Raising Daughters to Become Themselves (and Becoming YOURSELF too!)

Written by Natalie, Editress of Visionary Womanhood

When a cook boils something down, it becomes a concentrate of whatever it was to begin with. A concentrate is powerful. Full of flavor. The very essence of what it was.

Let’s boil down the gospel:

1. God created us and loved us.

2. Satan sold us the lie that God doesn’t love us.

3. We believed that lie and sinned, earning us eternal death and separation from God.

4. God sent His Son to take that punishment in our place. Because He still loves us.

5. When we truly believe that we are loved by God and that Christ’s death and resurrection is all we need, we are saved – and become all that God made us to be. We come ALIVE.

We become ourselves.

That’s really what Staci Eldredge’s new book, Becoming Myself, is all about.

Discarding Misogyny

Do you struggle with misogyny; deep down, feeling that women are worth less than men? Maybe some of us don’t believe that intellectually, but do we sometimes feel that it is a reality in this broken world we live in? And some of us have actually experienced the reality of misogyny.

Misogyny is, in part, the lie that you (a woman) are unloved. You are worthless. You are unimportant. You lack value.

It is a lie.

It is a lie.

It is a lie from the pit that we choose to believe.

And we can be set free with the TRUTH that we ARE loved! WE are valuable! We play CRITICAL, IMPORTANT roles in God’s history!

“Let us begin by celebrating the role we play; let us champion these callings and celebrate them every way we can. The truth is that who we are as women, what we bring, and the role that is our to play in the world, in the kingdom of God, and in the lives of men, women, and children are of immeasurable worth and power.

The kingdom of God will not advance as it needs to advance without women rising up and playing their role. The transformation and healing of a man requires the presence, strength, and mercy of a woman. Men will not become the men they were meant to be without godly women pouring into their lives. Women will not become who they are meant to be without the strength, encouragement, and wisdom of other women nurturing their lives. Yes, it’s been hard. But that’s because you are so vitally needed. Your valiant feminine heart is needed today in the lives of those you live with, work with, and love. The hour is late.

Women are image bearers of God. Women are coheirs with Christ. Women are valued, worthy, powerful, and needed. There is a reason the Enemy fears women and has poured out his hatred onto our very existence. Let him be afraid, then. For “we are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed” (2 Cor. 4:8-9). We are more than conquerors through Christ who strengthens us, and we will not be overcome. God is our strength. Jesus is our defender. The Holy Spirit is our portion. And in the name of our God and Savior, we will choose to love him. We will choose to bow down in surrendered worship to our God. And by the power of Christ in us, we will choose to rise up and be women of God, bringing his kingdom in unyielding and merciful strength.”

This book came to me at just the perfect time in my life. (Does God do that kind of thing in your life too? I’ll bet He does!)

 The Book Trailer

Quotes I Love

On suffering:

“Let suffering be the door you walk through that draws you to deeper intimacy with Jesus. Suffering can do that, if we let it. And though it would never be the doorway we would choose, it is one we will never regret walking through.”

On being free:

“How can we be free to dance when like no one is watching? Unless you are home alone with the curtains drawn, people are probably watching. How do we live in freedom? We live in freedom when we come to believe, know, receive, and embrace the boundless love of God for us – when we are captured by his goodness, his faithfulness, his honor, his sacrifice, his heart that yearns for us. Then we can dance for an audience of One. Because we are so completely loved. We are safe and secure in the love of God. Every moment of our lives.

This brings us another startling freedom: we are free to fail. Let me say that again. We are free to fail. Because of Jesus, we can be free from the cages of other people’s expectations, demands, yokes, and judgements – even our own.”

On being misunderstood:

“Have you ever had your motives misunderstood? Have you ever had someone criticize the way you worship or spend your time or money, the way you minister or believe or come through or don’t come through? It has happened to me countless times, and I hate it. Jesus isn’t so fond of it either. When people judge you, that is. Especially for loving Him. Jesus knows well that it hurts to be misunderstood and judged. He knows that it is part of the sorrow of living in a fallen world.

We hurt others others when we interpret their actions through the lenses of misunderstanding wrought in our own brokenness and sin. We are hurt by others when they do it to us. And when it happens to us, how are we supposed to defend ourselves? What did Mary do? Well, Mary didn’t say a word in her own defense – but Jesus did. Jesus always defends a worshiper. Sometimes God will ask us to speak – in love – but always he is our Defender.”

On worship and surrender:

“Mary Magdalene was a worshiper. She had been healed and delivered of much, and she loved Jesus thoroughly. She followed Him. She gave her complete focus. She gave her resources. She gave her heart. She gave her unconditional surrender.

This is what Jesus most longs for. He’s not panting after your sacrifice or even your obedience. He doesn’t need your money. He doesn’t need your gifting. Oh, but He wants your heart. He longs for your love….Jesus longs for you to come close to Him. And He has been moving throughout all eternity, battling, suffering, dying, and triumphing to win your heart for Himself. He wants to capture your heart as a response to His overwhelming love for YOU!”

Click over HERE to get a FREE chapter, to read other testimonials, and find out more about Becoming Myself.