Biblical Role Models

Oluwafolakemi Ibidokun

As a woman you possess an inner strength like no other, and as child of God, you are able to do all things through Christ. However, as a single woman you may not always feel those truths are exhibited in your life. I have learned incredible lessons from some amazing women of strength and I’d like to share some encouragement from a few of my favorite biblical female role models.
Of all the women listed in the Bible, most people may probably not select the three that I considered below as role models. Much like me, they are the 'behind the scenes' type of women. They are not at the center of attention or frontline of a book, but their lives exhibited great faith lessons that I draw strength from and which I apply to my life on a daily basis. I need not the limelight, I only need the inner witness that I’m living a life that is pleasing to Christ every day, whilst relying solely on His grace to do so, and exactly the strengths I draw from these Biblical heroines.
As much as I learn what to do from them, I have also learnt valuable lessons in what not to do.
I invite you journey with me into the lives of three of the women I admire so much and I pray that you find joy and lifelong lessons from their stories too.
Naomi
First on my list is Naomi. Her story is found in the book of Ruth and although Ruth’s story held great biblical significance to the lineage of Christ, albeit, it was Naomi who mentored Ruth and offered her great insights often overlooked in this story. Most people like to make the correlation to single women finding their Boaz like Ruth but it was Naomi who taught Ruth everything she knew, and thank God for that teachable spirit she possessed.
Much like many single women today, Naomi suffered great losses and she refused to hide her bitterness. Her constant focus on her circumstances led her to live a life of hopelessness. But she did not stay that way. We all have bad days, but we must learn that there is a purpose and gain in pain and we can’t stay that way because God is faithful to restore. Naomi believed in God and attributed her suffering to His will and inspired great loyalty in her daughter-in-law.
Naomi's story teaches us to form deep and lasting relationships. Despite her own circumstances and suffering, Naomi was there for Ruth. She not only encouraged and guided her, but she shared her life with her. The life of Naomi taught me how to be a better friend and mentor, despite my circumstances and what I’m going through I can use my experience to bless others and point them to Christ.
Hannah
Next on my list is Hannah. I love the story of Hannah so much, not because she eventually got what she wanted but because of how she responded to criticism, how she responded to God when her prayers went unanswered for so long and most of all how she honored God when He answered her prayer.
Hannah’s story, found in I Samuel chapter one, definitely teaches us how to trust God wholeheartedly and to live faithfully. Again, like many Christian single women, Hannah desperately prayed for something she wanted and was taunted by her mate for the lack of that thing in her life. But unlike many of us, Hannah didn’t lash out at others, even when situations and circumstances which surrounded her called for such, she didn’t invite her friends over for a pity party, nor did she slip into a mild state of depression; she took her heartfelt concerns to God, and made a vow. Eventually God honoured her request and granted her, her heart desire. At last, Hannah enjoyed many of God blessings, she eventually redeemed her vow, by giving back to God that very thing she had waited for so long to have Hannah's story taught me to check my motives, for requesting any blessing from God. why do I want what I want? Is it for my own selfish interest and pleasures or for God’s glory?
Hannah prayed, she believed, was hopeful, had faith and left the results to God. She was comforted by her time spent in the atmosphere of God's presence, she considered God faithful and God came through for her(1Samuel 1:18). Hannah's story taught us to have confidence in God and to be mindful of our attitudes when faced with one challenge or the other, also that during our waiting period we should remember what God has done for us in time past and be encouraged. To always have confidence in God’s ability to answer prayers and to completely trust that His decision to do so or not is always in my/our best interest.
Mary of Bethany
Last, but certainly not the least I shall be considering is Mary of Bethany. Much of her story is found in the 11th and 12th chapters of John. Like us, she was a single woman and lived a life fully devoted to Jesus. Just like us she succumb to doubts and weaknesses as a result of her circumstances. Upon seeing Jesus, through her tears she said “Lord if you had been here, my brother would not have died” (John 11:32). However, after witnessing the miracle of Jesus raising her brother Lazarus from the dead, she responded with worship. “Mary then took a pound of very costly perfume of pure spikenard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped His feet with her hair...” (John 12:3). What a height of worship!
Her story taught us that even though we may have moments of doubt, we cannot stay there. Once we recognize the greatness and the miracle working power of God, our hearts are naturally drawn to worship the King of Glory. Mary learnt the importance of seeking the Lord’s presence regardless of the circumstances and situations she was in at the time.
“…Mary, who was seated at the Lord’s feet, listening to His word. But Martha was distracted with all her preparations; and she came up to Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to do all the serving alone? Then tell her to help me.” But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”- Luke 10:39-42
Although criticized by her loved one, she took time to bask in Jesus’ presence rather than squander the moments with meaningless feats. And we too should not be so busy working for Him that we miss Him. Jesus’ response confirms that He is pleased when we put Him first. Yes, Mary teaches us how to worship the Father and how to prioritize and put first things first. Thank you Mary for helping me to understand the importance of seeking His presence rather than His presents.
A role model is someone who serves as an example and whose behavior is emulated by others. These ladies certainly exhibit behaviors that I love to emulate. The lessons from their stories help to strengthen my Christian walk and am grateful.
Who are your biblical role models and what have they taught you?

