Watch & Pray

Counter-Cultural Woman

Proverbs 31

In the New Testament, we often find watching and praying linked together. Jesus said, “Watch and pray, so that you don’t fall into temptation” (Matthew 26:41, Mark 14:38). It’s a protection for you to watch and pray over the ways of your household, but it’s also a wonderful means that you provide a protection for your husband.

Your husbands, if they are in almost any work environment that you can think of, are being faced with temptations and with pressures. The enemy, Satan himself, is working to pull them down, especially if your husband is a believer and wanting to walk with God. There are lots and lots and lots of opportunities for him to fail spiritually, morally, and in other ways.
What a blessing it is for a man to know that back home there’s a wife who’s watching and praying on his behalf, and praying that as he goes out into that world, God will protect him and God will keep his heart pure.

Ladies, if you’re not going to pray that for your husband, who do you think is going to pray that for him? Who’s going to watch and pray for his soul? You can protect him in that way, and you protect your children as you watch and pray. Ask the Lord to show you things that you need to be alert to, in their lives.

YOU HAVE THE POWER

I've been doing the 'True Woman Make-Over" and found the following quote that was an encouragement to me in how to handle situations when we are with others who speak slander/gossip or harsh words about someone else. Or if we find ourselves in a situation where we have used our own tongue as a weapon instead of an instrument of peace. Our tongues are often used as instrument that hurt instead of edification. We need to learn to always speak words of kindness and words of encouragement. Not just to those in our church and friends, but also in our homes, or especially in our homes.

Read Proverbs 31:26 and make it a tool to help you become a better daughter of the King.

"When she speaks,
her words are wise,
and she gives instructions
with kindness."

Here is the quote:

I quoted several sessions ago a passage about Sarah Edwards, who was the mother of eleven and the wife of Jonathan Edwards-who was a leader in the First Great Awakening. This writer says that, "Sarah made it her rule to speak well of all so far as she could, with truth and justice to herself and others. She was not prone to dwell with delight on the imperfections and failings of any, and when she heard other people speaking ill of others, she would say what she thought she could with truth and justice in their excuse or divert the slander by mentioning those things that were commendable in them."In other words, if she heard somebody saying something unkind about someone else, she would try and change the conversation or divert the conversation or to say something encouraging about that person."Thus, she was careful of everyone's character, even of those who injured and spoke evil of her. She could bear injuries and reproach with great calmness, without any disposition to render evil for evil, but on the contrary, she was ready to pity and forgive those who appeared to be her enemies."

What a commitment-to speak well of all! That's what the Scripture says we should do. In fact, Proverbs tells us that if you are the kind of woman who is contentious and critical with your tongue, that you will drive your family to the place where they would rather live on the roof or in an attic or out in a desert by themselves than to live in the same house with you.

If you would like to listen to or read the entire message log onto www.reviveourhearts.com and find March 9th, 2007 message from Nancy Leigh DeMosses series on the Counter-Cultural Woman.

True Woman Manifesto

True Woman Manifesto
A personal and corporate declaration of belief, consecration, and prayerful intent—to the end that Christ may be exalted and the glory and redeeming love of God may be displayed throughout the whole earth

We believe that God is the sovereign Lord of the universe and the Creator of life, and that all cre­ated things exist for His pleasure and to bring Him glory.

We believe that the creation of humanity as male and female was a purposeful and magnificent part of God’s wise plan, and that men and women were designed to reflect the image of God in complementary and distinct ways.

We believe that sin has separated every human being from God and made us incapable of reflecting His image as we were created to do. Our only hope for restoration and salva­tion is found in repenting of our sin and trusting in Christ who lived a sinless life, died in our place, and was raised from the dead.

We realize that we live in a culture that does not recognize God’s right to rule, does not accept Scripture as the pattern for life, and is experiencing the consequences of abandoning God’s design for men and women.

We believe that Christ is redeeming this sinful world and making all things new, and that His followers are called to share in His redemptive purposes as they seek, by God’s empowerment, to transform every aspect of human life that has been marred and ruined by sin.

As Christian women, we desire to honor God by living counter-cultural lives that reflect the beauty of Christ and His gospel to our world.

To that end, we affirm that. . .
Scripture is God’s authoritative means of instructing us in His ways and it reveals His holy pattern for our womanhood, our character, our priorities, and our various roles, responsi­bilities, and relationships.

We glorify God and experience His blessing when we accept and joyfully embrace His created design, function, and order for our lives.

As redeemed sinners, we cannot live out the beauty of biblical womanhood apart from the sanctifying work of the gospel and the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit.

