I am pleased to announce the release of the book Becoming a Young Woman Who Pleases God: A Teen's Guide to Discovering Her Biblical Potential. It is now available for you to read!
Continually think about or contemplate the Scriptures that focus your mind on qualities that promote a healthy relationship with your heavenly Father (Philippians 4:8).
“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in you sight,
O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.”
Psalm 19:14
“Like a gold ring in a pig’s snout
is a beautiful woman without discretion.”
Proverbs 11:22
“To make an apt answer is a joy to a man,
and a word in season, how good it is!”
Proverbs 15:23
“The fear of man lays a snare,
But whoever trusts in the LORD is safe.
Proverbs 29:25
“You keep him in perfect pace whose mind is stayed on you,
because he trusts in you.
Trust in the LORD forever,
For the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock.
Isaiah 26:3-4
“Woe to him who strives with him who formed him,
a pot among earthen pots!
Does the clay to say to him who forms it,
“What are you making?’
Or ‘Your work has no handles’?”
Isaiah 45:9
“Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him, and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent, you must forgive him.’”
Luke 17:3-4
“give thanks in all circumstances;
For this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
1 Thessalonians 5:18
“Do not let your adorning be external—the braiding of hair, the wearing of gold,
or the putting on of clothing—but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart
with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit,
which in the God’s sight is very precious.”
1 Peter 3:3-4
“casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.
be sober-minded; be watchful.
Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion,
seeking some to devour.
Resist him, firm in your faith,
knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced
By your brotherhood throughout the world.
1 Peter 5:7-8
Thank you for visiting Unfading Beauty. It is my prayer that this month’s entry will provide you with joy and encouragement for your summer schedule. I will be taking a writing furlough from Unfading Beauty until September. I pray that you will return to visit in the fall. If your schedule permits, I would appreciate your participation in two studies in which I am immersed —Perceptions of Homemaking and the Impact of Feminism on the Evangelical Community. By following the links below, the surveys may be accessed. May your summer be one of refreshment and renewal!
What is Your Feminism Quotient?
Content is the Multi-tasked Woman Who . . .
• acknowledges that the condition of her spiritual heart determines her spiritual health and ultimately controls how she responds to life’s circumstances.
• maintains her body as a precious vessel on loan to her from her heavenly Father (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).
• understands that to embrace flexibility she must begin with a steadfast commitment to her Lord and her faith (1 Corinthians 15:58) and is, at the same time, flexible with His plan for her life (Jeremiah 29:11-13).
• possesses a peaceful heart because she chooses to forgive (Luke 17:4).
• speaks with gentleness (Proverbs 15:1) and compassion (Ecclesiastes 10:12-14).
• recognizes that saying “thank you” pleases God and encourages others (Psalms 92:1).
• casts all of her anxiety, care, discontent, despair, and suffering on her Lord (1 Peter 5:7-8).
• refuses to activate the Elijah Effect when faced with challenging circumstances (Romans 8:18-39).
• allows trust in her heavenly Father to be her natural response when faced with fear (Psalm 56:3, 11).
• knows her sense of worth is based on the unchanging standard of God’s Word rather than the propaganda of the world (Isaiah 43:21; 2 Corinthians 4:7).
• acknowledges that God’s brand of modesty is always in style (1Timothy 1:9).
When the first day of spring arrives and you anticipate warmer days your fashion choices shift to cooler colors and lighter weight fabrics; while lightening the color depth and fabric weight, at the same time the fashion industry tends to minimize the amount of fabric that garments contain. As a Multi-tasked Woman who desires to please your heavenly Father you have the challenge of selecting clothing that reflects His instructions to you to adorn yourself modestly and discreetly (1 Timothy 2:9-10). So you are faced with a dilemma—will you choose modesty or fashion? If you wholeheartedly embrace biblical standards of modesty must you eliminate from your wardrobe anything fashionable? Let’s take a look at what Scripture teaches.
Modesty is a word that is not heard very often anymore—and when you do hear it is often classified as a practice applicable to the Victorian era. By definition modesty means “having or showing regard for the decencies of behavior, speech and dress.”1 Spiritually modesty is an issue of the heart—if your thoughts are focused on the attributes found in Philippians 4:8-9 then more than likely your external appearance will be modest. Many believe that the modesty standards described in the Scriptures are obsolete rather than an absolute standard twenty-first century Christian women are challenged to embrace. However, the immutability (changelessness) of God would be in question if the Scriptures that provide you with a standard for dress are not timelessly relevant. If you think that God changed His mind about one passage of Scripture, how can you be sure that He has not changed His mind about others? Let’s look at several Scriptures that can guide your clothing choices:
• Deuteronomy 22:5—your clothing should be feminine and others should be able to discern you are a woman.
• Proverbs 31:21-25—your clothing can reflect quality workmanship.
• Romans 12:1-2—you are “in” the world but not “of” the world. A mature believer has developed the ability to separate herself from an ungodly society, including the area of clothing selection when it is contrary to biblical principles. Current trends in fashion are not the final authority in what is acceptable for us to wear as believers.