I am spiritual, but am I wise?

Bimbola Tayo-Bamidele

"THEN THE kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom.

2Five of them were foolish (thoughtless, without forethought) and five werewise (sensible, intelligent, and prudent).

3For when the foolish took their lamps, they did not take any [extra] oil with them;

4But the wise took flasks of oil along with them [also] with their lamps.

5While the bridegroom lingered and was slow in coming, they all began nodding their heads, and they fell asleep.

6But at midnight there was a shout, Behold, the bridegroom! Go out to meet him!

7Then all those virgins got up and put their own lamps in order.

8And the foolish said to the wise, Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.

9But the wise replied, There will not be enough for us and for you; go instead to the dealers and buy for yourselves.

10But while they were going away to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were prepared went in with him to the marriage feast; and the door was shut. Matt.25:1-10 (AMP)

I asked God what to tell you today and He said to tell you this:

It is not enough to be a "virgin"; you must be a wise "virgin".

Go get oil into your lamps. Get enough and get some extra too. He said the more oil you have, the more your chances and opportunities are. He said you have been very diligent, you have also prayed and have given so much. Now, it's time to:

"Enlarge the place of your tent, and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out; spare not; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes,

3For you will spread abroad to the right hand and to the left; and your offspring will possess the nations and make the desolate cities to be inhabited." - Is.54:2-3

Build your capacity to contain where He is taking you to. The widowwoman was told by Elijah to go borrow vessels from her neighbours and fill them with oil. The Bible says the oil did not stop until the vessels were all exhausted. That means if she got just a vessel, she would have just a vessel of oil. If she got two, four, ten, one thousand... She would have oil commensurate to that.

His word to you this morning is this:

Build your capacity to contain what He has planned to pour into you and into your life. Your container is too small for what He has in mind.

While the bridegroom tarries, go get extra oil.

May the Lord increase your understanding and mine.

Have a great day and blessed week, sisters...

God Will Not Punish Him

Bimbola Tayo Bamidele

"I am finding it hard to forgive him. I have cursed him and I know he will suffer for everything he did to me. God will punish him... bla bla bla." She lamented.

I smiled.

I chuckled.

I laughed.

I have often been told that I am harsh, which I rarely deny.

But I know I do not cause anyone harm with my being harsh, when I need to be,... even when I hurt them with it.

The opening paragraph was a lamentation from a younger friend of mine who believed an injustice has been done to her and who is now calling on the God of vengeance to arise and let His enemies be scattered, on her behalf. (I have her permission to share this here)

She had been in a relationship with this guy for three years. She had contributed a quota to the guy's current status in life. All of a sudden, bro said he is no longer interested. It even led to a thorough beating from the guy at some point, because she was demanding for a "hearing".

