Women, made in the Image of God!

I was so excited to start blogging. I feel like God has been teaching me so much but I just have been so busy to find time to write it down. I really need to make the time. I am excited for this season in my life. I am currently going through the Bible Study “Captivating, Unveiling the Mystery of a Woman’s Soul” by John and Stasi Eldredge. Wow! Powerful Study! God has been showing me so much through it that much of what I will be blogging about in the next little while will probably be from “Captivating”. So hear we go…

Genesis 1:27

“So God created man in his own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.”

I thought I understood this verse but really thinking about what being made in God’s image means is truly a new thing for me. When I look at God’s character and who He is I can see the masculine. The strength and power, the hero/warrior. And these aren’t the only masculine characteristics we see but a few that stick out to me. It has been easy for me to see God as that but what about women? Women were also made in God’s image. I have often thought that being feminine is weak but if women are truly made in God’s image how can that be? God isn’t weak. So God has been showing me that yes men are made in His image but so are women. He designed us very differently but both in His image. And both very important to Him!

Whatever it means to bear God’s image, women do so as women. Female! That’s how and where women bear his image. My feminine heart was created to reflect God’s own heart. This has been profound for me. I’ve never looked at this quite this way before. Very eye opening! So I have begun this journey to discover what that means and of course that begins with the heart.

Through my study of “Captivating”, I have learned that there are three definite things that all women desire and long for: to be romanced, to play an irreplaceable role in a great adventure, and to unveil beauty. These things make women come alive!

To be Romanced

I definitely want to share what God has been showing me about being romanced. It starts as little girls. I look at Londyn and watch how she plays. She wants to be the beautiful princess that is wanted and fought for. And her favorite movies, The Little Mermaid & Beauty and the Beast have that very theme in them. We see this in ALL “chick flicks”. I can think of my favorites =)

Little girls are like this with their daddy’s. I put a dress on Londyn and do her hair and she runs right into Daddy to make sure that He thinks she is absolutely beautiful. Twirling as she goes. She wants to hear him say, “Londyn you are so beautiful. Women want to be seen, pursued, the only one, to be someone’s priority. And the interesting thing to me about all of this is that God desires the exact same thing from us. He wants to be romanced. He wants us to pursue Him, to be captivated by Him, He wants to be our one and only. Wow! We (women) are much more like God than I thought. And this is just the beginning.

So for women, don’t be ashamed or embarrassed about a desire to be romanced. God has created us that way. He is that way! Know that you have been made in His image. You are not just a weak after thought. You are an important part of His plan. He loves you! He sees you and wants to pursue you.

An Irreplaceable Role in a Great Adventure

“There is something fierce in the heart of a woman. Simply insult her children, her man or her best friend and you’ll get a taste of it. A woman is a warrior too. But she is meant to be a warrior in a uniquely feminine way. Sometime before the sorrows of life did their best to kill it in us, most young women wanted to be a part of something grand, something important. Before doubt and accusation take hold, most little girls sense that they have a vital role to play; they want to believe there is something in them that is needed and needed desperately.” –Stasi Eldredge, “Captivating”

Women want to play and irreplaceable role. We love adventure and to play a huge part in that. Not that we want to do it on our own but something that requires us. Women do play an irreplaceable role everyday. Just look around you. And example of this, women give birth everyday. Women are not weak! Our bodies alone are very strong for this to happen. I believe that women were made this way and although men are strong in their own way they were definitely not made for having babies. Can I get an Amen from all the mommy’s? This is one irreplaceable role.

Some may want to hide and the thought of living as a hermit appeals to them. We have been disappointed, hurt, to many demands, completely worn out. But our lives were meant to be lived with others. We can’t run away for long. We are relational beings. Made to be that way. God is that way! He is relational. He longs to play that irreplaceable role in our lives and in the lives of all. He is irreplaceable! Every good and perfect gift comes from Him. The very breath we breathe is not possible without Him. And in the same way He has an irreplaceable role for each one of us, men and women. That is how we have been made, part of His design. I want to know what He has for me, don’t you?

Beauty to Unveil

And finally, women want to be beautiful. Beauty comes in many forms. I love the song by Bethany Dillon called “Beautiful”. In it she sings,

I want to be beautiful

And make you stand in awe

Look inside my heart

And be amazed

I want to hear you say

Who I am is quite enough

I just want to be worthy of love

And beautiful.

Wow! That is definitely me! I want to be beautiful don’t you? I love when Mario and I go out on dates. I always want to look beautiful to him. I dress up since most days I am dressed to clean and play with my precious kids. Putting on special perfume that I know drives him crazy. I love that!

I know this can be a very difficult struggle for most of us. We don’t feel like we are beautiful or at least not beautiful enough. We look around us and beauty is in our faces. How to get beautiful and how to look perfect, or at least how the world sees it. So many of us strive and others hide and resent that longing. And it isn’t always just outward beauty but inward beauty. We want to be beautiful on the inside, who we are. Queen Esther was beautiful but not just on the outside. Her good heart and love for her people are what move the King to save them. I want that to me. Look at Mother Teresa, she was absolutely beautiful. I’ve been praying God make me beautiful from the inside out. God let Londyn’s beauty come from the inside out and let her see that is most important.

“We want a beauty that can be seen; a beauty that can be felt; a beauty that affects others; and a beauty all our own to unveil. –Stasi Eldredge, “Captivating”. This is also God’s desire. He is absolutely beautiful! He wants it to be felt, to affect us, to unveil it. Wow! Were we ever made in His image or what? So don’t ever feel ashamed of this or wanting to be romanced and play that irreplaceable role. When God made us, He made us with these things in mind. He made us to be this way. Glorious, powerful and captivating!!!

I’m so excited to share more about what God is teaching me through the study I am doing. I totally recommend it to those who struggle like me and even those who feel strong. God has something for all of us!