Men and women are both created in the image of God and are equal in value and dignity, but they have distinct roles and functions in the home and in the church.

We are called as women to affirm and encourage men as they seek to express godly masculinity, and to honor and support God-ordained male leadership in the home and in the church.

Marriage, as created by God, is a sacred, binding, lifelong covenant between one man and one woman.

When we respond humbly to male leadership in our homes and churches, we demonstrate a noble submission to authority that reflects Christ’s submission to God His Father.

Selfish insistence on personal rights is contrary to the spirit of Christ who humbled Himself, took on the form of a servant, and laid down His life for us.

Human life is precious to God and is to be valued and pro­tected, from the point of conception until rightful death.

Children are a blessing from God, and women are uniquely designed to be bearers and nurturers of life, whether it be their own biological or adopted children, brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews, or other children in their sphere of influence.

God’s plan for gender is wider than marriage; all women, whether married or single, are to model femininity in their various relationships, by exhibiting a distinctive modesty, responsiveness, and gentleness of spirit.

Suffering is an inevitable reality in a fallen world; at times we will be called to suffer for doing what is good—looking to heavenly reward rather than earthly comfort—for the sake of the gospel and the advancement of Christ’s Kingdom.

Mature Christian women have a responsibility to leave a legacy of faith, by discipling younger women in the Word and ways of God and modeling for the next generation lives of fruitful femininity.

Believing the above, we declare our desire and intent to be “true women” of God. We consecrate ourselves to fulfill His calling and purposes for our lives. By His grace and in humble dependence on His power, we will:

1. Seek to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.19
2. Gladly yield control of our lives to Christ as Lord—we will say “Yes, Lord” to the Word and the will of God.
3. Be women of the Word, seeking to grow in our knowledge of Scripture and to live in accord with sound doctrine in every area of our lives.
4. Nurture our fellowship and communion with God through prayer—in praise, thanksgiving, confession, intercession, and supplication.
5. Embrace and express our unique design and calling as women with humility, gratitude, faith, and joy.
6. Seek to glorify God by cultivating such virtues as purity, modesty, submission, meekness, and love.
7. Show proper respect to both men and women, created in the image of God, esteeming others as better than ourselves, seeking to build them up, and putting off bitterness, anger, and evil speaking.
8. Be faithfully engaged in our local church, submitting ourselves to our spiritual leaders, growing in the context of the community of faith, and using the gifts He has given us to serve others, to build up the Body of Christ, and to fulfill His redemptive purposes in the world.
9. Seek to establish homes that manifest the love, grace, beauty, and order of God, that provide a climate conducive to nurturing life, and that extend Christian hospitality to those outside the walls of our homes.
10. Honor the sacredness, purity, and permanence of the marriage covenant—whether ours or others’.
11. Receive children as a blessing from the Lord, seeking to train them to love and follow Christ and to consecrate their lives for the sake of His gospel and Kingdom.
12. Live out the mandate of Titus 2—as older women, modeling godliness and training younger women to be pleasing to God in every respect; as younger women, receiving instruction with meekness and humility and aspiring to become mature women of God who in turn will train the next generation.
13. Seek opportunities to share the gospel of Christ with unbelievers.
14. Reflect God’s heart for those who are poor, infirm, oppressed, widows, orphans, and prisoners, by reaching out to minister to their practical and spiritual needs in the name of Christ.
15. Pray for a movement of revival and reformation among God’s people that will result in the advancement of the Kingdom and gospel of Christ among all nations.



