A Prayer for the Biblical Woman
By Emily Rose Massey
“And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” - Colossians 3:17, NKJV
Social media has changed a lot over the years. What used to be a way to simply share snapshots and stay connected to family and friends has now become a world-wide “town square” for anyone to have a voice and opinion on just about any topic imaginable. In Christian online circles, one particular topic that has seemed to become extremely popular is biblical Womanhood. In fact, there are entire social media pages, podcasts, YouTube channels, and blogs solely dedicated to what is means to be a biblical woman. Just search the hashtag “biblical womanhood” and you will find a plethora of carefully curated infographics, elegant and creative reels, and perfectly posed photos to scroll through for days on end. Of course, there are Bible verses to accompany these posts, and they will always say something about giving God glory as a woman. But I have observed that much of what you will find can be described, in my opinion, as cookie cutter, as if there is only one aesthetic that defines biblical womanhood.
Some examples are baking homemade sourdough bread, wearing only dresses with aprons, homeschooling, raising chickens, cleaning tips, meal prepping, and gardening. Friends, all these things can be beneficial as a woman in the home, but let us be careful not to equate 1950s homemaking to what is means to be a biblical woman. When it comes to what God is concerned most about, it is a matter of the heart, not what we see on the outside. I am reminded of this exhortation from the Apostle Paul to the church at Colossae:
“And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” - Colossians 3:17, NKJV
Homeschooling, keeping the home organized, and preparing meals for your family are all wonderful things that a woman can do, but if she is not doing those things with the right heart or motive, it is all done in vain. Whether you are single, married, a stay-at-home momma, a working momma, a woman with a successful career, retired, or a grandma with expansive life-experience and wisdom, God has called you to be a biblical woman by living your life solely for the Lord Jesus with a heart full of thankfulness for all that He has done for you.
Your beauty or worth as a woman isn’t about how hard you can slay or hustle, how immaculately clean your home looks, or how well-behaved your children are. Real beauty comes from total dependency on God. What blooms in your life will be beautiful because of Him.
Your story of walking with Jesus is not about your works or what you can do in your own power or strength, it is about working with grace and allowing it to do its work in you and through you. The more you lean into His grace, the more you will see growth and maturity in your heart and life. Through this dependency on Him, you will make Jesus famous and not your own name. God alone will receive all the glory that is due His name. May we learn how to surrender our life to Jesus every single day and trust that He will use it all for His glory.
Let’s pray:
Heavenly Father,
I long to be a biblical woman, but I do not want to get swayed by what others tell me what that should look like. I want to look to the scriptures first and foremost. You are not concerned with what I look like on the outside, but You are more concerned with the posture of my heart. Help me to serve my family and my community without grumbling or complaining as I depend solely upon You each day. I pray that You would use every trial and difficulty in my life to conform me into the image of Your dear Son. I long to give You glory in all that I say and do. Help me lean upon Your grace to be the woman You have called me to be, to further Your Kingdom and tell of Your goodness and faithfulness.
In Jesus’ name, amen.
Emily Massey began writing short stories and poetry as a little girl, entered the blogging world in her early 20s, and published her first book in 2015. She enjoys being a stay-at-home momma while still being able to pursue her passion as a writer. Believing she has been forgiven much, she loves much, and desires to point others to Christ and His redemptive and transforming power, especially by sharing truth found in God’s written Word. If you would like to connect with Emily, you can visit www.emilyrosemassey.com
Editor's Note: We're proud to announce we've just launched a new nighttime companion to Your Daily Prayer: the Your Nightly Prayer devotional. You'll soon be able to subscribe to receive Your Nightly Prayer via email, or as a podcast, but for now you can find it on the website at crosswalk.com/devotionals/your-nightly-prayer. We hope it's a relaxing and soothing way to wind down your day with rich meditations on who God is.
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