Living Counter Cultural: Femininity

Popular culture has a decidedly feminist bent.

 Recent movies, tv shows and prominent women

 are displaying heroins as 

 tough, 

calloused, 

superior cutthroats. 

 Current cultural trends are directly opposing anything close to Biblical standards.

I hope you realize this and are not one of the many frogs sitting placidly in a pot set to boil. 

 The darkness of sin and evil are sweeping across our nation

at a frightening and sickening pace.

A thinking woman must wonder;  what can I possibly do about it?

You can be a city set on a hill...

just by being who God created you to be.

In this day and age, trying to uphold a biblical standard of femininity will indeed 

set you apart.

When was the last time you saw a woman who looked lovely?

How about watched a mother tenderly communicating to a child?

Have you recently noticed a young girl dressed in  a sweet and wholesome way?

I am sure it wasn't in Walmart.  

Sadly, these are not things we see evident in our society today.

Being a woman created by God is such a privilege.

The gift of our femininity is something we can give both to ourselves and those around us.

I believe that our society is hungering to be transformed by the

 loveliness

 and grace

 of Biblical femininity.....they just don't know it, 

and are looking for everything else to satisfy this thirst.

What better antidote to a violent and pain filled culture

 than warm

 and gentle

feminine strength?

What better cure for poverty and filth

than a love of beauty and a confidence

in one's ability to make things lovely?

What better hope for the future than a

nurturing mother's heart that is

 more concerned for the next generation

than its own selfish desires?

All these qualities:

gentle strength,

love of beauty,

care and nurturing,

 are part of the essence of femininity.

 

As Emily Barnes says so aptly in her book, The Heart of Loveliness: 

 "To me a godly woman is one who possesses inner peace and tranquility; 

 she doesn't have to prove herself to anyone.  

She is strong, and yet she does not use her strength to control or dominate people,

 neither does she depend on recognition from others.

  Hers is an inner contentment and satisfaction based not on accomplishments, position, or authority,

but on a deep awareness of God's eternal and personal love for her. 

 That kind of inner peace, strength confidence and tranquility comes from depending on God; 

 drawing on His wisdom and strength,

 learning to be like Him."  

When this happens in our lives, 

we gradually grow free of anxious competitiveness and aggressiveness.

  We no longer need to prove our worth and value

 because we now how much we are worth in God's sight... 

and then, we are free to reach out in love to others.

"Your beauty should not come from outward adornments such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes, instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight."

1 Peter 3:3,4 

As we set forth to cultivate femininity in our homes, 

let us think not only of ourselves, but of the darkness of the nation creeping in around us.

We are, in part, the answer..

for as we shine forth God's truth, acted out in our lives,

 we will be like a city set on a hill.  

For darkness does not take away light, but only deepens as the light grows dim. 

 Stand strong, therefore, Biblical women,

 and let your light shine.