It is a beautiful thought to reflect upon the truth that both man and woman were created in the image of God. That means that as image bearers, we are a thumbprint of the Creator of all that was, is, and will be. When someone becomes a believer and, therefore, a child of God, they are given not only the physical reflection of God but the spiritual as well. For the Holy Spirit abides within the heart of the believer. Especially for women, it is joyous to see how the Spirit of God is manifested in our personalities, traits, and actions. These attributes are of God's creation and heart; living them out is a gift to each believer in their own walk.
Proverbs 31
More than likely, when one thinks of the attributes of a woman of God, one of the first connections to be made is that of Proverbs 31. This particular chapter was more than likely written by King Solomon, also known as King Lemuel, in this passage. He was gleaning wisdom from his mother's words regarding what a woman of noble character truly was. This woman is a hard worker with a keen business sense, "she selects wool and flax and works with eager hands…. She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard" (verses 13 and 16). This woman also is a credit to her husband, "her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life" (verse 12). She also has a heart of service and charity to those around her in the community, "she opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy." (Verse 20). Lastly, she is a woman who has her joy, her faith, and her trust rooted in God, "She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come…. charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised." (Verses 26 and 30).
The direct interlinear translation uses the word "rejoice" instead of "laugh," which is a notable distinction in that she does not scoff at the days to come; instead, she rejoices at the days to come. She knows that no matter what life brings, she can rejoice because she is a daughter of the King. Truly that is the most important of all the attributes a woman of God can possess, knowing and fearing her God with a pure heart and single mind bowing to Him and no other.
Delicate Yet Strong
Women, by creation, are made to be distinctly different than men, and that does not stop at the mere bone structure or softness of skin; it is within as well. Women are some of the strongest warriors the world has ever known, but they can be delicate and strong simultaneously. These are attributes a woman of God has; the ability to be delicate and strong all at once. Queen Esther is a prime example of such a woman. Esther was chosen from every eligible woman in the kingdom to marry King Xerxes. Before she was married, she underwent a year of beauty treatments to prepare her for what it would mean to be queen. Queens of this era were to be hospitable and beautiful, for they were a direct representation of not only the kingdom but of the king as well. Although one would think her to be a weak, helpless, naive girl, she was a strong, courageous, and fearless woman of God. In Esther 4, we see how she was encouraged by her uncle to plead the case of God's chosen people, the Jews, to save them from a plot to kill them all set in place by the evil Haman, "If you keep quiet at this time, someone else will help and save the Jewish people, but you and your father's family will all die. And who knows, you may have been chosen queen for just such a time as this." Then Esther sent this answer to Mordecai: 16 "Go and get all the Jewish people in Susa together. For my sake, fast; do not eat or drink for three days, night and day. I and my servant girls will also fast. Then I will go to the king, even though it is against the law, and if I die, I die."
Esther came before the king not in an abrupt, domineering, or controlling manner, but instead, she came forward with grace and courage to plead her case. She was willing to die for what she believed in and did it with poise. A woman of God knows she can be in the same moment, both soft and strong.
Women of the Bible
Throughout the Bible, we see women of God who were human like us. They did not possess any superhuman ability, but they knew firmly Who their God was and acted in obedience when called. Women such as Ruth teach us the importance of doing the right thing and honoring those around us when called to do so. Women like Jael show us that women can fight too and fulfill God's purpose and plan as His vessel with great strength. Ladies like Deborah show that it is possible to be a woman prophet, a leader, and a wife all in the same moment. Gals like Sarah show us that even when we make a mistake in not believing God that He can still bring forward a promise, and we can pivot our attitudes and obediently carry out our what is required of us in God's story. Lastly, women such as Mary show us that God entrusts with us the most valuable, wonderful, and important of gifts. Women of the Bible give us the attributes of living in action a life after God's own heart in their own unique stories. We can glean from their lives lessons for our own lives and come before the Lord to connect and entwine with Him to live out His Will for our lives and the story He has written just for us, just as He did for them. Women of the Bible are role models for all women to come.
It is beautiful to be a woman and even more so to be a woman of God. Cultivating and fostering attributes of being a woman of God starts with connecting with the Lord for who He made you to be specifically. Ask Him to highlight women in the Bible and the qualities they possess that He wants to grow and expand in you, and partner with Him to exercise those muscles. God loves women, and we serve an essential role in the Body of Christ and Kingdom as a whole. Know that your story and life matter to God, and He wants to use you for His story.
Cally Logan is an author and US History teacher from Richmond, Virginia. Her works have been featured on "The 700 Club Interactive," “Jesus Calling Blog,” and “Coffee and Bible Time,” among several notable outlets. She served as a mentor for young women for several years and enjoys challenging women to develop deeper relationships with God and to live fearlessly and authentically. She received her B.A. Degree from Regent University. In her spare time, she enjoys spending time in nature, having genuine chats over coffee, and woodworking. Her new book, The Wallflower That Bloomed, is available everywhere now. Connect with Cally: @CallyLogan Instagram CallyLogan.com