• 1 Timothy 2:9-10—your clothing is to be modest, with propriety (or what is proper), and with moderation (a command for Christian women). This can be applied to the style of clothes as well as the quantity of clothes we have; both should reflect the principle of “modest.”2
As well, throughout Scripture there are examples of aesthetically pleasing clothing for both men and women—
• the garments for the priests were constructed by skilled artisans (Exodus 31:10 35:19).
• the children of Israel were instructed to attach blue tassels on their garments to remind them of their need to trust and obey God’s commands (Numbers 15:37-38).3
• the Multi-tasked Woman of Proverbs 31 wore garments of fine linen and purple
(Proverbs 31:22).
• the people of Zion were challenged to “awake and put on beautiful garments”
(Isaiah 52:1).
• one of our Lord’s garments was woven without seams (John 23-24).
• the attire for the Marriage Supper of the Lamb is fine linen (Revelation 19:8).
As you study these Scriptures I believe that you can say with confidence that for godly women modesty is an absolute value for the twenty-first century!
So then, since modesty is an absolute value for the twenty-first century must you look dowdy to be godly? Dowdy is an adjective that compresses into one word a description of everything that lacks style and color, is out-of-date, and looks shabby. When I discuss fashion with women there is frequently an underlying assumption that if biblical standards of modesty are wholeheartedly embraced they are required to eliminate from their wardrobe anything fashionable. As you study 1 Peter 3:3-5 you find that Peter is not suggesting that women are to assume a dowdy appearance to be godly. However, in Peter's day, as in ours, women put heavy emphasis on their appearance. He is not trying to say women should not dress attractively. He is saying that they should not concentrate on making appearance our sole source of beauty (1 Peter 3:3). His illustration of lasting beauty refers the reader to the holy women who did not adorn themselves with the temporal cultural extravagances of their day, but rather with the timeless hope in God that produces beauty of character and disposition (1 Peter 3:4-5). Sarah (1Peter 3:6) is cited as an example of a woman who possessed inner beauty, character, and modesty (Genesis 12:11-20; Hebrews 11:11). As well, Peter is encouraging women to refrain from being extreme, to dress attractively, but use discretion and dress modestly. His challenge is that their beauty should not simply be a matter of outward appearance. Solomon’s counsel captures the thought in seventeen words . . . “As a ring of gold in a swine’s snout, so is a beautiful woman who lacks discretion” (Proverbs 11:22).
Given that, according to the Scriptures, modesty is an absolute value for the twenty-first century; and you can look attractive and maintain a godly appearance, let’s focus on some tips for dressing that make 1 Peter 3:3 practical:
• Your face displays your character—Proverbs 15:13 teaches us that a “joyful heart makes a cheerful face.” You are to draw attention to your face by selecting necklines that complement it.
• Your garments should be tested for wearability; do this by positioning yourself in front of a mirror to observe what others will see:
o Bend over to check how revealing your neckline is.
o Sit down and cross your legs to check the length of shorts and skirts.
o Bend over to see how high your far your skirt moves up.
o Take a large step to examine skirt slits.
o Place your hands above your head to see how much of the midriff is exposed.
• Take the “Truth in Packaging Inventory.”
o Since your clothing is a label for your character, what does it communicate about you?
o What values determine the clothing that you wear?
o When you select your clothing your first thoughts are ?
o When you dress for the day who are you thinking about pleasing?
o What is you response to the question, “Is modesty an absolute or obsolete value for the twenty-first century Christian woman?”
Customs of dress change almost with the seasons, and fashions are as fickle as the wind. Any woman who puts her hopes in these to make herself look beautiful will find her standards of beauty constantly changing. A prudent Multi-tasked Woman directs her energy on her character first and her physical appearance second—this woman will insure that her beauty will last.
1 Random House Webster’s College Dictionary, 2nd ed s.v “modesty.”
2 See Pat Ennis and Lisa Tatlock. Designing a Lifestyle that Pleases God. (Chicago: Moody, 2004) 221-257 for further elaboration.
3 John MacArthur, The MacArthur Study Bible (Nashville: Word: 1997), note at Numbers 15:37, 38 tassels.
The glossy, full colored magazine catches your eye at the grocery store checkout counter; as you thumb through it you are once again confronted with the world’s propaganda that your worth is based on such external attributes and possessions as affluence, a lucrative profession, the perfect body shape, gorgeous hair, a spacious home, a luxurious car, and designer clothes. According to the media, external attributes and possessions will provide happiness, and when you are happy you feel that you are a woman of worth.
When asked what one of the deepest longings of their hearts is, most women will quickly respond, “happiness.” The culture of the twenty-first century relentlessly seeks happiness only to find it an illusive goal. David G. Myers, a social psychologist, describes this quest as he writes:
When we pit happiness against many things that we long for—robust health, social respect, large incomes—most of us choose happiness. Indeed, our search for happiness and for relief from misery motivates a host of behaviors, from success seeking to sex to suicide.1
What would be your response if you were asked the following questions?
Do you
• believe that you were fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14-16)?
• strive with your Maker about your appearance, material possessions, or professional position (Isaiah 45:9-11)?
