To the young woman

 When you look back on your life what will you see? A life full of joy or a string of regrets from the choices you made when you weren't looking this far back? How about those around you will they be better off for the choices you make now or will they be worse off? Think about it critically.

 

 It may seem so far away and years ahead but each choice you make today is leading up to your future. The friends you make, the places you work, the lifestyle you live and how you choose to fund it. Imagine if life came with a manual, a manual that showed you how to live and what God's plan is for your life, so you wouldn't have to stumble, wouldn't have to waste time on things that don't last and you did not have to fit into the crowd or break out from the crowd. You would just be living according to this guide. It might not seem so interesting at first, I mean the reason you could hardly wait to move from your parents or guardians was for freedom. But even that freedom is also included in the manual. For some reason which is nefarious the society has consistently shown that the path of freedom for women is to 'own their sexuality', take alcohol and all other kinds of substances, dress however they like, be with whoever they choose man or woman, have abortions and go against the norm. What they fail to add to this grand vision of freedom are the following consequences, addictions, mental health issues, deep regret in later life, death from substances or from being so intoxicated people took advantage and murdered the person, injuries, lifestyle diseases, organ failure and shut down, and so on. Jesus said it in John 8

Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. John 8:34 

 

Original Design 

If you are wondering what manual I am referring to, it is the Bible. It is the living word and the more you read it and live it, the more you become transformed. Let's start at the beginning with the first woman in the Bible Eve. In Genesis 1:26-28 we read about God's intention. 

"And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth." — Genesis 1:26 (KJV)

"So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them." — Genesis 1:27 (KJV) 

 "And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth." — Genesis 1:28 (KJV)

 First and foremost I want you to internalize that you were created in the image and likeness of God. I know the world has spend decades trying to get women to conform to a certain image or dressing in order to be approved but this is not the case. Be confident in who God made you to be. He makes no mistakes and you are made in His image. 

 God created male and female and instructed them to multiply and fill the earth. So when it comes to gender, He knew who would be female and who would be male and no matter how much people struggle with identity He made each with distinct features that clearly form markers of men and markers for women. 

 "And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him." — Genesis 2:18 (KJV)

"And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man." — Genesis 2:22 (KJV)

"And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man." — Genesis 2:23 (KJV)

The Lord God made the woman to be a help meet and for companionship. Before the lines and narratives got skewed men and women complemented each other. Men can do certain things and women can do certain things. Both different but complementary. Somewhere along the line it became a competition and what was once complete, became a competition with both genders missing out on God's original plan.

 

 Redemption

When I refer to redemption, I would like to start with the most important event ever which is when Jesus came down on earth, took on our sin, died for us and resurrected to reconcile us back to God.

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." — John 3:16 (KJV)

 You have not gone too far, sinned too much, walked far enough away from God that He cannot reach you. Each and every person can confess their sins, repent and ask Jesus to be their Lord and Savior. During Jesus time on earth there are a significant number of people who experienced redemption and forgiveness of sin.

There was a woman who was so shunned by society that she was out doing her work at odd hours so she could avoid people. She was experiencing shame and judgement from the people around her. That day Jesus had to get somewhere and He deviated off the common route and went through this place where the woman was. She was at the well, He met her and spoke to her and He got to the root of the issues she was having. She was said to have had 5 husbands and the one she was living with at the time wasn't even her husband. She came to believe and trust in Him and at the end of it went ahead to tell her whole village about Him. Can you imagine the transformation? From not wanting to be seen by anyone to running back to tell everyone the Good News about Jesus. Your life can be just as transformed as the woman at the well. Jesus is able to give you a new identity and purpose that is totally different from your past, the labels people had for you and the trajectory you imagined your life to be on. 

 

The second woman I will share about was caught in the act of adultery. The people who caught her weren't really interested in justice, they just wanted a way to trap Jesus with His own words. So they brought her to where He was. They explained how they had 'caught her' and asked what they should do? Jesus just took His time writing on the ground, so they kept pressing him for a response and then He said the one without sin should cast the first stone. 

"So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her." — John 8:7 (KJV)

"And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground." — John 8:8 (KJV)

"And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst." — John 8:9 (KJV)

"When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?" — John 8:10 (KJV)

"She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more." — John 8:11 (KJV)

You see, you and I have been led to believe that our mess ups, sins and mistakes are so big that God is just angry with us and there is no way back to Him. Nothing could be further from the truth. In this story, Jesus does not condemn the woman, He lets her go free and He confronts the hearts and motives of those who brought her to Him, asking them to examine themselves and realize they were also sinful. Today would you believe that you can to Jesus as you are and that His plan for your life is so wonderful it is just waiting for you to say yes?

 

These are a summarized collection of the Word but there are so many other reasons to follow God and His design for your life. Nothing else will ever satisfy, not people, not things, not status, power, or even knowledge. Receive Jesus as your Lord and Savior today:
Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus,
I admit I have not been living right. I have strayed from the original plan you had for my life. I confess I never took the time to know you but this day, I ask that you come into my heart and transform me to your will. Forgive me of all my sins and help me start anew. I love you and honor you, in Jesus name I pray. Amen!

I am so glad you made this decision and heaven rejoices over you.
If you prayed that prayer, reach out to me and I will send you a copy of a 30 day devotional that will help you get grounded in the word of God and begin your transformation journey.