Down through the years there have been some ridiculous ideas concerning women. Ancient philosophers greatly influenced mankind’s interpretation of the Bible and accentuated the sense of reproach held toward women. Growing up, I remembered a certain adult in my life that often repeated a statement of reproach: “Woman, he would say, was made for one purpose, a man’s pleasure.” And so goes the story of the reproach that has been on woman since that fateful day in the garden when God said to the serpent, “I will put enmity between you and the woman and between your seed and her seed”. Reproach can come in many forms but always originates from Satan and there is a special hatred the devil has for the woman. And why not? He occupies the spiritual realm around us and that is the same realm the woman has a special sensitivity to. It is only natural for him to want to bring reproach upon her. If he can shame the woman into being unnoticed or disregarded, then she will no longer be a threat to his domain.

Unfortunately ladies we’ve fallen for his trick. We have accepted the reproach the devil has given us by believing in it ourselves. Instead of working from a basis of love and self-confidence now we are fighting from a basis of the insecurity that the reproach has produced. The only way to overcome this is to realize that Jesus Christ has taken that reproach for us when He died for our sins and in replacement He has given us God’s love. I love the scripture in Ephesians 1:6 that says that God has “lavished His favor” upon us. Lavished is a rich word. When we begin to really let that truth sink into our consciousness then God’s love will be more real to us than the devil’s reproach.

Satan wants us to continue to “fight for our rights”! If we do this we will end up in strife and confusion. Our Father God wants us to accept His love and favor. If we do this, He will lift us and carry us into His best for our lives. Which do you prefer? The Blessing or the Curse?

Meditation Scripture: Isaiah 53:4-5; Ephesians 1:3-6