Today's Devotional Thought
May 26, 2014 by Wendy Foreman
The Gentle Godly Woman
"The modern challenge to motherhood is the eternal challenge...that of being a godly woman. The very phrase sounds strange in our ears. We never hear it now. We hear about every other type of women: beautiful women, smart women, sophisticated women, career women, talented women, divorced women. But so seldom do we hear of a godly woman - or of a godly man either, for that matter. I believe women come nearer to fulfilling their God - given function in the home than anywhere else. It is a much nobler thing to be a good wife, than to be Miss America. It is a greater achievement to establish a Christian home than it is to produce a second - rate novel filled with filth. It is a far, far better thing in the realms of morals to be old fashioned, than to be ultra - modern. The world has enough women who know how to be smart. It needs women who are willing to be simple. The world has enough women who know how to be brilliant. It needs some who will be brave. The world has enough women who are popular. It needs more who are pure. We need women, and men, too, who would rather be morally right than socially correct."
~ Rev. Peter Marshall
There are many character traits that become evident in our lives as we strive toward being a godly woman. I did some research in the last year of areas that should shine in our lives if we are walking this life with Jesus. Today I would like to share just one with you that probably all of us struggle with at one time or another and that is being gentle.
To be gentle means we are women who are considerate, tender, and not harsh, but mild. To be considerate means that we go out of our way to not hurt someone. To love.
Women can be mean.
We get our feathers ruffled over the silliest things and before you know it we are slinging ugly words at each other.
John 13, in two different places, tells us that we are to love one another. Those are the words of Jesus and he goes on to say that if we are his disciples we will love one another.
Being a godly woman and exhibiting qualities that reflect that love is challenging. 1 Peter 3 speaks about the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit. You will be happy to know that you don't have to be a shy or timid person to attain these qualities. You can be loud and funny and full of life and still be gentle. Being gentle (meek) and quiet for many may seem to go against your very nature. But I am here to tell you that that these are areas that the Lord can develop in us.
1 Peter 3:4 at the end says that "we should be known for the beauty that comes from within. These are the things which are so precious to our Lord."
Many of us spend a lot of time and money working on the outside, but can I tell you ladies what is most important and what makes you the most beautiful, is what is on the inside. When we work on our inner beauty, it will shine through and be seen on the outside. And we will be most known for the gentleness, kindness and love that we have shown to others more than we will be known for our good looks. Because we know that outward beauty is truly fading.
November