Cat fight!!!

Have you ever seen, or been in, a cat fight? Did you know that satan (sorry, I can't get myself to capitalize his name...) loves cat fights? That's right! He loves to stir up jealousy, greed, unforgiveness, strife, comparison, insecurity, and especially discontent among women. As long as he can entice us to focus on what we don't have or why 'she has more of this or that', our eyes are on our circumstances instead of the One who loves us, is faithful to provide for us and has a plan for our lives. The truth is, there will always be someone who has: more money; better clothes; more kids; a better job; a better boyfriend or husband; more friends; a more peaceful family, etc. etc. Instead of wishing we were as talented as so and so, why can't we first see each woman as a uniquely designed instrument designed by God to be part of a magnificent orchestra? Not every musician in an orchestra wants to be a violinist...nor should they be.

Yeah, the devil hates it when women know who they are in Christ. He hates it when we read God's word, but not only that, he hates it when we begin to have the audacity to believe it! You see, even the devil knows God's word. In Matthew chapter 4 we find the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness. Jesus had just fasted for forty days and nights and was hungry. It says, "3The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread." 4Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" In the next verse the devil goes on to actually quote scripture to Jesus. Why wasn't there authority behind the devil quoting scripture? Because the next section of scripture Jesus shows that He worships the Lord God and serves Him only. His heart was not divided. He knew who He was and He knew He had a purpose. We are no different in that we can know who we are in the Lord and we can know His purpose for our lives. However, if our hearts are consumed with who we are not, our minds cluttered with all the what ifs, and our lives filled with things that will only temporarily satisfy, we will never experience the fullness and depth of relationship the Lord intends for each of us.

So, what then? First we can go before the Lord and recognize there is no such thing as a secret when it comes to us actually trying to hide something from Him. We need to be honest with the Lord about our hearts toward ourselves and others. In doing that, it opens a door for us to freedom. Freedom in being able to lay it all at His feet and say, "Let Your kingdom come, let Your will be done." Trusting that He actually knew what He was doing when He designed you. Next, we need to appreciate that it is part of God's design that we are all different. Each of us reflects a different part of God's beauty...we are made by Him, to display His splendor. So, instead of resenting or being jealous of the women we know and meet, let's ask the Lord to show us His heart for each other, how we can pray for one another, encourage them in their gifts, love them the way we are called to love. For some, another step will need to be taken. A step of repenting and asking God, and perhaps another woman or women, for forgiveness...If we are to have God's heart for all women, that will include the ones that we have hated, ones who have betrayed us, ones with different callings or passions or world views.

If we ask God for His eyes and His heart for the women in our lives we will be able to work together, sharing God's love as He intended it. As long as we believe we are actually better than someone else, we will never be used to minister to them. How disheartening to hold onto our grievances to one day learn that the very women we judged were the ones God had called us to love...