Behold My Servant, Whom I delight...

(Print by Carl Holsoe at Art.com)

Behold My Servant...I read these words the other morning and wondered if God would say that about me...Behold, Catherine My servant, in Whom I delight...

Something that I like to do is to place my name within the scriptures - as if God were speaking directly to me.  It does make a difference sometimes in how I read them and oh how it can pierce right through to my heart and then...conviction!

Now I realize that the above verse is speaking of Jesus, the Servant-Messiah, the Chosen One.  But look at the verses above.  Do you see that the Chosen One reveals a character of gentleness, encouragement, justice and truth?  Do we as daughters after God's Heart, wives and mothers have those same character traits?  Are we gentle in our approach towards others - especially to our husbands and children?  We can be so very gentle to others but sometimes when it comes to our own family we can be harsh, short and curt.  Do we encourage our husbands in what they do or are we too busy pushing them in the direction "we" think they should go?  We are here to be their helpmeet not squash their flame.  Justice and truth?  Are we being true to our husbands and honoring their requests and thoughts?  Do we go about doing what "we" want to do disregarding their wishes.  We can be good at justifying why we do it (behind their backs) but does that honor them? 

Does that honor God's request of us to respect our husbands as being the head of our home...of us?

You wives, submit yourselves to your husbands, for that is what the Lord has planned for you.

~Colossians 3:18~

When we do this, this allows for the next part of the verse, which is many times excluded, to take place...

If we go against God's request of us - there will be nothing but hardship and struggle ahead.  Righteousness is having right actions, thoughts, attitudes, feelings and right relationships - all which are based on our right standing with God.  You can't have that if you are not in right standing all around and in all things.

Like Jesus, we have been called to do and be something very special and unique.  We have been called to be not only daughters of God but for some of us to be wives that God has called us to be to our husbands, mothers to the children He has given to us to care for, nuture and bring up to honor Him.  We have been called to be gentle, kind and yet strong.  Our Father has given us the hearts needed to be the nurturer not the opposite.  Our example of how we should be...

Jesus! 

Jesus...didn't shout out in the streets to make His point.  It was through His quiet demeanor that made people listen to what He had to say.  If we shout or try to press our point with others - what happens?  Do you want to listen to that?!  I know I sure don't and immediately tune that person out.  This kind of shouting only turns others away like those loud and annoying car commercials that feel they have to yell at you to notice their great sales.  Usually when people do that it is something they are trying to force upon you.  Does Jesus do that?  God does not force us to do anything!  I love His approach even when we don't get it the first, second and third time around. 

Jesus...didn't get huffy when people ignored Him or disagreed with Him.  There was no stomping away mad because He didn't get His way or slamming of doors.  No...there was none of that!  Nor did He retaliate by giving someone the silent treatment in a I will show them attitude.  He took what was said.  I love this quote from Elizabeth George...

She bears with tranquility the disturbances others create. She endures ill treatment. She withstands misunderstandings. Carrying the image of Jesus and His suffering in her mind & heart, she "takes it," this cultivating the fruit of God's gentleness.

Jesus...did not allow hurt feelings to get in the way of His mission or allow those things done/said to Him to take Him off course.  Oh how easy it is for us to allow this to sidetrack us for days, weeks even months.  We hang on to those hurtful feelings even well after the fact and allow them to fester and soon before we know it...they hinder us in our walk.  We start to second guess the who, what, where and whys and Satan just eats that up and with great relish I might add.   

Jesus...was the ultimate servant.  His willingness to do what He did brought such a softness to the world that we, Ladies, need to remember and follow His beautiful example in our own lives.  God will continue to guide and support us in all that we do if we will only let go of those things that we tend to hold on to and try and control ourselves.  The praise goes to God and not in the things we hold onto and make into idols - the things we think we control. 

Are we the example we need to be to our husbands, children and others around us or are we the example of how not to be?

You have been chosen by God to do what you are doing right now...at this stage of your life...your season.  What is your season right now?  Mine has changed so many times over the years - it does that as your family grows and soon fly out of your nest.  I did not stop long enough to enjoy the season I was in.  I can see that now looking back.  I was too busy rushing through them. 

Have you ever noticed when someone enjoys what they are doing just how much it shows?  It seems that in everything they do and touch - is just beautiful.  Would/could someone say that about you and what you are doing right now in this phase and stage in your life?  Can they look at you, your home and anything that you are involved in and say that they can tell you have joy in what you do?  Try and find the joy in all that we do and touch even if it is a task we don't like doing.  Make it a beautiful thing.  Remember Who it is we are doing it for and give Him the glory and honor in all that we do. 

Reread the Isaiah 42:1-8 again but this time place your name within and remember the beatitude we need to be having within our lives, our homes and our hearts!

Love and God's Blessings to You All,

  Catherine