the right place for her family and helpers. God has given us the ability to get things sorted and organized so that whoever is going to do the work has all they need to complete the task. Don’t leave things half done or up in the air, keep completing each day and not procrastinating because God has given you everything you need to be able to do this. Your family will function well and be successful because you are behind them, not only encouraging them but also putting things in place so that they can do what they need to do.

 

The lamp that does not go out refers not only to our getting things ready for our family physically but also spiritually in prayer. We need to spend time in prayer for our families and the needs that they have, talking with the Lord in the quiet of the night,
walking through their following day with the Lord until His peace comes and we know we have completed our work for the day as Godly women, wives and mothers. When we do this we will not fret because we know everything is in Godly order and our families will be guided and protected and fulfilled. Our warfare on their behalf is a privilege given to us as women by the Lord. This is how we deal with the stress and worry we could have for issues in our Loren and family members. Fear gets us nowhere but ulcers and headaches. Intercession and time with God brings health, success and above all peace.

 

As you spend the time and energy it takes to be God’s woman you will taste and see that the Lord and His work is very good and sweet to your lives. The rewards are priceless!

 

Be blessed as you allow God to form you into His woman because you are His workmanship.

 

-Lindsey Lefebure

She considers a field before she buys or accepts it [expanding prudently and not courting neglect of her present duties by assuming other duties]; with her savings [of time and strength] she plants fruitful vines in her vineyard. Prov.31:16

 

The working mother has often been a subject of intense scrutiny. Some have been made to feel they are not doing a proper job of their first priority their family if they have a job outside of the home. Others who choose to stay at home with their families have also had a rough time of being belittled as to “you are only a mother”! Statements!

 

Here we see God’s balance which hopefully will set both sides free to be all that they can possibly be. God does not take sides! He will be for you whether you stay at home and look after the family or whether you go out to work for a boss or open your own business. God shows His blessing on industrious woman but gives her some rules for measuring her success. Success and fulfilling your call and destiny are the same things in God’s eyes.

 

God’s measure of success and that of the world are two different things and we as Women of Destiny must not confuse the two. Prov. 16:16 says: “How much better to get wisdom than gold! And to get understanding is to be chosen rather than gold.” This I believe is the most important to the Lord. When we have wisdom and understanding we are going to be successful in whatever we do.

 

We have to look at the reasons we are choosing to work or to stay at home and balance them with the will of God for our lives. A wise woman can be extremely good in business because of the gift of discernment the Lord has placed in women. This must be balanced with the carrying out of the rest of her responsibilities as a wife and a mother.  This is sometimes extremely difficult with the pressures that are placed on employees for long hours and deadlines. Women get home exhausted and still have to look after their families.

 

Only the Lord and His leading and peace can tell you what to do if you are in this place. He is so interested in your wellbeing that He has the strength you need, the wisdom as to how to fit everything in as well as the new job if necessary. He tells us not to be conformed to this world but to be transformed by he renewing of our minds so that we can prove what is the good and perfect will of God.

 

Don’t beat yourself up if you have to work but look at the effects it is having on yourself and your family and then trust God for the wisdom to know how to balance all the responsibilities of your life. Go and take counsel if it is too much for you. Get the assistance you need in order to be the woman who can balance work and family and still be a fabulous testimony for those watching your life.

 

-Lindsey Lefebure