The Superwoman Vs. Supernatural Woman
February 2013
"I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." John 15:5 NIV
"As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!" “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her." Luke 10:38-42 NIV
"Jesus is coming. We must clean the house, get new linens, cook a huge feast…..let's go, let's go, let's go!!" Two sisters: Martha and Mary. One is the "superwoman" and the other is the "supernatural woman." There were two different responses to Jesus' arrival. One responded by working the other chose what was needed….what was better. The first is Martha. Many of us can relate to her. If you are like me you have about 5 calendars/planners. One of which is on your phone and constantly sends you reminders. lol! Or (also like me) you have a planner that you write everything in.
6am -Wake up
6:30am-Time with the Lord
8am-Workout
10am- Class
11am-Tour
12pm-Meeting
1pm-Class
3pm-Class
4pm-Class
6:30pm- Meeting
8pm-Home
8:30pm-School work
2am or 3am- Sleep
Now, this is my schedule two times a week….(thank God for a free day on Friday) but you may be even more busier than me. You could be a mom who has to juggle taking care of the kids, cooking dinner, taking care of your husband, and having a full-time job. Or maybe you are a single mom or just a very involved and ambitious lady. No matter what your story may be, we all try to be superwoman. When I was in high school I "thought" I was this woman. "I got this" and "I can handle it" became my anthem and song. But college…..Spelman college has shown me more and more each year that I AM NO SUPERWOMAN. Truth is, I cannot handle it by myself. I do not always have this. I NEED JESUS! And girlfriend, YOU DO TOO! The superwoman thinks that she can do it all by herself. She wears many hats…all at the same time. The problem with this woman is that she becomes so engulf in her work and herself that she often forgets what is needed and doesn't "choose the better part." We work and we work and we work. Just like Martha, we get frustrated when someone seems to be "slacking." We serve and we serve and we serve until we wear ourselves out resulting in us not being the effective fruit bearers that we were created to be. Hear this: The Superwoman is a media myth. Her strength is limited. She will get tired. She will not "bear much fruit" (John 15:5) or "do all things" (Philippians 4:13) because she possesses the "Me, myself, and I" attitude. Now don't get me wrong, the superwoman is not a bad woman…..she usually has good intentions. Back in high school, I had good intentions, but even though I was saved and loved God with all of my heart many times He was the last thing on my agenda/calendar. I would work and work and work for everyone else….but would slack on my quiet time with Him because I was too tired! Martha also had good intentions…..she wanted to "serve" God and she wanted to be the best hostess. Just like Martha and just like me back in high school, many of you have good intentions. You just want to help, make a difference, or serve. But I have one question for you sister: Are you serving more than you're seeking?
In order to get done what Christ has called us to….we cannot be superwomen. As stated before the superwoman is a media myth. We must take the pressure off and go after being a supernatural woman. What is a supernatural woman? She is a woman who realizes what is needed and what is better! She puts first things first. She walks and lives in the Spirit. She never ever has the "Me, myself, and I" attitude because she knows that it is through Christ that she can do all things and bear much fruit. She realizes that apart from God she can do nothing. See seeks God's face daily and if anything or anyone stands in between her and her King she will gladly walk away! Mary…exhibits a "supernatural woman." She "chose the better part." Have you? Our first scripture text tells us the key to bearing much fruit. "I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." (John 15:5 NIV) Sister…..let this sink into your spirit. Apart from God YOU CAN DO NOTHING. You might be the best planner, organizer, or teacher. You may be the smartest, the most talented, or most gifted…..but none of that will matter if you do not abide in Christ. Not only can you do nothing a part from God, but truth is you are and will be nothing without Him. Sure, people may sing your praises and applaud you…but what does God say about your agenda/calendar? What does He say about your job in the Kingdom. As I stated in "Dear Sis" what will others be able to tell the young man that finds you about your work ethic in the Kingdom? Will they say that you have been seeking God's face consistently? Will they say that she seeks God's face "part-time" or will they say that you are not even an employee? It's time for us to surrender our all to Jesus: our plans, agendas, and calendars; our will, feelings, and emotions, our hearts, our minds, and our bodies. It's time sister, to live through the power of the Holy Spirit!