• consider that you were created for God's glory (Isaiah 43:7)?
• live a lifestyle that declares God's praise (Isaiah 43:21)?
• question God about His purpose for the circumstances of your life (Isaiah 64:6-8; Jeremiah 18:3-16; Romans 9:20-29)?
• rejoice that God selected you to be a part of His family (1 Thessalonians 1:4)?
• comprehend that you are God's workmanship (Ephesians 2:10a)?
• bear in mind that you were created for good works (Ephesians 2:10b)?
• visualize that you are growing into a finished product (Philippians 1:6)?
• consider that the struggles you experience as a Christian, if responded to in a godly manner, will produce strength of character in your life (1 Peter 5:10)?
• contemplate that God has worthwhile tasks for you to accomplish until He comes for you or calls you home (Psalm 92:14)?
The Feminist movement of the 1970s profoundly influenced the definition of happiness for twenty-first century women by telling them that “justice for their gender, not wedding rings and bassinets,”2 makes them happy and that women long for the freedom to “define themselves—instead of having their identity defined for them.”3 Today countless women maintain their quest for happiness and the anticipated accompanying feelings of worth outside of the will of God—only as they view their worth through the grid of Scripture will they find their deepest longings fulfilled. Consider the following comparison:
|
THE WORLD PROMOTES |
GOD’S WORD PROMISES |
|
Physical beauty yields compliments and praise. |
“Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, but the woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.” (Proverbs 31:30). |
|
Performance yields significance or personal worth. |
“Then I hated all my labor in which I had toiled under the sun, because I must leave it to a man who will come after me” Ecclesiastes 2:17-23). |
|
Accumulation of wealth yields satisfaction. |
“The rich man said . . .‘Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease, eat, drink, and be merry.’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’ So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God” (Luke 12:16-21). |
|
Power and control yields gratification. |
“ . . . whoever of you desires to become first among you shall be your servant” Mark 10:43. |
|
Professional prowess yields fulfillment. |
“There was no end of all the people over whom he was made king; yet those who come afterward will not rejoice in him” (Ecclesiastes 4:13-16). |
|
Doing what you need to do to get ahead yields professional advancement. |
“He who walks with integrity walks securely, but he who perverts his ways will become known” (Proverbs 10:9). |
|
Using people to reach your personal goals yields success. |
“Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others” (Philippians 2:4). |
|
Finding the “right” marriage partner yields happiness. |
“No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly” (Psalm 84:11). |
|
Promoting yourself yields personal fulfillment. |
“Let another man praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips” (Proverbs 27:2). |
|
Asserting yourself yields fruitful results. |
“ . . .all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for ‘God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.’ Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time” (1 Peter 5:5-6). |
|
Enhancing external attributes and amassing material possessions yield the abundant life. |
“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). |
As you mediate on your responses to this comparison, how would you reply to the question “If you could change anything about yourself, what would you change?”
• Would your response echo that of the Apostle Paul who learned to be content in whatever state he was in (Philippians 4:11)?
• Would you consider that your unique traits, experiences, and personality were given to you by a loving heavenly Father for a specific work that will positively impact His kingdom?
• Would you acknowledge that the fulfillment of this ultimate purpose is left within your power since you are the one who must ultimately respond to your Creator?
Take a moment to consider the sum of your individual attributes; what do you think about them? Are you using each to further your heavenly Father’s kingdom? Remember that as God’s adopted daughter your works are to reflect your Father's work in you (Matthew 5:16) and that your body is simply an earthen vessel used to store your inward character qualities (2 Corinthians 4:7). If you choose to cooperate with God on the development of character qualities that please Him, you will find yourself focusing on
• your countenance—it should be pleasant (Proverbs 15:13).
• the cultivation of a gentle and quiet spirit which is of great value to God (1 Peter 3:1-6).
• developing the qualities inherent in love (1 Corinthians 13:4-8).
• manifesting the Fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).
• growing in your faith (2 Peter 1:5-7).
• gratitude — the act of the will that gives thanks to God for all that He has given to you (Ephesians 5:20; 1 Thessalonians 5:18).
• behaving like His child (Colossians 3:12-17).
Rather than evaluating your worth against the fluctuating standards of the world, direct your energy toward your character first—then you will truly be a woman of worth!
Jesus gave the two most important commandments related to your worth as a woman to a young lawyer who asked, “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?” Jesus responded, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.” This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:36-39). As you maintain a dynamic relationship first with your Lord, and then others, you will find lasting happiness and experience a genuine sense of worth that is based on the unchanging standard of God’s Word regardless of the daily effectiveness of your multi-tasking.
If you walk into a room and the conversation stops what is your assumption? Would your response be they were talking about you? Would your reflex reaction be fear of rejection—the source of which is the fear of man (Proverbs 29:25) or trust in your heavenly Father who loves you unconditionally (Jeremiah 31:3)?
