September with Grace Women
a recap, some encouragement, and some miscellany...
Immersed in prayer, worship, and the Word:
It’s fall (even if it doesn’t feel like it!) and we are reliving glorious moments from our quarterly gathering. Our second-ever night of immersive prayer and worship happened last week and it was simply beautiful.
The women who showed up were hopeful, doubtful, courageous, scared, rejoicing, longing, and ready to bring their whole selves to the throne of heaven and ask God to meet them. We loved being with those of you who could come last week and we hope this will become a refreshing tradition in the life of our sisterhood.
Autumn Encouragement
Some of us have lived in places where the changing of seasons means something. There’s a cool crispness in the air and rituals like bonfires or hikes to see the leaves change.
Some of us are native Floridians and the most we can say about the changing of summer to fall is that there is —maybe— slightly less humidity and the evenings are, shall we say, mildly pleasant?
I used to feel so frustrated by the way we didn’t experience “fall” here in the south. I scrolled beautiful social squares and Pinterest inspiration and found myself annoyed and discontent. I couldn’t enjoy being where my feet were planted, because all I could see was someone else’s experience and it was cooler! crisper! more colorful! sweeter! and probably all around better than mine. September and October felt meaningless - like so much sameness that I couldn’t stomach.
Much to my chagrin, it was a classic case of grass-is-greener syndrome. And much to my dismay, this is a recurring thing for me. I suspect I’m not alone in this. Last week, I wanted a house like hers, so I could be more hospitable. Last month, I wanted my body to look more like her body, because maybe it’s better -stronger- than mine. I want my bank account to be like hers, I wish my family acted more like theirs, I want to have their happy marriage, I want, I want, I want, I want…
I have an idea that much of our discontent —from literal seasons to life seasons, or more tangible things like her job, her house, her body, her creativity— comes from beholding the wrong thing. We’ve let our gaze wander from where we are and what God has given us and we’ve meandered over to look on someone else’s lot in life.
Writer and artist Ruth Chou Simons1 uses the phrase we become what we behold and it’s stuck with me. When I am beholding what isn’t working, what isn’t mine, what isn’t happening, what isn’t here and now, I’m subject to frustration, discontent, anxiety and doubt.
I think of the psalmist writing in the sixteenth chapter2:
The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup;
you hold my lot.
The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.
It’s the work of the Christian woman, in so many ways, to practice beholding the God of love, who has allowed the lines of our lives to fall in places He deems good for us. Oh, it doesn’t mean we ever call bad things good things. But we can call God good even in the midst of trouble and discontent, because He himself is our “chosen portion” — our sufficient and loving Shepherd.
When we’re beholding everything she has, we become comparing, discontent, anxious women.
When we’re beholding the God who gives us everything we need, according to His riches in Christ Jesus3, we slowly —but surely!— become women who are confident, content, and compassionate.
Let’s be women who behold Christ Jesus first and most, that we might cultivate contentment, gratitude, and joy in what He’s provided.
ICYMI
Did you download our Morning Prayer Guide last month? It was hidden away in last month’s newsletter and we’d hate for you to miss it.
And have you seen our gorgeous recap reel from the fall gathering?! 😍
FYI
We are eagerly beginning preparations for our women’s gathering this winter! We’re not ready to spill the beans yet, but you will be the first to know (before the socials — because subscribers are the best!) when we’re ready to share!
BEFORE YOU GO…
Thanks for reading and for being part of our Grace Women community. We’re so grateful for how God is moving in the hearts of you women and we are watching eagerly as He grows us more and more into the image of His Son!
In fact, she has a beautiful book featuring this very idea
The whole 16th chapter of psalms is beautiful - read it here.