_____________________________________________
Signature Date

go to TrueWoman.com to sign this manifesto

Supporting Scripture:
11 Cor. 8:6; Col. 1:16; Rev. 4:11
2 Gen. 1:26–27; 2:18; 1 Cor. 11:8
3 Gen. 3:1–7, 15–16; Mark 1:15; 1 Cor. 15:1–4
4 Prov. 14:12; Jer. 17:9; Rom. 3:18, 8:6–7; 2 Tim. 3:16
5 Eph. 4:22–24; Col. 3:12–14; Titus 2:14
6 Josh. 1:8; 2 Tim. 3:16; 2 Pet. 1:20–21; 3:15–16
7 1 Tim. 2:9; Titus 2:3–5; 1 Pet. 3:3–6
8 John 15:1–5; 1 Cor. 15:10; Eph. 2:8–10; Phil. 2:12–13
9 Gen. 1:26–28; 2:18; Gal. 3:26–28; Eph. 5:22–33
10 Mark 9:35; 10:42–45; Gen. 2:18; 1 Pet. 5:1–4; 1 Cor. 14:34; 1 Tim. 2:12–3:7
11 Gen. 2:24; Mark 10:7–9
12 Eph. 5:22–33; 1 Cor. 11:3
13 Luke 13:30; John 15:13; Eph. 4:32; Phil. 2:5–8
14 Psalm 139:13–16
15 Gen 1:28; 9:1; Psalm 127; Titus 2:4–5
16 1 Cor. 11:2–16; 1 Tim. 2:9–13
17 Matt. 5:10–12; 2 Cor. 4:17; James 1:12; 1 Pet. 2:21–23; 3:14–17; 4:14
18 Titus 2:3–5
19 Deut. 6:4–5; Mark 12:29–30
20 Psalm 25:4–5; Rom. 6:11–13; 16–18; Eph. 5:15–17
21 Acts 17:11; 1 Pet. 1:15; 2 Pet. 3:17–18; Titus 2:1, 3–5, 7
22 Psalm 5:2; Phil. 4:6; 1 Tim. 2:1–2
23 Prov. 31:10–31; Col. 3:18; Eph. 5:22–24, 33b
24 Rom. 12:9–21; 1 Pet. 3:1–6; 1 Tim. 2:9–14
25 Eph. 4:29–32; Phil. 2:1–4; James 3:7–10; 4:11
26 Rom. 12:6–8; 14:19; Eph. 4:15, 29; Heb. 13:17
27 Prov. 31:10–31; 1 Tim. 5:10; 1 John 3:17–18
28 Matt. 5:27–28; Mark 10:5–9; 1 Cor. 6:15–20; Heb. 13:4
29 Psalm 127:3; Prov. 4:1–23; 22:6
30 Titus 2:3–5
31 Matt. 28:19–20; Col. 4:3–6
32 Matt. 25:36; Luke 10:25–37; James 1:27; 1 Tim. 6:17–19
33 2 Chron. 7:14; Psalm 51:1–10; 85:6; 2 Pet. 3:9

© 2008 Revive Our Hearts • P.O. Box 2000 • Niles, MI 49120 • ReviveOurHearts.com • TrueWoman.com

Woman's Curse

Genesis is the book of beginnings. As we study we learn of the creation of man and woman. (Genesis 5:1-2), we learn of the first sin and the “curse” that was brought upon man and woman. As we study the depth of the meaning of God’s Word, we can understand why we struggle in particular areas. With this wisdom we can seek God’s strength to overcome these issues in our lives. Let’s look at some of the details of “Woman’s Curse”.


Genesis 3:16 KJV “Unto the woman he said, I will greatly multiply thy sorrow and thy conception; in sorrow thou shalt bring forth children; and thy desire shall be to thy husband, and he shall rule over thee”. Every woman who has given birth knows very well the pain in pregnancy and delivery of a child. Whenever someone has a new baby we often share “our story” of the painful process. It doesn’t end with the birth, as mothers often struggle with the pain of sorrow as our children mature and no longer need us.

Let’s read further…“thy desire shall be to thy husband”. Taken at face value some loosely interpreted it as “I will desire my husband”. In studying this phrase we will find the true interpretation. The New Living Translation sheds much light: “And you will desire to control your husband, but he will rule over you.” WHOA! Does this stop you in your tracks and make you think about your “curse”? As you look at yourself, do you see yourself trying to control the men in your life or compete against them? Whether you are married, widowed, or single, every woman battles with controlling the men in our lives, and this bring conflict. We feel like we need to be in control. Should we be controlling men? The Biblical answer clearly is NO! Matthew Henry Commentary explains it this way: “If man had not sinned, he would always have ruled with wisdom and love; if the woman had not sinned, she would always have obeyed with humility and meekness.”


In a devotional by Nancy Leigh DeMoss, she comments on the conflict between men and women; "God’s design for men and women is far more satisfying than the relationship portrayed in our world. Instead of a woman becoming more like a man or a man becoming more like a woman, God created us to be different. And those differences aren’t meant to compete with one another but to complete each other. When God created male and female, the Bible tells us, 'it was very good.'”

Have you recognized your unique qualities as a woman? Ask God to use you to complement the men around you so that He can be glorified." God’s design is not that you be a doormat, but has created you as a unique woman. As we allow our lives to complement the lives of men they will honor and love us.

Ladies, this is our curse! When we try to control men we are sinning and allowing the curse to control our life. When we see this conflict creeping up, we must seek wisdom and strength from God. Don't let your feathers get ruffled, just “let him (man) rule over you.” This is God’s plan and it works. Obey in humility and meekness. Glorify God with your life.