“Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: ‘Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.'” Prov 31:28-29 (NIV)
What a treasure to be surrounded by godly women: my wife, my mother, my mother-in-law, my mamaw, and my mawmaw! These five women in my immediate sphere of influence have modeled Jesus faithfully and served Him consistently. Their love for God permeates every relationship, every interaction, and every conversation. I see them in Scripture through the lives of Hannah, Eunice, Lydia, Lois, and Ruth.
- “In bitterness of soul Hannah wept much and prayed to the LORD. And she made a vow, saying, ‘O LORD Almighty, if you will only look upon your servant’s misery and remember me, and not forget your servant but give her a son, then I will give him to the LORD for all the days of his life, and no razor will ever be used on his head.'” 1 Sam 1:10-11 (NIV)
- “I have been reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.” 2 Tim 1:5 (NIV)
- “One of those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message. When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. ‘If you consider me a believer in the Lord,’ she said, ‘come and stay at my house.’ And she persuaded us.” Acts 16:14-15 (NIV)
- “But Ruth replied, ‘Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God.'” Ruth 1:16 (NIV)
Spend some time in prayer thanking God for the godly women that He has placed in your life. Some of them may have already gone to heaven. It would still be proper to thank God for them and for their influence in your life that continues even after their departure.
Pursuing God,
Stephen Trammell
Executive Pastor