The Supernatural woman never grows tired because she is constantly seeking Christ and His strength. Every day she asks: "God, what do you want me to do?" And then when she hears, she follows through. The supernatural woman is never powerless because she walks and lives through the power of the Holy Spirit! Miracles, signs, and wonders follow the supernatural woman. Favor follows and surrounds her. She walks in victory! She is more than a conqueror, an overcomer, a giant slayer…..SHE IS THE REDEEMED OF THE LORD! She is the head and not the tail, above and not beneath! Whatever she touches is and will be blessed. She is always dressed to conquer and ready to win every spiritual battle because she is armed with the breastplate of righteousness, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, the belt of truth, her feet with the gospel of peace, and the sword of the spirit, which is the Word of God! She is never insecure because she has come to realize that God is her security and her One sure thing! When everything else shakes….He is unshakable. She is beautiful…inside and out! She knows who she is in Christ and realizes that she was fearfully and wonderfully made in God's image. She is clothed with strength and dignity and she will laugh at the days to come! (Proverbs 31:25) She has peace that transcends all understanding. She denies herself daily, picks up her cross, and follows Christ. She is His disciple (Luke 9:23). She has life because she knows the Son who died for her and now lives in her and through her. She has hope and faith that causes mountains to shake and be removed. She has freedom because Christ has broken every chain and has given her the key! She has love never ending or failing and everyday it surrounds her! She has strength to do the hard things, and she can and will do what everyone says is impossible. She has joy that cannot be taken. She loves fiercely, forgives freely, gives without expectation. She belongs to Christ! She lives through Christ! Christ exclaims from her life.
Girlfriend, let's all be like Mary. Let's all do what is needed and choose the better part. This world has enough women who are tough, we need more women who are tender. There are enough women who are coarse, we need women who are kind. There are enough women who are rude, we need women who are refined. There are enough women of fame and fortune, we need women of faith. We have enough greed, we need more goodness. We have enough vanity, we need more virtue. We have enough popularity, we need more purity! My sister, there are enough superwomen…….let's go out there and change this world and bring many to Christ by being supernatural women. I believe by being supernatural women we will see our enemy defeated and God glorified everyday of our lives.
Signed: A SUPERNATURAL WOMAN
Raven Symone Jackson
"As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!" “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her." Luke 10:38-42 NIV
"Jesus is coming. We must clean the house, get new linens, cook a huge feast…..let's go, let's go, let's go!!" Two sisters: Martha and Mary. One is the "superwoman" and the other is the "supernatural woman." There were two different responses to Jesus' arrival. One responded by working the other chose what was needed….what was better. The first is Martha. Many of us can relate to her. If you are like me you have about 5 calendars/planners. One of which is on your phone and constantly sends you reminders. lol! Or (also like me) you have a planner that you write everything in.
6am -Wake up
6:30am-Time with the Lord
8am-Workout
10am- Class
11am-Tour
12pm-Meeting
1pm-Class
3pm-Class
4pm-Class
6:30pm- Meeting
8pm-Home
8:30pm-School work
2am or 3am- Sleep
Now, this is my schedule two times a week….(thank God for a free day on Friday) but you may be even more busier than me. You could be a mom who has to juggle taking care of the kids, cooking dinner, taking care of your husband, and having a full-time job. Or maybe you are a single mom or just a very involved and ambitious lady. No matter what your story may be, we all try to be superwoman. When I was in high school I "thought" I was this woman. "I got this" and "I can handle it" became my anthem and song. But college…..Spelman college has shown me more and more each year that I AM NO SUPERWOMAN. Truth is, I cannot handle it by myself. I do not always have this. I NEED JESUS! And girlfriend, YOU DO TOO! The superwoman thinks that she can do it all by herself. She wears many hats…all at the same time. The problem with this woman is that she becomes so engulf in her work and herself that she often forgets what is needed and doesn't "choose the better part." We work and we work and we work. Just like Martha, we get frustrated when someone seems to be "slacking." We serve and we serve and we serve until we wear ourselves out resulting in us not being the effective fruit bearers that we were created to be. Hear this: The Superwoman is a media myth. Her strength is limited. She will get tired. She will not "bear much fruit" (John 15:5) or "do all things" (Philippians 4:13) because she possesses the "Me, myself, and I" attitude. Now don't get me wrong, the superwoman is not a bad woman…..she usually has good intentions. Back in high school, I had good intentions, but even though I was saved and loved God with all of my heart many times He was the last thing on my agenda/calendar. I would work and work and work for everyone else….but would slack on my quiet time with Him because I was too tired! Martha also had good intentions…..she wanted to "serve" God and she wanted to be the best hostess. Just like Martha and just like me back in high school, many of you have good intentions. You just want to help, make a difference, or serve. But I have one question for you sister: Are you serving more than you're seeking?
