Wordy Wednesday

Once again here is a post about Nancy Leigh DeMoss's, Becoming God's True Woman. Its amazing that I can read this book a million times and still get something new or challenging out of it. This week's chapter was How to Raise Feminine Daughters.

Its funny because though this is the title of the chapter its not the only main point. The last chapter on submission oozes into this one as well. I love the way she defines it. Submission isn't slavery. Submission is surrendering to the order that God has created. We submit to the Lordship of Jesus when we trust him. The out-flowing of our love for Christ should be evident in the way we submit to our husbands and others in authority(...which I'm learning even means the speed limit.) We do this out of love, not duty. We do this based on their position that God has put them in our life not on their performance. Let's be honest some authority figures doesn't deserve our respect or encouragement, but God doesn't say respect those only worthy of respect.

"Jesus loved us so much that he voluntarily submitted to death on the cross. His command is that wives are to submit to their husbands. This is a gift that we voluntarily give to the man we have vowed to love, in obedience to the Savior we love. The redeemed helper knows that submission does not restrict her- it actually frees her to fulfill her helper design. And as she lives in the light of this truth, her daughters WATCH and LEARN."

All of this to say, our biological daughters and/or spiritual daughters are watching us. We are teaching a way of life as we live. WOW. What are our girls seeing? Are we truly showing them what Godly submission looks like? Are we loving and encouraging our husbands? or are we tearing them down with our words or attitudes? We teach with our lives and they are watching and listening! So let this be a challenge to us all to love our husbands and our Savior enough to be the redeemed helper that our daughters/girls will want to exemplify.

"We must teach biblical truths and pray that the Holy Spirit will apply that truth to their hearts. When our daughters are taught the truth of biblical womanhood, and they see the wonder and substance of this reality being lived out among Christian women, I believe they will be dazzled and will flourish."

"Our daughters will be products of their theology. Their knowledge or lack of knowledge of who God is and what he has done for them will show up in every attitude, action, and relationship. Their world view will be determined by their belief system." What are we doing to teach them the truth?

"We must teach our daughters that their value and identity lie in the fact that they are image bearers of the God of glory. This will protect them from seeking significance in the inconsequential shallowness of self fulfillment, personal happiness, materialism, or other's approval." Because our purpose is God's glory, this should shape and simplify our life. Every decision we should ask, "Does this glorify God?" Our girls should see us making decisions based on this mandate. Now our boys should too, but this chapter is about raising daughters.

A question we should be asking ourselves before we challenge our girls: "Is God's glory really the driving passion of my own life?" We can't expect them to do what we don't.

Nancy Leigh DeMoss says some awesome things in this chapter. All of it is going back to we need to practice what we preach. Trust me... this concept is kicking my butt. I can type out all of this awesome stuff and challenge you guys, but if I don't let it change me... what good is it?

The chapter goes on to explain that we as women are "redeemed helpers." Of course this is insinuating that we have been redeemed. Once we realize our purpose as redeemed helpers we can better understand our role in our relationships. "As women we need to embrace our helper design. Once we as women embrace our helper design we will encourage and equip our daughters to do the same."

"The man and woman were created with the capacity to reflect the very character of God. Both having very different, purposeful characteristics for God's glory." D and I have very different characteristics that together make us work very well together. The more I learn about this the more I see God revealed in more aspects of my life. His perfect plan was purposeful and makes perfect sense.


-A redeemed helper will be a woman of prayer. She will defend her family and the covenant family on her knees, and her daughters will be drawn to emulate her selfless strength.

-A redeemed helper is not inward focused. She spends her time training and helping others.

-A redeemed helper values male and female distinctiveness b/c she knows this is God's design and order. She isn't threatened by male leadership. She knows submission doesn't have to do with status. It has to do with function.

A true woman knows her place as a redeemed helper. She is a reflection of God's glory. One of the ways she demonstrates this is through domesticity. "Domesticity means that we prepare safe places where troubled hearts can find rest and comfort, and we involve our daughters in this ministry in our homes and churches." I always thought being domestic meant cooking, cleaning, doing the laundry, etc. Though that is part of it, the bigger picture is the motive behind cooking, cleaning, and doing the laundry. You do these things not out of duty, but so that your home is a safe haven to others and your husband.

This book is awesome and just keeps getting better and better. I hope it encourages and challenges you as much as it has me!