Fear is defined as “a distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, pain, etc., whether the threat is real or imagined.”1 We live in a fear dominated world—serious illness, weight gain, financial reversal, old age, death, rejection, and fear of man are all categories of fear that cause a focus away from God and toward the circumstance. Fear is real and it is not always negative—when you sense danger fear usually stimulates you to fight or flee. However, the fear of man is a negative reaction because you are actually reversing “the royal law” described in Matthew 22:36-40 and placing more focus on loving people (Leviticus 19:18) than on loving God (Deuteronomy 6:5). Humanly speaking, this reversal is a natural response because we meet many of our yearnings through loving and being loved by others—affirmation, encouragement, companionship to counter loneliness, and provision of physical needs—that’s the love portion; but others’ potential ability to expose, humiliate, shame, reject, ridicule, revile, attack, oppress, or harm us physically, mentally, or spiritually provokes the fear of man response.
These consequences are not positive—for example, the fear of man can . . .
● Hinder your relationship with others.
● Stifle your ability to think rationally.
● Rob you of joy.
● Contribute to indecisiveness.
● Reduce your productiveness.
● Create inner turmoil.
● Injure your relationship with God.
Since the fear of man produces such detrimental results, it seems reasonable to locate an antidote to it—Scripture repeatedly instructs believers to replace it with the knowledge that God is sufficient to override your fears:
● The natural reaction to fear is panic—the antidote is to replace potential fear with trust in God (Psalm 56:3-4, 11).
● If you trust in the Lord, you do not need to fear man (Proverbs 29:25).
● You are commanded to refrain from fearing the reproach of men (Isaiah 51:7).
● Since God comforts you, why should you be afraid (Isaiah 51: 12-16)?
● You can be content in every circumstance because God has promised to never leave or forsake you (Hebrews 13:5-6).
As you meditate upon the reality that Scripture constantly urges God’s children to trust rather than fear, consider this account that was shared by an African missionary about a herd of lions:
This particular story is about the old king lion. You see a lion can only be the king as long as he is strong enough to hold his position— and there is always another lion trying to usurp it. Usually by the time the old king is replaced he does not have any teeth and only a few claws. His hair is matted, he has arthritis in the joints, and he no longer can fight to keep his position so a younger lion becomes the new king.
However, the old king is not entirely useless—he still has a role in the herd when the lions go on a hunt. When the herd hunts, the old, mean-looking, ferocious lion stands on one side while the young hunter lions hide in the bushes on the opposite side. When the prey appears, the former king looks at it and begins to roar; the roar scares the prey so badly that it runs to the opposite side—right into the waiting jaws of the hunter lions that attack and destroy it. If the prey had run toward the roar, more than likely it would have been safe, since all the old lion had left was his roar.
Scripture teaches that your “adversary, the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith” (1 Peter 5:8-9). If you are to resist him, you will run to the roar by choosing to live according to the truth of God’s Word (2 Corinthians 10:3-5; Ephesians 6:17). As you know sound doctrine and obey His Word, you find that fear is dispelled because Jesus defeated Satan on the cross thus stripping him of his power and leaving him with his frightening, but harmless, roar (John 12:23-33; Colossians 2:11-15; Hebrews 2:14-15). If you are going to refuse to succumb to Satan’s impotent roar you must replace fear with God’s Word (Psalm 119:11; Ephesians 6:10-20). As you multi-task today consider memorizing and meditating upon these truths:
● God is with you and will keep you wherever you go (Genesis 28:15).
● You should not fear or be dismayed for the Lord goes before you; He will not leave you or forsake you (Deuteronomy 31:6, 8).
● God will provide divine power for the tasks He calls you to accomplish (Joshua 1:5).
● God will be with you throughout the assignment He has commissioned you to undertake (1 Chronicles 28:20).
● When God calls you into a difficult situation, you are to recall that the battle is not yours, but His (2 Chronicles 20:15).
● When you are protected by your Savior’s rod and staff you do not need to fear any potentially threatening environment—even death (Psalm 23:4).
● Because the Lord is your light, salvation, and the strength of your life you have no need to fear (Psalm 27:1).
● When you are afraid you are to trust in God—an act of the will, not the emotions
(Psalm 56:3-4).
● No person can subvert God’s protection of you (Psalm 56:11).
● God has provided an intimate place of divine protection for you (Psalm 91:1-7).
● If you delight in God’s commandments you do not need to fear evil tidings
(Psalm 112:1, 7).
● Fear is removed when you reside in God’s wisdom (Proverbs 3:25-26).
● You need not fear if you are God’s child because He is faithful to sustain you (Isaiah 41:10-13).
● Your sovereign heavenly Father controls even the most mundane events—therefore you can have confidence that He will care for you (Matthew 10:29; Luke 12:6-7).
● The peace that your heavenly Father gives provides comfort in the midst of turmoil (John 14:27).
● If you are a child of God, you do not have need to fear death or final punishment (Romans 8:14-16).
● Spiritual resources, seeking the welfare of others rather than your own, and a properly prioritized mind, not a spirit of fear, is a gift from your heavenly Father (2 Timothy 1:7).
● He who fears has not been made perfect in love (1 John 4:17-18).
