You are of great value

This week I had the privilege of speaking several times to a group of about 120 precious ladies. They are from a nation that is not predominantly Christian (only about 2% Christian).

The message God gave me to share focused on their worth and value as women.

Many in the world have not heard the truth of God's word...that He created women, as well as men, in His image and that He loves us lavishly. For many American women, this is not news. We often take much for granted, and at the same time, we can assume others know and believe what we believe. But I encourage you to stop and think about other women around the world and pray for them, that they too will know the truth of their full God-given value.

God said, "Let us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every living creeping thing that creeps on the earth." So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. Then God blessed them, and God said to them, "Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth." ( Genesis 1:26-28. Emphasis is mine.)

The only part of creation that was proclaimed "not good" (Genesis 2:18) was for man to be alone...only one. So God separated the one person into to "man" and "man with a womb," thus "woman" (Genesis 2:21-23). God gave both the man and woman the command to subdue (conquer) the earth. The woman was to be a "comparable" helper for him (Genesis 2:20), which means an equivalent helper.

God loves men and women equally. Women are not accidents. We were not created to be sex objects or posessions. We are more than our bodies. We have a soul, personality, emotions, dreams and hopes. Women are not inferior to men; neither are men inferior to women. We are each God's purposeful design. We were created with eternal destiny and calling.

As a child, I was told that I was supposed to be a boy. As a result, I lived many years trying to be like my brother. I hated wearing dresses, learned to climb fences and trees, and played football with the neighborhood kids. But when I became a Christian and began reading the Bible I soon discovered truths about God and about myself, that God intended for me to be a woman, that I was not a mistake or an accident, and that God loves me just as I am.

Unfortunately there are women who look at their circumstances and judge God and His love based on their experience. Our situations do not always speak truth to us. They more often validate what we have always believed, what we have been told, or what we have imagined in our minds. It is the truth of God's Word that can be relied on and trusted. God says when we know the truth, we are set free (John 8:32).

One of my favorite scriptures is Psalm 139:13-16: For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise You , for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works. And that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought inthe lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them.

I was overwhelmed when I learned that God not only knew me before I was born, but before I was conceived inside my mother, He had a plan for my life. He had a purpose and will for each day. He created you and me individually, with worth, value, spiritual giftings, and with a divine calling on our lives. How amazing is that?

Jesus demonstrated the love of God for women as He violated the traditions of those day.

- He taught God's truths to women in a culture where that was not the tradition. Women were not considered worthy of being taught religious truths. Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus, sat at the feet of Jesus and heard His word. When Martha became upset with her sister, Jesus not only did not send Mary back to the kitchen to help her sistier, He honored her. Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her. (Luke 10:38-42).

- Jesus spoke to a Samaritan prostitute about worshipping God. Men would not speak to women in public, much less "that kind" of woman (John 4:5-42). His disciples marveled that he talked with a woman (vs 27). Yet, she became an evangelist and (vs 39) many of the Samaritans of that city believed in Him because of the word of the woman who testified, "He told me all that I ever did."

- A woman who had been bleeding internally for 12 years touched Jesus (Luke 8:43-48). The Old Testiment law said a person was unclean if they had physical contact with someone who was bleeding. Yet, when this woman touched Jesus, she was healed, and then Jesus praised her for her faith. Daughter be of good cheer; your faith has made you well. God in peace.

Jesus shed His blood for the salvation of women as well as for men. He calls each of us to come to a personal relationship with Him...men and women. We each are held accountable for knowing Him, having wisdom, and walking in His truths. God says that He is not a respecter of persons. In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him (Acts 10:34-35). And in Christ, there is no male or female (Galatians 3:28).

For many people, this will shatter their ideas, traditions and cultural perspective. Some may even be offended. If you are one of those, then please study the Word of God. In Genesis, everything God made was declared as "good." Ladies, we are God's amazing work. He formed us in our mother's womb and wrote down every day of our life in His book (Psalm 139:13-16). He also says that He has plans for my life and yours, and that they are plans for good and to give us

a future and a hope (Jeremiah 29:11).

The truth that God loves women as much as He loves men, will not only set women free, but it will set men free. Men who believe women are inferior are living a lie and walking in pride. This will be a hindrance to their worship and to intimate relationship with God. As we, women of God, come to understand the truth of God's word, and stop seeing ourselves as "lesser than," then we will walk in the fullness of the inheritance and the authority God has given to us. That authority is over the enemy of our souls and the earth God created and gave to us as a gift.

This inferority is not just an issue between women and men. If you compare yourself to another woman and believe that you are not as valuable, then you have believed a lie. Often we compare ourselves to the pastor's wife, a leader in the church, the prettiest or skinniest lady we know, the smartest woman we know, our mother, our sister. We have an amazing ability to diminish God's handiwork - which we are. If God loves us, should we not love ourselves? Only then, when we see ourselves as God's precious creation, highly valued and loves, can we love others as God desires. Love your neighbor as you love yourself (Matthew 5:43).

There are many nations around the world whose cultures believe and teach that women are not "full citizens" with the rights and privileges and value afforded to men. The effect of that on women is shame, inferiority, purposelessness. Often, they have problems looking into my eyes because of the hurt and pain in their inner being. There are times when these women hear that they are loved by God and were created with value and purpose, and they often melt into tears and their souls are cleansed. Other times, when they hear that Jesus died for their salvation, it is too hard for them to believe. I continue to pray that faith will rise up in their hearts and lay hold of the truth.

Will you join me in praying for these women? If you have an opportunity, will you step out courageously and tell other women how valuable they are? Will you commit to speak words that affirm their eternal worth?

And if you are one of those who finds it difficult or even impossible to believe you are of great value to God, please know that I am praying for you. God loves you. That is reality and truth that can set you free and bring you into an eternal realtionship with the One who created you out of His heart of love.