She Knows Who She is
The songstress and internationally acclaimed icon, Chaka Khan, popularized the song “I’m Every Woman.” The opening lyrics boldly proclaim, “I’m every woman, it’s all in me. Anything you want done, baby I’ll do it naturally.” This catchy tune, and celebrated anthem of feminine bravado, has unfortunately, given some women a warped sense of inspirational identity. Some women find themselves asking the proverbial questions, “Can I have it all … Can I be a superwoman….What kind of woman should I model myself off of?” If you have ever asked these soul-searching questions, consider God’s declaration of the type of woman we can admire. In Proverbs 31:26-31, God sets the tone for what He considers an inspirational woman.
In this passage of Scripture, we see that while God acknowledges and praises the beauty and tangible accomplishments of women, what He truly considers laudable, successful, and inspirational, is the woman who seeks Him first and prioritizes her life to reflect His glory. Women do this every day when dating a man God approves of, when encouraging and uplifting other women instead of tearing them down, when focusing on physical and mental health but also doing the necessary work to strengthen and enrich her soul and spirit.
Stand firm woman of God. You know who you are and who guides your today and tomorrow. I know that sometimes in our modern world it seems like self-respect, dignity, modesty, and poise are outdated. The women whom some in society seem to celebrate are ethically loose, fashionably seductive and inordinately selfish, foolishly proclaiming, “I’ve got mine, you need to get yours.” But know this, the omnipotent God proclaims, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you” (Psalm 32:8). Indeed, a woman who reflects the glory of God, follows His instructions, and prizes His word, is the most inspirational of all.