The only positive fear recorded in Scripture is the fear of God. This fear is a reverence of God’s majesty, power, and greatness; as you embrace the biblical definition of fear you will most likely find the influence of the fear of man dissipating—thus increasing your ability to multi-task with greater proficiency.
What do you mean when you speak of God answering your prayers? Most often do you really mean that He said “yes” to your petitions? One of the most challenging lessons for Multi-tasked Women to learn is that “yes,” “no,” and “wait” are all responses to her requests.
What is your reaction when you earnestly pray that a situation will have a specific outcome, and the response from your heavenly Father is no or wait? Do you believe that there is no good thing that He will withhold from you if you are walking uprightly (Psalm 84:11) and focus on your responsibility of walking uprightly; or are you like Elijah when he fled from Jezebel to the wilderness, sat under a juniper tree, and wished to die (1 Kings 19:4)? The woman who chooses the response aligned with Psalm 84:11 embraces contentment, while the one who opts for an Elijah Effect is courting discouragement.
Discouragement, extracted from the Greek word athumeo, means to be disheartened, dispirited, and discouraged;1 it frequently occurs when there is a discrepancy between expectation and fulfillment. As an emotion, discouragement’s roots are frequently planted in the soil of idealistic expectations such as holding perfectionist standards for yourself and others, embracing impractical outcomes for the institutions you are associated with, and anticipating unrealistic benefits from work, leisure time, education, or marriage. The greater the discrepancy between hope and fulfillment, the greater the potential for discouragement—and in many instances the resulting emotion of discouragement is actually anger without enthusiasm. You know from Scripture that anger for a selfish reason is sin (Psalm 4:4; Ephesians 4:32).
A study of Scripture reveals that discouragement was a reaction of many of the individuals recorded in its pages. As believers we should learn from both their positive and poor responses to cope with discouragement in our own life (1 Corinthians 10:6) and to offer encouragement to others
(2 Corinthians 1:3-7). Consider the following:
· Cain, when God pronounced judgment upon him for the murder of Abel (Genesis 4:13-14).
· Hagar, after she was cast out of the household of Abraham because of Sarah’s jealousy (Genesis 21:15-16).
· Moses when he was sent on his mission to the Israelites (Exodus 4:1, 10, 13; 6:12), at the Red Sea (Exodus 14:15), and when the Israelites lusted for flesh (Numbers 11:15).
· The Israelites because of the cruel oppression of the Egyptians (Exodus 6:9).
· Elijah following his flight from Jezebel (1 Kings 19:4).
· Hannah as she experienced infertility (1 Samuel 1-2).
· Job following the devastation of his life (Job 3:1-26, 17:13-16).
· David through multiple difficulties (Psalm 41 and 51).
· Jeremiah often called “the weeping prophet” (Lamentations 3:1-21).
· Jonah after he had preached to the Ninevites (Jonah 4:3, 8).
· The mariners with Paul (Acts 27:20).
An analysis of Elijah's life (1 Kings 19:1-22; 2 Kings 2:1-10) provides us with biblical guidelines for detonating discouragement.
Elijah emerged from his experience at Mount Carmel a victor—the 450 false prophets of Baal were destroyed, and the calamity of drought and famine brought about by idol worship ended (1 Kings 18:18-46). Regrettably, Jezebel did not share his enthusiasm over the victory—in fact, she was very angry (1 Kings 19:1-2)! Instead of surrendering, as Elijah expected, she issued an ultimatum to him, “So let the gods do to me, and more also, if I do not make your life as the life of one of them by tomorrow about this time” (1 Kings 19:3). Elijah’s response is similar to that of many Christians—they observe God perform repeated miracles in their lives—then a bit of minor turbulence occurs and the downward spiral of the Elijah Effect sets in:
· The cycle of fear of others or specific circumstances begins (1 Kings 19:1-2).
· The logical reaction is to run from the problem (challenge), rather than facing it head-on
(1 Kings 19:3).
· Rather than meditating on God’s faithfulness, faulty negative thinking begins (1 Kings 19:4).
· The faulty negative thinking is fanned by emotional and physical fatigue which frequently produces discouragement (1 Kings 19:5-9).
· Further faulty negative thinking yields false expectations and unrealistic attitudes regarding the responsibilities God calls one to assume (1 Kings 19:10).
· These false expectations and unrealistic attitudes can lead to the cultivation of self-pity (1 Kings 19:14).
An intervention for the downward spiral of the Elijah Effect must be applied for it to begin the reversal process—in Elijah’s case, as in ours, the intervention cycle to renew his spirit included:
· Resting and relaxing—too many times when the Elijah Effect begins Multi-tasked Women increase their activity rather than reduce it (1 Kings 19:5-9).
· Seeking solitude to focus on communion with God (1 Kings 19:9-13).
· Using the Word of God as a sword to fight the source of discouragement, Satan (Ephesians 6:17). Acquiring God's truth and promises during times of refreshment enables us to engage confidently in battle; for example, Psalms 33, 42, 43, and 71 teach us the hope we are to have in God. Lamentations 3:21-23 describes the downcast man who nevertheless relies on the steadfast love of the Lord. The passage of 1 Peter 1:13-21 challenges us to proclaim the faith and hope we can have in God through Jesus Christ while Romans 8:18-39 reminds us that nothing can separate us from God’s love.
