Mean Girls

This week, I sat under the teaching of Kay Arthur as she taught from 2 Timothy 3 about difficult times in the last days.  She asked that we pay particular attention to what God said about women in verse 6:

"For among them are those who enter into households and captivate weak women, led on by various impulses, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of truth."   2 Timothy 3:6

Yesterday, I read words of advice from a mother to her son, the king, in Proverbs 31:3:
"Do not give your strength to women, to those who destroy kings."

Thus began my thought process about women and how mean we can be at times!  We destroy kings...we are weak, impulsive, and weighed down with sins.  We are, according to 2 Tim. 3, lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, ungrateful, unholy, unloving, malicious gossips, without self-control...we are mean girls!

The things that others say and do can cut like a knife, and those wounds go very deep into our hearts. This morning, I thought about wounds that I had suffered at the hands of mean girls...and unfortunately/fortunately...I was reminded by the Holy Spirit that I have been a mean girl at times and guilty of inflicting wounds to others' hearts...wounds that go deep and leave scars.

Just like the scars that are on Jesus' hands and His feet, they are always there...a reminder of the great love that He had for us, in that He was willing to suffer and die on a cross for us, that we might have everlasting life.   He was willing to bear the shame, the humiliation, the pain...and live with the scars...just for me!  Though He was  crushed, bruised, and scarred for man's sin, His love is everlasting for all mankind.   His forgiveness and His mercy goes on without measure for those who have hurt Him.

My prayer is that I will allow hurts and painful circumstances in my life to make me better and not bitter.  That I would die to self and be more like the One who chooses love and forgiveness, instead of hate and unforgiveness.  That I would not be a grown-up mean girl!!  That I would show love and forgiveness to all...for it is the kindness of the Lord that leads to repentance. That I would stop and think before I speak:  Is it kind?  Is it true?  Is it really necessary??

"She opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue."     Proverbs 31:26