I told her that God will not punish the guy for anything. And that her curse is not going to affect him one bit. There is nothing she also shouldn't forgive for; he owes her nothing. The guy never forced her to do anything for him; she did all that she did willingly. He is responsible for his life and has a right to determine who he wants in his life; she was the one who has acted unthoughtfully and foolishly.

I asked her why she is calling God to punish him. Did God send her into his life in the first place? If God did, then she can go back to God and make a report. And even at that, she has no right to curse him.

I was into a three years relationship and after our formal introduction, two months to the fixed wedding date, when i had already sent a bulk sms inviting friends and family to my "wedding", this guy came up with some story to say he was no
longer interested in the relationship.

I was hurt; but I never felt he wasted my time neither did I feel he disappointed me in any way. I didn't feel he owed me anything. I had no
business with him. I just went straight to the God that sent me into the relationship in the first place, to make my report, to ask questions, and to receive fresh instructions on the way forward.

Before someone begins to think that I was not committed to the relationship was why I found it easy to move on, I beg to differ. The reason I found it easy to move on, was because I didn't run my own errand when I went into the relationship; I was running God's errand. Everything I was responsible for in his life or contributed to, was not on my errand; but God's. So, I didn't feel like he cheated me, wasted my time, deceived me or disappointed me. It is between him and God. Mine too was between God and I. He owed me no explanations; God did. I said yes to him because God led me to. If he says he is not "doing" again, I go back to that same God.

I told this young friend of mine that if my husband wakes up one morning and says he is not interested in our marriage anymore, life goes on with me and nothing will change negatively about me (God forbid, anyway)

(Before someone begins to think that the reason I am talking like this is because hubby and I are not close or that I don't love him, it is not true. This lady visited my home and saw the love hubby and I share; it is so visible and palpable, you can almost touch it.)

See, women have to realize that if they are in any man's life, they are there on an assignment ...not to be a burden. Women are resourceful, rich, complete and whole. They need no man to complete them; they are the ones who need to complete man. What they need is God to define them and reveal His purpose for their lives to them. It was God Eve knew and it was God who brought Eve to Adam. The Bible says, it is not good for man to be alone, so God created you and I to complete man. No wonder he that finds you and I finds a good thing and obtains favour from the Lord. We are the ones who adds favour to their lives. We are the ones they can't do without; not the other way round. And this has nothing to do with struggling to win their favour; but with just being a woman who fears the Lord and who conducts her affairs with wisdom and discretion.

Let's get a revelation of who God made us to be and let's be just that.

And it is until we make God our priority and find Him in everything that concerns us, that we can truly find ourselves.

Let God define your life and be the reason you woke up this morning and want to wake up tomorrow too.

You are complete in Him.

Rest in Him.

May the Lord increase your understanding ...and mine.

Amen.

ADD VALUE TO YOURSELF

Bimbola Tayo-Bamidele

Dear single sister, I need your help with this. I am conducting a search and I am yet to find
what I am searching for. I have been checking through the scripture to find a woman... named or unnamed, young or old ...just one, that is weak, helpless, needy and who waited for a man to come and make her life complete. That job is God's, and I can't overemphasize this. 

The ones I found were strong, capable, confident, and value-adding. Even an unnamed slave girl in Naman's house was value-adding. She was the one who suggested a way to get her master healed of leprosy. Remember Esther? The "If I perish, I perish" lady. Remember Jael, an "ordinary" housewife who was so strong, confident, capable and value-adding that she single-handedly killed a national enemy, General Sisera. I do not want to mention Serah, who something about her made her husband feel she could save him from being murdered at a time. ..and who brought him so much rest and comfort and also worked alondside to raise 318 men in their home. I do not want to mention Priscilla, who was working alongside her husband in ministry and was so much recognized that her name comes first when the couple is mentioned. Oh, what about little teenage Mary? An ordinary, common girl whom God chose to birth a whole Saviour of the world... and who accepted the responsibility without battling an eye? You think such a huge task could be given to an helpless, weak, and needy woman? I don't want to mention the "Virtuous Woman"; let's not go there.

