Growing Gracefully in Maturity and Integrity!
There comes that needul period of transition in a woman's life that we call maturity. During these stretching times we are gradually pulled from the familiar level of development right into the awaiting arms of new life's lessons. As females we are taught when to snatch out the hair ribbons, throw away the doll babies and get rid of the attitudes. We prepare ourselves internally for external relationships and connections.
Sometimes we become comfortable and resist the challenge to taste the flavor of maturity. We must allow ourselves as women of the Word to become seasoned so we will not lead a nation of younger females into the mouths of mayhem, confusion and improper instructions.
The Bible tells the older women to train the younger ones how to properly live in integrity and order. Titus 2:3-5 (NKJ) vs.3 - the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things- vs.4 that they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, vs.5 to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed.
The experiences we learn from our mistakes, heartaches and headaches are all part of our growing pains. It completes our history and snatches us out of the comfort zone. Too often we drag into our relationships traits of suspicions, insecurities and mismanaged emotions. It is a difficult challenge to grow spiritually if we are emotionally and mentally entangled in yesterdays setbacks.
We don't want to be anointed yet with an attitude; educated yet lacking wisdom; powerful in our gifting but deficient in our integrity. Somewhere on the journey training was either ignored, unaccepted or not rendered. In order to bring maturity to the Body of Christ as women, we must first grow up in our emotions, thoughts, perceptions and responses during seasons of adversity. If we overlook the classroom of discipline, growth and maturity we will become as wild and untamed beings.
Like an influenza virus, an unhealthy spiritual leader can spread unhealthy examples into a body of believers. Just as we must cover our mouths when we sneeze, yawn or cough, we must cover ourselves in Christ when we are stricken with an affliction. A good leader would not want it to spread. So they will graciously go to a secluded location to receive the comfort, healing medicine and rest needed during the incubation and recuperation period. A caring mother will separate herself during that recovery season so that the children or those who are in her sphere will not become contaminated.
Let me ask you this: After the anointing lifts, the adrenalin drops and the assignment is over "who are you?" and "how are you?" In other words, do you walk as a mature woman of faith and grace when the robe is in the closet and the podium is not in front of you? Allow me to inquire deeper: "How many women have been left in disbelief, disappointment and dissatisfaction because of your behavior outside the doors of the church?" As women of the cloth we cannot tell them to "do what I say and not what I do!" Unfortunately, in these cases we are saying: "I have not learned how to walk in uprightness and integrity."
If there are scars under your garbs that need to be seen by the Great Physician please make an appointment with Him. We need one another to stand in the gap and to fill in the missing links before the vices of darkness ease in to abort the mission. God sees the smears after the tears. He sees the stains that remain. Jeremiah cried out..."For the hurt of the daughter of my people am I hurt; I am black: astonishment has taken hold on me. Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?" Jer. 8:21-22
Ladies over forty, there's much work we must do to aid our younger ladies and daughters of destiny. Children with callings on their lives are waiting for the mothers to drop the attitudes and step up to their teaching responsibilities. Teens are praying that the generation before them will walk in maturity and not try to dress and behave like them. Young adult women want desperately to be trained how to love and live as young wives, ministers and mothers. They don't want us to think irresponsibly, act irrationally or talk irritatingly. They truly want examples of how to live godly in this present world.
Women of God allow your tears to become treasures and turn your past pain
into promotions. Let's train the younger female preachers how to live and survive in a wicked world through our examples of a fruitful spirit. Preaching women after the church doors are locked let's open our hearts and live our lives like an open book for others to follow in righteousness and integrity.
"Bringing Hope, Help & Healing to Hearts, Homes & Houses of God"