In order to get done what Christ has called us to….we cannot be superwomen. As stated before the superwoman is a media myth. We must take the pressure off and go after being a supernatural woman. What is a supernatural woman? She is a woman who realizes what is needed and what is better! She puts first things first. She walks and lives in the Spirit. She never ever has the "Me, myself, and I" attitude because she knows that it is through Christ that she can do all things and bear much fruit. She realizes that apart from God she can do nothing. See seeks God's face daily and if anything or anyone stands in between her and her King she will gladly walk away! Mary…exhibits a "supernatural woman." She "chose the better part." Have you? Our first scripture text tells us the key to bearing much fruit. "I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." (John 15:5 NIV) Sister…..let this sink into your spirit. Apart from God YOU CAN DO NOTHING. You might be the best planner, organizer, or teacher. You may be the smartest, the most talented, or most gifted…..but none of that will matter if you do not abide in Christ. Not only can you do nothing a part from God, but truth is you are and will be nothing without Him. Sure, people may sing your praises and applaud you…but what does God say about your agenda/calendar? What does He say about your job in the Kingdom. As I stated in "Dear Sis" what will others be able to tell the young man that finds you about your work ethic in the Kingdom? Will they say that you have been seeking God's face consistently? Will they say that she seeks God's face "part-time" or will they say that you are not even an employee? It's time for us to surrender our all to Jesus: our plans, agendas, and calendars; our will, feelings, and emotions, our hearts, our minds, and our bodies. It's time sister, to live through the power of the Holy Spirit!
The Supernatural woman never grows tired because she is constantly seeking Christ and His strength. Every day she asks: "God, what do you want me to do?" And then when she hears, she follows through. The supernatural woman is never powerless because she walks and lives through the power of the Holy Spirit! Miracles, signs, and wonders follow the supernatural woman. Favor follows and surrounds her. She walks in victory! She is more than a conqueror, an overcomer, a giant slayer…..SHE IS THE REDEEMED OF THE LORD! She is the head and not the tail, above and not beneath! Whatever she touches is and will be blessed. She is always dressed to conquer and ready to win every spiritual battle because she is armed with the breastplate of righteousness, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, the belt of truth, her feet with the gospel of peace, and the sword of the spirit, which is the Word of God! She is never insecure because she has come to realize that God is her security and her One sure thing! When everything else shakes….He is unshakable. She is beautiful…inside and out! She knows who she is in Christ and realizes that she was fearfully and wonderfully made in God's image. She is clothed with strength and dignity and she will laugh at the days to come! (Proverbs 31:25) She has peace that transcends all understanding. She denies herself daily, picks up her cross, and follows Christ. She is His disciple (Luke 9:23). She has life because she knows the Son who died for her and now lives in her and through her. She has hope and faith that causes mountains to shake and be removed. She has freedom because Christ has broken every chain and has given her the key! She has love never ending or failing and everyday it surrounds her! She has strength to do the hard things, and she can and will do what everyone says is impossible. She has joy that cannot be taken. She loves fiercely, forgives freely, gives without expectation. She belongs to Christ! She lives through Christ! Christ exclaims from her life.
Girlfriend, let's all be like Mary. Let's all do what is needed and choose the better part. This world has enough women who are tough, we need more women who are tender. There are enough women who are coarse, we need women who are kind. There are enough women who are rude, we need women who are refined. There are enough women of fame and fortune, we need women of faith. We have enough greed, we need more goodness. We have enough vanity, we need more virtue. We have enough popularity, we need more purity! My sister, there are enough superwomen…….let's go out there and change this world and bring many to Christ by being supernatural women. I believe by being supernatural women we will see our enemy defeated and God glorified everyday of our lives.
Signed: A SUPERNATURAL WOMAN
Raven Symone Jackson
|