Desolate? Controlling? or Both?

The third chapter of Captivating discusses how women, in our sin nature, because of the fall/curse, tend to either be contolling or we become desolate and withdraw all together. In talking about this today with a few friends, it seems that we all had a little of both; well, we may have favored one over the other, but we still went in both directions. The most common tactic seemed to be that we withdraw from others and protect our vulnerability by not even giving others a chance to hurt us and then we become controlling with our immediate surroundings,i.e our homes, family members etc., to help us still feel like we are in control and that we are choosing to live like this.

But this is not what we really want! We just feel alone, abandoned, and not good enough.

This is not how God created us!

If we felt lovely, beautiful, wanted, if we felt truly at rest with how God created us, then we wouldn't feel the need to control; we wouldn't feel the need to withdraw. It seems that the need to feel wanted is the most common issue at the moment within our church body. For months now so many of us have struggled with feeling like we aren't wanted by others. Although this issue will never be 100% gone until we are with the Lord, I have to say that I am so proud of us Stirring ladies speaking out about this; we are being honest; we are being vulnerable; we are fighting against the enemy and he is losing ground fast! Keep up the fight ladies. Let your warrior princess out and allow your beauty to shine through...we need it...I need it...our men need it...our kids need it...our church body needs it...the world needs it!

Discussion: Ephesians 4:1

There is a verse in Ephesians that has stood out to me since last summer. Since we are going through Ephesians right now in church, I thought this would be a perfect opportunity to begin a discussion about it. Here is the verse:

"Therefore I, a prisoner for serving the Lord, beg you to lead a life worthy of your calling, for you have been called by God." Eph. 4:1 NLT

When you read this, what does it mean to you? What is the first thing you think of? How does God speak to you in this verse?

I would love to hear your thoughts!