Real WOMEN Real FAITH - Rebekah

Rebekah
Rejecting Stereotypes -
Fearfully & Wonderfully Made

- Day 5 -

Have you ever wondered what the purpose of feminine stereotypes are?

TV shows, commercials, magazines, and Internet invest large sums of money each year to show women what the latest fashion trends are.  The message they want to get across is that in order to be successful you have to look a certain way (physically) and act a certain way (intellectually).  As a woman if you follow their advice you will be able to seduce your audience and in the end you will be successful - happy!

Yesterday, our pastor gave a message on purity and one of the verses he used seemed to fit in with our topic.  Paul, in the letter he writes to the Ephesians, addresses the same attitude.  Hundreds of years ago men (and women) were thinking the same way we think today.

Ephesians 4

18 They are darkened in their understanding and separated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them due to the hardening of their hearts.

22 You were taught,...…..23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.

What does the Bible teach us?

Pastor Bonnie strongly encouraged us to “see yourself as God sees you.”  In our blog post yesterday, we read Psalm 139.  It's a good place to start......

Psalm 139:13 - 14

13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

Let's take a closer look at the meaning of the words and phrases:

Verse 13  You knit me together = God protected me in my mother’s womb: a place where I could not be seen; a dark and intimate location....God was there.

Verse 14  Wonderfully made = Set apart, to distinguish....God made each one of us in a unique way.

Can you see the difference?

The world says, "You can become beautiful if you......."

God says, "I made you beautifully!"

PRAY   Ask God to give you the freedom from the stereotypes of this world.

SHARE   Do you have a verse that encourages you in this battle?  Share it and encourage other women just like you.