Titus too!

 "The older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things— that they teach the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed." Titus 2:3-5

I know what your thinking..."I HAVE TO DO THAT TOO!" I also feel the pressure to be what God asks of me.  From that unbelievable Proverbs 31:10-31 woman, to the instruction in Ephesians 5:22-24 about respecting our husbands...Titus 2 gives us MORE to live up to. It can feel impossible, unachievable, even as if we are setting ourselves up to fail! Again.

But look closer at these verses and I hope you will see what I see... that these verses aren't so much talking about being a godly wife or mother...but it's instruction on  how to be a godly female FRIEND. And girls we ALL need those!  The most amazing thing about this passage in Titus 2 is that these couple of verses are setting believing women up for a support system.  Could it be that this instruction is what we all need in order to live up to the other stuff? 

HALLELUJAH....give me some help!

Seeking out godly women who have experience living....learning from them, listening to them...this is the circle of messing up > learning> sharing> that I so desperately seek out.  I need and want to be mentored by women who have "made it through so far" and learned from The Lord along the way.  I want to be like them when I grow up!

 I call this "Titus 2-hood" and here is what this looks like to me:

•  LEARNING from a Titus 2 woman: seeking out godly  women that you can spend time with, learn from  and be mentored by.  You know the ones...those ladies who are ahead of you in life, have baggage, and a testimony that you relate to.  Being intentional to spend time with her and to seek her out for advice, asking her to pray with you and for you.

• PRACTICING becoming a Titus 2 woman: There is a checklist of sorts in the verses, but also just being diligent to learn from your mentor, stay in The Word, learn from it, surround yourself with other godly influences....those women who are TRYING to do right. We all mess up ...but having the heart for God and godliness is what we are after here. "Practicing"  is where the rubber meets the road, so to speak.  We LIVE OUT the instruction in scripture, day after day...mess up and grab that Grace and start over again, stronger than before.  This part of "practicing" is what gives us the credibility to actually BE a Titus 2 women to other women. 

• BEING a Titus 2 woman: I think this means being an example when needed, an ear when called on, and salt and light when required.  This can be hard and takes a graceful tongue. Speak the Truth in love to your fellow Jesus girls when they need to hear it. Using your "baggage" and mistakes and victories in Christ to help another women who has a heart for God. 

At any given point in a woman's life, we could be in all the stages of "Titus2-hood" at once.  At 38 year old, I am simultaneously: LEARNING from  a Titus 2 woman, PRACTICING to become one by growing in knowledge through experiences, and BEING a Titus 2 women to younger women around me.    And the circle continues.

Here's how I see it... as Jesus girls, we should strive to be LEARNING from a Titus 2 woman, PRACTICING to become a Titus 2 woman, or BEING a Titus 2 woman.....     PRAY for the knowledge from The Lord.  PRAY for a Titus 2 woman as a mentor.  PRAY to be Salt and Light to women around you.  PRAY to speak the Truth in love when needed.      

So...here's a little encouragement coming your way to keep living for Jesus, learning from The Word and sharing your experiences and lessons with the women around us...so we can stick together in the "Titus 2-hood".

Thank you JESUS for knowing that your Jesus girls need some help up in here!

So what about you?  How are you living out Titus 2 in your life?  I would love to hear your stories!