Today on International Women's Day I would like to encourage all women to become a woman of excellence!!
To excel means to surpass, transcend, exceed. Excellence is the state of possessing good qualities in an eminent or unusual.
The Amplified version suggests these synonyms for a woman of excellence:
"A woman of strength-worth, bravery, capability" (Ruth 3:11).
"A virtuous and worthy wife-earnest and strong in character" (Proverbs 12:4).
"A capable, intelligent and virtuous woman" (Proverbs 31:10).
We need to discern between the world's definition of excellence and the Bible's exhortation to excellence. Our society views excellence as success, position, possessions, celebrity, accomplishment, beauty. Man usually looks only at outward appearances. God, though, looks at our hearts. It is the inward qualities of strength and virtue that are important to the Lord. Paul wrote to the Philippians: "This I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in real knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve the things that are excellent, in order to be sincere and blameless until the day of Christ" (1:9‑10).
Knowing God Intimately
To pursue a life goal of approving the highest and best, we need to know God intimately for He is our source and model of excellence. In particular, understanding God's love, sovereignty, and provision encourages us to want to reflect His excellence.
God's love
We cannot lose or earn more of God's love. It is tempting to equate excellence with perfection. But we deceive ourselves when we think that if we try to be perfect, God will accept us. "God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). God's love is unconditional. He waits only for us to believe in Him and His Word.
I want to become a woman of excellence not because I have to perform, but because I choose to please God, who loves me completely.
Becoming Excellent
Because God is committed to our eternal happiness and to meeting our deepest needs. He desires us to become like Christ. Our desire to excel delights Him, but we must let Him teach us that it is a lifelong process and that He is our only source of strength. Growth occurs when we maintain our walk with God, remembering Christian life is a process, rather than giving up in frustration because we can't meet perfect standards. To become means to come into existence, to undergo change or development. As we respond to His desire to be totally involved in our lives, we begin to become like Christ
Paul wrote, "I am confident of this: that the One who has begun his good work in you will go on developing it until the day of Jesus Christ" (Philippians 1:6) To avoid discouragement and reliance on ourselves we must know that God has begun His work in us and will complete it. And how encouraging to know that God is patient! Oswald Chambers challenges us, "Think of the enormous leisure of God! He is never in a hurry.
You are His masterpiece... keep your eyes focused on Him... God has a wonderful plan for your life!!
