In this world where sisterhood means different things to different women, women often are pulled from one end of the sisterhood to the other end. We are celebrated for being a Boss with a nasty attitude. Meanwhile, others of us are pushed to be messy so that we can be in a certain clique with a group of women. All the while competing against one another, tearing one another down with our actions and our careless words ...oh and I can not forget the never-ending lists of comparisons - big, small, light, dark, long hair, short hair, good hair, nappy hair...on and on the list goes. But, we as a Christian are called to walk and live a different way of life...the way of CHRIST and not the way of this temporal world.
Our way is one of serving one another…to serve like CHRIST in whatever community that needs us.
We, as Christian women, must display the opposite virtues so that the world can see the CHRIST in us. We are to speak blessings instead of word curses. Give encouragement instead of critiques. Embrace all who come under our influence and walk in unconditional love. But, we must be balanced in the way that we live our lives. Every day isn’t a bed of roses and we have thorns to deal with from time to time. Oftentimes, we must confront our thorns or should I say our sisters when necessary. We cannot be afraid to call others out in love when need be but with grace and kindness- be direct and speak the truth with boldness. Sometimes, our words will cut a sister so she can feel how her actions caused pain and grief to another that way the Lord has room to bring healing to that area in her life.
Remember, our Lord turned over the money changers tables because they were moving in the opposite direction of God's Amazing vision for the Temple. His vision was a House of Prayer not for the exploitation of His people.
Here is the eye witness account of Matthew in Matthew 21:12-13 NIV - Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’
Also, we must ask our Lord through the power of the Holy Spirit to help us so that we do not try to do reconciliation in our own strength (Zechariah 4:1). We must give Him space to work. Prayer and fasting enables this. It moves us out of God’s way and give Him the space to work in us, to show us – the real us along with the real issue that needs to be addressed and triumphed over.
Image created by: Amy Slaughter
Crowning Thoughts: Don’t let the little foxes destroy the vines of communication in your sisterhood relationships. Strive to be a peacemaker who communicates wisely and lovingly. Confront when necessary and make personal adjustments to be better. As Song of Solomon says in Chapter 2, verse15 - Catch for us the foxes, the little foxes that ruin the vineyards, our vineyards that are in bloom.
Sisterhood is worth the price! She needs you and you need her. This is the Lord's vision for real, authentic sisterhood...see Titus 2. The mature women are to assist, encourage and serve the naive women. This is what real sisterhood is all about...growing better together ❤
... until next time, keep crowning your thoughts with God’s truth!
A. Nicholle