Becoming God's Woman, session 1

On Saturday several girls from my church drove an hour away to go to a women's conference. The speaker was Nancy Rollinger, and she talked about Becoming God's Woman. I went to the conference fully expecting to be encouraged and uplifted, but once again, the Lord really exceeded my expectations!

Everything Nancy spoke about seemed to me to be just what I needed to hear. I was shocked at times, just knowing that she MUST have been inside my house last week! Several times she said, "Honey, think back on last week. What was your attitude? How did you do?" and then she would say, "Well honey, start today. Becoming God's woman starts today!" I was reminded of Paul's exhortation in Philippians 3:13, 14, "Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead. I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus."

Nancy began the day encouraging us to ask God how we could each arrange our lives in order to be more like the woman God wants us to be. And then, using the Word of God as our guide, we came up with checklists of what God desires in our lives.

Session 1 was a check list of what God desires of us in the church. 1 Timothy 3:14,15 and 2:1-15

The two things mentioned are:

• Our Dress - there is proper clothing for women who make a claim to godliness. Am I wearing it? The word "propriety" or "shamefacedness" indicates that a woman's clothing is not to be the first thing you notice about her, not bold and out there. The word "decently" is connected with the idea of self-control or restraint. Do I have self-control in this area? Am I willing to hold back on wearing something if the Spirit of God convicts me about it? Is my emphasis on my inner spiritual life or always on my outer appearance? Also, at the end of verse 10, we see the second thing that woman are to put on - good works. I have never noticed that phrase before, but it really spoke to my heart to see it there. Nancy asked, "How familiar are you with the needs of others in the church?" This is God's desire for us as women in the church, that we would put on good works and meet the needs of others. Ephesians 2:10 says that God prepared those things for us before we were even saved.
• Our Learning - we are to quietly receive instruction. Say to the Lord on Sunday morning, even if I've heard this passage taught on a million times, "Lord, teach me!" And 1 Timothy says "with all submission." Do I approach the teaching of the Word of God with a heart ready to submit to the Lord and confess any sin He reveals. Am I ready to leave the sin behind? And twice the passage mentions silence. This is sometimes hard for us women to swallow, but God tells us why right there. (1) Because of the order of creation, and (2) because Eve was deceived. God designed the order in the church to bring glory to Himself, and when we as women fall in line with His plan, it is a glory to Him! I want that! And the passage goes on to say that a woman's role or work is to be in her home raising her children. She is to CONTINUE there, in faith, love, and holiness, with self-control. That verse just popped out at me...I so need those qualities on a daily basis around here!

So here is the checklist Nancy gave us for Becoming God's Woman

1. My clothing - is it modest, discreet, characterized by good works?
2. My learning - do I come on Sunday to LEARN? (i.e. not just fellowship!) Do I do it quietly?
3. My homelife - am I raising godly offspring? Am I WORKING at it? Am I continuing in faith, love, holiness, with self-restraint?

I have been so motivated to pursue these things in my life, to look to the Word of God for what He desires of me, and to just seek after those things. Nancy was so quick to encourage us that, even if you don't find yourself doing these things, ask the Lord to help you make adjustments and arrange your life differently so you can...and then get to work! Start today!