· Realizing that refreshment comes through resuming activity since it allows us to focus our vision outward rather than “soaking and souring.” Balancing the quantity of time invested and the intensity of the activity will ensure that the Elijah Effect does not recur (1 Kings 19:15-18).
· Allowing friends to minister to us (Proverbs 17:17). It is well to remember that it is as important to be a friend, as well as to find one and that we are to accept God's provision for relationships, rather than imposing our expectations. A study of some of the noteworthy soul relationships recorded in the Scriptures—Jonathan and David (1 Samuel 18:1, 19, 20, 23:16), Ruth and Naomi (Ruth 1-4), Paul and Timothy (1 Corinthians 4:17, 16:10; Philippians 2:19-22), and of course, Elijah and Elisha (1 Kings 19:19-21; 2 Kings 2:1-18). Elijah and Elisha possessed an unusual relationship—one in mind and purpose to serve Jehovah God; they built many memories together because Elisha willingly ministered to Elijah, offering encouragement and affirmation. The loyal partnership that developed provided a companion to compensate for Elijah's discouragement—and when God was ready to take Elijah to heaven, Elisha succeeded him in his prophetic office (2 Kings 2:9, 13). Their adventures to Gilgal (2 Kings 2:1), Bethel (2 Kings 2:2), Jericho (2 Kings 2:3-4), and the Jordan River (2 Kings 2:6) are a reminder that memories require time and energy to create and pose the question, "What blessings would Elijah and Elisha have been deprived of had either refused to accept God's provision and perhaps mourned for his own expectations?"
As you consider Elijah’s life, are you a woman who chooses the Elijah Effect or embraces contentment when faced with circumstances that could breed discouragement? Remember that godliness with contentment is great gain (Psalm 37:16; 1 Timothy 6:6) while despair plus discouragement equals spiritual disaster and purpose to detonate discouragement as you multi-task!
A walk through a bookstore, pharmacy, or an internet search quickly reveals that worry, anxiety, and depression are prevalent maladies in twenty-first century society. Research reports that 2 to 8% of the population suffers from General Anxiety Disorder (GAD). This disorder is one of the major reasons people choose to visit a psychologist. Women tend to seek help twice as often as men. There is no specific age for the onset of GAD, yet research suggests that it commonly surfaces between the ages of 20 and 40. Symptoms include sweating, accelerated heart rate, dry mouth, stomach upsets, dizziness, and lightheadedness.1
Panic Disorder (PD) affects 1.7% of the U.S. adult population between the ages of 18 and 54. Women are twice as likely to develop panic disorder. Panic Disorder causes people to feel terror suddenly and sometimes unexpectedly. Accompanying physical signs include dizziness, lightheadedness, rapid pulse, trembling, chest pains, shortness of breath, nausea, numbness, and a fear of going crazy or of dying. Panic Disorder can start to become debilitating when the person suffering begins to avoid situations or stimuli in which an attack is assumed to occur.2
While the medical terminology associated with worry, anxiety, and depression may be new, their incidence is as old as antiquity—Solomon’s words, “there is no new thing under the sun” (Ecclesiastes 1:9) accurately summarizes their longevity. Sarah and Hannah fretted about their barren wombs (Genesis 16:1-16; 1 Samuel 1:1-28); Naomi’s anxiety caused her to develop a bitter spirit (Ruth 1:1-22), while Job’s wife’s despair was so great that she counseled her husband to “curse God and die!” (Job 1:9). Biblically the verb care (merimnao) is used to describe anxiety, worry, and depression3—behaviors that divide the mind between worthwhile interests and damaging thoughts. The Apostle James succinctly describes the miserable condition of the person with a divided mind—“a double minded man is unstable in all his ways” (James 1:8). Worry generates many negative and no positive results; those who choose to worry allow themselves to become victims rather than victors over circumstances because they choose to “lean on their own understanding” rather than trusting in the timeless principles contained in the Word of God (Proverbs 3:5-6). As you multi-task what is your reflex reaction when circumstances beyond your control occur—do you worry or do you trust?
Just as good physical health is the result of implementing sound health practices, so good spiritual health is the result of applying sound spiritual practices; remember God's Health Plan for a peaceful heart that we discussed in a previous entry? The opposite of one debilitated by worry chooses to practice its four essential elements.
Let’s take some time to examine your spiritual health—answer each of the questions that follow using specific examples from your life. They are divided into categories to allow you to assess where your strengths and weaknesses (opportunities for growth) occur.
As I attempt to maintain a healthy spiritual weight do I . . .
Understand that I have no need to be afraid of my future because God will instruct me and teach me in the way in which I should go; He will counsel me with His eye on me? (Psalm 32:8)
Have the confidence that there is no good thing that God will withhold from me if I walk uprightly? (Psalm 84:11)
Believe God is able to do exceedingly abundantly beyond all I ask or think because the Holy Spirit works within me? (Ephesians 3:20)
Trust that God will supply all my needs according to His riches and glory? (Philippians 4:19)
Ask in faith without doubting, realizing that the one who doubts is unstable? (James 1:6-8)
As I attempt to maintain a healthy spiritual pulse rate do I . . .
