To My elder daughters—stand tall.
“…not seeking my own advantage,
but that of many,
that they may be saved.”
1 CORINTHIANS 10:33 (ESV)
“My daughters are not seeing what’s at stake.”
As I was praying, the Holy Spirit spoke and drew my attention to my window sill where there were a few propagated stems of basil growing until they were a bit stronger. I was so excited for them to grow with the skewers, yes skewers, but the containers I had them in were too shallow for growth. Lesson learned!
Nevertheless, the Lord spoke softly in my heart to look at the window and notice how the skewers were pressed together, as in, leaning up against each other. Secondly, to take note of the the stem it used to support. This leaning happened overtime; I definitely did not set them like this, however, they moved and the vulnerable basil stems were no longer supported.
He wants to set the skewers back in place. To our mothers, spiritual mothers, leaders, teachers—the older women in the church. Be careful to detect and renounce any patterns of neglecting those who look up to you and receive from the what God has beautifully purposed in you. One of these patterns being: women coming against one another. Oh how this is negatively affecting the families + communities He has blessed us with. When we are diligent to walk uprightly, our resulting strength, integrity, and faithfulness to God allows the younger and more vulnerable of His flock to mature properly and in alignment with the will of God for their lives.
•
effects of upright structure—help
strength
room to grow, grace
abundant fruit
effects of no structure—abandonment
weakness
stifled growth
unfruitfulness or significantly less fruit, if at all
•
When we allow anger, envy, discord, bitterness, arguing and strife to enter into our relationships with other women, we are abandoning so much more than we realize. Take note of these little leanings today and give them to the Father and turn from them! A slanted stake has probably been actively slanting for a while and without genuine reinforcement. He will help you. He cannot lean nor is anything of His kingdom moveable or perishable, therefore He can help. Take note, it is the uprightness of the Lord that we cling to and seek for help + His loving correction.
In the same manner, as His daughters, (and specifically the elders in our communities) you can only help when you work at standing tall. When we are faithful to His Word, right where He has placed us. When our posture is not fixed against one another.
Remember, each one of us is a member of the Body of Christ; it is so good and so right that your fellow sister, or your neighbor, is doing well and those around her are thriving as well. This is about God’s goodness being magnified in and through each of His children. When we are mindful of this, we will be quick to protect, love and edify our sister. To only do what is to the advantage of others—like this important posture apostle Paul briefly mentions in 1 Corinthians 10:33 (ESV.)
“…not seeking my own advantage, but that of many…”
Where there is true Love and righteousness, there will be enough nourishment to sustain all + there will be room for everyone to mature properly, upward, and bear much fruit. However, when there are interactions outside of love, that creeping leaning over + pressing against one another, it directly affects those around us. And the Holy Spirit emphasizes the word directly.
We need the Holy Spirit to do this. Our Father gives growth to people and is Lord over the pace of that unfolding. So let there be no unnecessary burden for wherever He is, there is liberty! We cannot make anyone grow (including ourselves) nor has He asked us to. We need only to stand tall and lean upon immovable His Word. He will hold you up and those around you, for His glory!
May God bless and strengthen us as we lean upon Him and therefore stand firm in His love, in Jesus name, amen.
Additional scripture.
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“The righteous flourish like the palm tree
and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
They are planted in the house of the LORD;
they flourish in the courts of our God.
They still bear fruit in old age;
they are ever full of sap and green,
to declare that the LORD is upright;
He is my rock, and there is no
unrighteousness in Him.”
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“Let all bitterness and wrath
and anger and clamor and slander
be put away from you, along with all malice.
Be kind to one another, tenderhearted,
forgiving one another,
as God in Christ forgave you.”
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“Praise the LORD!
Blessed is the man who fears the LORD,
who greatly delights in his commandments!
His offspring will be mighty in the land;
the generation of the upright will be blessed.”
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“But of the Son he says,
“Your throne, O God, is forever
and ever,
the scepter of uprightness
is the scepter of your kingdom.”