Woman of God

For any woman who has struggled with loneliness, with insecurity, with fear, I reread this passage from Captivating by the Elderidges given to me by a dear, sweet friend, and I wanted to share it--for encouragement that you, my sisters, will step into your role as a woman of God more fully, and that you, guys, will better understand and care for your sisters.

"You are woman. an image bearer of God. The crown of creation. You were chosen before time and space, and you are wholly and dearly loved. You are sought after, persued, romanced, the passionate desire of your fiance Jesus. You are dangerous in Your beauty and your life-giving power. And you are needed.

As a woman who has been ransomed and redeemed, you can be strong and tender. You speak to the world of God's mercy, mystery, beauty and His desire for intimate relationship. You are inviting; you can risk being vulnerable, offering the weight of your life as well as your need for more because you are safe in God's love. You labor with God to bring forth life--in creativity, in work, in others. Your aching, awakened heart leads you to the feet of Jesus where you wait for him. The eyes of His heart are ever upon you. The King is captivated by your beauty.

We need you. We need you to awaken to God more fully and to awaken to the desires of the heart that he placed on you so that you will come alive to Him and to the role that is your's to play.

And that is crucial, dear heart, whatever your particular calling. You are meant to grace the world with your dance, to follow the lead of Jesus wherever He leads you. He will lead you first to Himself, and then with Him, He will lead you into the world that He loves and needs you to love.

It is by invitation."

I didn't write this because I am woman, hear me roar. No, instead I wrote it because it is all that I long to be--lovely, tender, persued, merciful, kind, passionate, creative, gentle, obedient, at the feet of Jesus--and I need to be reminded that there is one who is the Lover of my soul.