Have the confidence that the Lord will take care of my concerns and thank Him for doing so? (Psalm 138:8)
Believe that God cares for me because I am His child and thank Him that I have no need to be anxious for tomorrow, since it will be taken care of by Him? (Matthew 6:25-34)
Thank my heavenly Father that He gives me peace that the world cannot give? (John 14:27)
Refuse to waver in unbelief but grow strong in faith, giving God the glory, and be fully assured that what He has promised He is able to do? (Romans 4:20-21)
Have confidence that if I ask for anything in God’s will, He will hear me, but I will have a gracious limitation because His will is always best for me? (1 John 5:14-15)
As I attempt to maintain a healthy spiritual blood pressure do I . . .
Trust in the Lord with my whole heart, and refuse to lean on my own understanding? (Proverbs 3:5-6)
Believe that I will accomplish much if I have faith and do not doubt? (Matthew 21:21)
Focus on the reality that I have no reason to be anxious about what I shall eat, the clothes I need, or where I will live because God will provide all these things for me? If God can take care of the birds and the lilies of the field, then why should I worry about my needs? Am I not more valuable than they? (Luke 12:22-34)
Understand that it is impossible for me to be successful and please God if I lack faith? (Hebrews 11:6)
Let Him have all my worries and cares, for He is always thinking about me and watching everything that concerns me? (1 Peter 5:7)
As I attempt to maintain a healthy spiritual diet do I . . .
Have the confidence that His grace is sufficient for me, for His power is perfected in my weakness? (2 Corinthians 12:9)
Consider that it is God who is at work in me, both to will and to work for His good pleasure? (Philippians 2:13)
Have the faith that God is able to do exceedingly abundantly beyond all I ask or think because the Holy Spirit works within me? (Ephesians 3:20)
Understand that I am not adequate in myself, but my adequacy is from God? (2 Corinthians 3:5)
Believe that because I have been crucified in Christ, I no longer live, but Christ lives in me; and the life I now live, I live by faith? (Galatians 2:20)
If we desire to be spiritually strong, we will refuse to divide our minds with worry since it.......
does not accomplish anything (Psalm 37:8).
is needless to worry because God has everything under control (Matthew 6:31-33).
can only be removed by prayer (Philippians 4:6-7).
is a waste of time (Luke 12:25-26).
Just as worry divides the mind, peace unites it. If you are to win over worry, anxiety, and depression then you must fix your mind on your heavenly Father for only He provides perfect peace. As you multi-task, contemplating on the meditation thoughts and Scriptures contained in this entry and in previous entries will keep your mind focused on your Lord’s care for you (Isaiah 26:3)!
2 Ibid.
3 W.E. Vine, Vine’s Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words. (Grand Rapids, Mich.: Revell), 1981, s.v. “care, careful, carefully, carefulness.”
If you are thirsty and are given a glass of water that is half-full what is your response? Are you thankful for its contents or do you complain because it is not full? The level of gratitude that accompanies your response will undoubtedly impact how well your thirst is quenched.
The English word gratitude is derived from the same word that gives us grace. Did you know that gratitude and grace are Siamese twins? As Christian women we daily experience the grace of God—if we are looking for ways to acknowledge that God's grace is at work in our lives and the lives of others, then we will have many reasons to express gratitude. However, if we complain more frequently than we express gratitude we are setting ourselves up for long-term devastating effects on both our physical and spiritual lives. I can personally attest to the negative impact that a complaining spirit has on one’s life; before our Lord drew me into His family, my attitude was so negative that when I awoke each morning my first reaction was, “I wonder what terrible thing is going to happen to me today.” I was always a prophet of my own doom—by nightfall I had several items to add to my list of “Poor Pat Protests.” Unfortunately, I carried my negative, complaining spirit into my new life as a Christian. Then one day my pastor began to preach about “walking in the spirit” (Galatians 5:16), and I learned that my negative, complaining spirit was SIN rather than the discerning spirit I attributed to it. I also learned that the best antidote for a complaining spirit is a thankful spirit, and that was something I needed to cultivate daily. He challenged his congregation to make a list of the things we were thankful for and when we were tempted to complain, instead choose to meditate on all of God’s gifts to us. I accepted his challenge, purchased a pretty journal that invited me to write in it, and began by writing Psalm 103 on the first page. Daily I recorded only God’s blessings to me—and I found my attitude gradually changing. I have filled multiple journals, and at least one entry a week records my heavenly Father’s blessings to me. Now when I feel a tendency to revert back to my habit of “Poor Pat Protests” I spend time reviewing my journals and find that by the conclusion of my reading session my “protests” have turned to “praise!”
Giving thanks for everything seems like an oxymoron. Twenty-first century society tells us that this is an unrealistic expectation. However, the Bible directs us to give thanks for everything (1 Thessalonians 5:18). As you consider the concept of gratitude, in relation to this short poem do you believe that it is an unrealistic expectation?
