.......Women are like Pillars........

Wendy Virgo

Wendy shared about Pillars from Psalm 144:12.

Pillars: pillars are strong, straight, solid, able to hold something up, sharing.
Strong:

• Women need to be strong. God wants strong women. Not the idea of strong that we have which is aggressive, pushy, self-assertive.

• Ephesians 6:10 – 13. We need to be strong in a particular way: strong in the Lord, a sense of knowing who we are in the Lord, secure in Christ and being warriors in God. We need to stand and stand firm – not being pushed around. Our struggle isn’t against flesh and blood. The enemy is trying to push us, to bring accusation and doubt. We need to withstand the accusations. 2 Timothy 2:1, 1 Corinthians 6:13.

• We need to counteract the lies of the enemy for Biblical femininity. Men and women need to live in harmony. The man is the head of the woman as Christ is the head of the church. It’s linking of authority. There is order in the Godhead. The enemy hates submission but submission is not being a doormat. We need to be strong to withstand the lies of the enemy and we need to know what we believe.
Straight:

• Phillipians 2:15. As women we need to be straight, not crooked. Straight forward in our ways, not devious and with half-truths. Jesus comes to make the crooked straight.

• We need to be uncompromising and clear on our motivation.

• Lot’s wife also turned into a pillar – of salt. We don’t want to be that pillar.
Stable/solid:

• James 3:17. We shouldn’t be double-minded, not wobbly. Our immovability must come from Jesus. 1 Corinthians 16, Stand firm. Psalm 112:11

• We can be vulnerable and admit to being vulnerable. We can depend on God and need the Holy Spirit.
Purpose of pillars:

• To hold things up & be supportive. As ladies we can take a certain amount of pressure. The ways of God keep us going.

• Hold up the roof: sometimes pillars are hidden while others are seen. Some women are more prominent than others. We need to be positive about this and supportive, not undermining. We need to see our position in relation to the ceiling. Don’t be part of the problem.

• Pillars have to have a foundation – be well-rooted. Proverbs 31. Enjoy being a woman. V 25, she is clothed with strength and dignity. Be comfortable with whom you’re married to. Be industrious, have vigour and be clothed with strength not manipulative or easily manipulated. Her husband had confidence in her love, affection and understanding. She brings him good and not harm. She is a woman of strength.
Position of a pillar:

• Pillars are not to be the same. There are a variety of pillars and that is characteristic of us women. Things that are common to us as women are: loving, forgiving, sexual purity, value homes and family but we shouldn’t all be the same.

• Thank God for the pillars that are hidden: the prayer warriors, counselors, hospitality and so on. Others have prominent positions but we are not to feel inferior.

• Pillars are in groups or rows. God wants us as women to be together. The enemy will try and separate us but we need to maintain unity. Don’t gossip and spread lies. Enjoy fellowship with one another. Pray together. There is strength in that. We need other perspectives to widen our understanding. Iron sharpens iron.

The session ended with Wendy praying for the ladies. Amazing truths taken from Psalm 144:12.

Summarised by Molly Manhanga