Powerful Women

Today my message is “Powerful Women”!

It is Mother’s Day and as we celebrate all mothers, I want to consider why mothers are “Powerful Women”. To do this, I am going to look back at several mothers from the Bible and some from right now today.

But first, what do I mean by “Powerful Women”? For me, it is women who trusted God and changed the course of events over time.

The first mother I want to consider is Hannah, the wife to Elkanah and mother of Samuel. Here is a woman who trusted God and spent a lot of time in prayer. She could not have children, so she prayed for God to give her a child.

God honored that prayer and she gave birth to Samuel (She called him that because she had asked the Lord for him). Then in 1 Samuel 1:27-28 NIV we read that Hannah honored God by dedicating Samuel to God and left him at the temple.

27 “I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of Him.

28 So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord.” And he worshiped the Lord there.

Samuel becomes a priest (who anoints David as king) and then the last judge who leads the Israelite people for many years.

Hannah was a “powerful woman” for God! She trusted God and her trust led to a judge who helped the people get back to God.

Then comes Elizabeth, wife of Zechariah, another barren woman, who trusted God and was given a child. She named him John, who became known as John the Baptist.

Luke 1:57-60 NIV

57 When it was time for Elizabeth to have her baby, she gave birth to a son.

58 Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy.

59 On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him after his father Zechariah,

60 but his mother spoke up and said, “No! He is to be called John.”

This woman watched as her son was used by God to warn the people of the coming Savior. She too trusted God, like Hannah, and this made her a “Power Woman”.

Next is Mary, the wife of Joseph and mother of Jesus Christ. Here is a woman who at a very early age said yes Lord and trusted God to direct her path.

Luke 1:26-33, 38 NIV

26 In the sixth month, (of Elizabeth’s pregnancy), God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee,

27 to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.

28 The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

29 Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be.

30 But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God.

31 You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus.

32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David,

33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end.” 

38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May it be to me as you have said.” Then the angel left her.

Her son, Jesus, became an incredible mover and shaker among the people of Israel. Jesus’s life, death and resurrection were pivotal in bringing mankind back into a relationship with God. Jesus was the beginning of Christianity as we know it today.

Mary’s trust in God and faithful following make her a “Power Woman”!

The last of the Bible women I am looking at today is Anna. She was a prophetess and a witness to Christ.

She witnessed Jesus’s blessing by Simeon in the temple.

Luke 2:36-38 NIV

36 There was also a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old; she had lived with her husband seven years after her marriage,

37 and then was a widow until she was eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying.

38 Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.

Her willingness to trust God, serve in His house all her life, and to tell others about Jesus being the redeemer for all. She was truly a “Power Woman”!

Now let us consider today’s “Power Women”, but I am not talking about those who have risen to fame and glory. I am talking about those women who have trusted God and are shaping the world around them.

Let us not forget the working mothers who have two full time jobs, children and work. These women tirelessly give their all to raise children, run a home and be a woman of God. They are trusting God to honor their efforts and protect their children. Many of these women are single parents. They are “burning the candle at both ends”, have dual identities, and are multi-taskers.

Truly they are “Power Women”.

Next is the “stay at home” mothers. They daily provide guidance and stability to their families. They can suffer from “Cabin Fever” and lack of adult talk. Their lives can get lost in the daily routine. Still they trust God to provide! Another example of “Power Women”.

Then we have the “step mothers” who trust God to help them love children they did not bring into this world. They have to be able to blend their life with another family of children and a husband. Only through God’s grace can they accomplish this enormous feat. They deserve to be called “Power Women”.

Finally, we have the Grandmothers! These are women who love unconditionally, worry about all their family, and trust God for the wisdom and energy to teach their grandkids the truth about God.

Another great example of today’s “Power Women”.

Proverbs 31 gives us an almost unattainable description of the perfect woman. This passage is used every Mother’s Day and it is so fitting to do that. What we need to remember is that every woman was made by God to be a crucial part of her family and God will use her to shape the world around her if she is willing.

Proverbs 31:30 NIV

Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

The Good News Bible says it this way: Charm is deceptive and beauty disappears, but a woman who honors the Lord should be praised.

We need to praise and support all the “Power Women” in our lives. Look around and see who that is in your family, church, work and friends.

Encourage them today, pray for them every day and let them know they are God’s gift to you. Happy Mother’s Day to all women, with or without children! God made you to be “Power Women” so continue to trust!

Let’s pray!