We can give thanks in everything
And say, ‘Your will be done.’
For God’s at work in everything
To make us like His Son.1
Real gratitude expands our ministry opportunities. The more thankful we are, the more we are aware of our many blessings. If we only offer praise and thanksgiving when things go our way, we develop tunnel vision. However, if we are grateful for all that our heavenly Father brings into our lives, then our horizons are expanded and our ability to sincerely offer praise, regardless of the circumstances, increases! As this character quality becomes more evident in our lives others will be attracted to us rather than repelled—thus expanding our ministry borders.
Again, I can speak with conviction about this spiritual principle. Many circumstances in my life (being abandoned as an infant, being orphaned by adopted parents in my early twenties, being single, to name a few) initially appeared to be legitimate reasons to complain. However, as I chose to believe that my Lord is a sun and shield; that He gives grace and glory; and that there is no good thing that He will withhold from me if I am walking uprightly (Psalm 84:11), I realized that all I need to do is take care of the walking uprightly part (that includes being grateful for all things), and He will do the rest! Looking in retrospect at the seemingly devastating circumstances, I can now see how my loving heavenly Father used each as a vehicle to minister to others as well as to shape my character. The September 16 selection of Joy and Strength contains a piece of prose written by Priscilla Maurice (1810-1854), which clearly describes this thought:
Begin with thanking Him for some little thing, and then go on, day by day, adding to your subjects of praise: thus you will find their numbers grow wonderfully; and, in the same proportion, will your subjects of murmuring and complaining diminish, until you see in everything some cause for thanksgiving. If you cannot begin with anything positive, begin with something negative. If your whole lot seems only filled with causes for discontent, at any rate there is some trial that has not been appointed you; and you may thank God for its being withheld from you. It is certain that the more you try to praise, the more you will see how your path and your lying down are beset with mercies, and that the God of love is ever watching to do you good.2
When we study Christian biographies we learn that God's "giants" were people who knew how to praise the Lord in the midst of suffering. God used their lives to impact others because they knew how to give thanks—even in difficulties. Are you the type of Christian woman whose prayer list is filled with personal wants, while your praise list stays the same or shrinks? Or are you choosing to be a Multi-tasked Woman who offers praise and thanksgiving daily? Your response to these questions determines your level of spiritual maturity. If you are . . .
· increasing in your knowledge of the Word, then you have many reasons to thank our Lord.
· seeking to serve others (Mark 10:45), then you will have new motivation to praise the Lord.
· looking for ways to bear the burdens of others (Galatians 6:2), then your praise for what God is doing will probably increase.
Praise should touch every area of our lives. If it is our heart’s desire to mature as a Multi-tasked Woman then we will praise more and complain less!
So, if praise is pleasing our heavenly Father and propels us into a mature, godly woman what is the primary obstacle? Simply stated the primary obstacle is pride—and it is most often revealed through an attitude of criticism. We will not always get the best or have people serve us in the way we think we deserve; in fact, the Lord may reprove us by giving us the opposite of what we expect. Pride not only goes before a fall (Proverbs 16:18), it also goes before a lot of disappointments. Our heavenly Father wants us to strive for spiritual maturity; pride and selfishness hinder the process. As Multi-tasked Women, we will want to remember that the first of the seven things that are an abomination to our Lord is “haughty eyes” or a “proud look” (Proverbs 6:16-18).
It is not always easy to look up and say, "Thank you, Lord," when circumstances are challenging; however, it is a necessary reaction and one that demonstrates that you are exercising your will rather than your emotions. While our Lord may not change the circumstances, praise will effect what the circumstances do to us. Remember, the Psalmist directs his writings to the will, not the emotions!
The unsaved world is accustomed to hearing people complain; they really don't know what to do with people who are joyfully praising the Lord! The Philippian jailor (Acts 16:25-29) was not brought to Christ by the earthquake—that made him want to commit suicide! It was because Paul and Silas praised the Lord—under difficult circumstances—that the man heard the Gospel and knew that there was a way of salvation. It is a sober realization that a complaining Christian woman will be a pitiful witness for her faith; in reality, she is too much like the world to have much effect on it. The story of the 10 lepers highlights the fact that we are prone to accept blessing without saying “thank you." Too often Christian women are like the nine lepers who were healed of a disease that labeled them as outcasts of society; they wanted the gift of healing but failed to give thanks to the Lord Jesus (Luke 17:11-19) once it was bestowed. Paul provides a severe warning in 2 Timothy 3:1-7 to believers who fail to offer thanks.
Just as we delight in hearing others express gratitude to us, so God finds great delight in hearing His children say, "thank you." He inspired the Psalmist to write, "It is good to give thanks to the Lord" (Psalms 92:1); since saying “thank you” pleases God and encourages others, Multi-tasked Women will do it often! As you multi-task, remember . . .
If we were thankful for everything
The way God tells us to be,
What a wonderful change in our living
We would be able to see!3
1D. De Haan from Our Daily Bread.
2Tileston, Mary Wilder. 1929. Joy and Strength. Minneapolis: World Wide Publications, 260.
3 Author Unknown