Develop yourself. Add value to yourself. Women are not meant to be weak, helpless and needy. They are meant to be a "help". It is an anathema, an abuse of purpose for you to go about searching for help. You are the helper... you should function in your capacity as one. Develop yourself. Add value to yourself. Forget your past. No matter what has happened, you are more than what happened to you. You are God's gift to humanity. You are God's gift to the world. You have something to offer. You have a role to play. You have a place to occupy.
Destinies are tied to your rising. Lives are tied to you. So many things depend on you. You are a mother of nations. There are nations in your womb waiting to be birthed.

"Arise [from the depression and prostration in which circumstances have kept you—rise to a new life] Shine (be radiant with the glory of the Lord), for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you!" - Is.60:1 (AMP)

Amen.

HE WANTS THE BEST FOR US

Bimbola Tayo-Bamidele

Each time my son breaks a rule, I spank him... especially if I had warned him before he did it.

For every fresh breaking of my rule, I pardon him and correct him by telling him not to do it again.

When it is repeated or becomes a habit, I beat him seriously.

But you see, no matter how much he errs and how much I punish him, I love him so much, I will not allow any evil come near him, I care for him and I will not withhold anything good from him.

Never have I beaten him and found him running away from me not wanting anything to do with me anymore. Sometimes, he even comes hugging me while still crying and wailing, stretching his hands for me to carry him.

He makes me so proud of him when after correcting him, he takes to correction without being offended in me.

When he breaks a toy or spoils anything, he may not get a replacement immediately but the plan to get him a replacement is already on my mind...

Such is a poor but clear picture of our relationship with a Father who loves us with an everlasting love.

He is not condemning us; He is interceding for us with groanings that cannot be uttered.

He wants the best for us. His plans for us are good. His thoughts are good. He will not withhold good things from us. So if we expect some good things and they have not come, it is not because He hates us and is punishing us. No. He makes all things beautiful in its time.

His love for us is perfect; let it cast out all fears.

He will not cast us away forever....

PRAY FOR SOMEONE TODAY

Bimbola Tayo-Bamidele

Many of us often wish we had people upholding us in prayers because of some stuffs we are going through. We wish someone would just take our matter to God and intercede for us. Thank God the Bible says Jesus forever lives to make intercession for us before the Father. So we can go rest in that. Jesus already got our back... and the Holy Spirit also prays for us with groanings that cannot be uttered.

Does that free us from prayers? No. But we do no longer pray out of desperation. We pray believing that whatsoever we ask the Father in Jesus' name is already done. Our issues are settled. We should relax in that reality.

Having settled the above in our hearts, something is required of us. We should also take our friends to God in prayers. Our total victory lies in helping and praying for others. The Bible says that it was when Job prayed for his friends that the Lord turned his captivity. Why not pray for someone today? Job did not pray because he was okay and had it all. No. He was even sick, poor and desolate, so we have no excuse. That may be the last straw that would break the back of the camel of all our adversaries.

Sow a seed of prayer into someone' life today and watch God turn again your captivity.

You will surely testify and we will rejoice with you.

Amen.

"And the Lord turned the captivity of Job and restored his fortunes, when he prayed for his friends; also the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before." - Job 42:10

God's Will May Be Different From Our Plans

Bimbola Tayo-Bamidele

Do you know that everyone of us actually desire God's will to be done in our lives? Yet we fight it when it conflicts with our idea of what His will should be.
Sometimes, our mind is so fixed on what we really want and then, for formality purpose, we ask Him to have His way and let His will be done. When He now does His will, or reveals it, and it does not come in the package we expect, we begin to fight it; simply because it does not tally with our expectations.
As I think about this now, an incident came to my mind.
Hubby and I wanted to relocate from our former apartment. He wanted somewhere close to our church, I wanted the heart of town; and the heart of town is far from our church. We prayed and agreed that God's will, will be done.
When we eventually got a place, it was neither close to church, nor to the heart of town. It was not a place either of us ever considered at all... and we didn't want it. I followed the agent to the place reluctantly, but when I saw the apartment, I fell in love with it. But it was not where either of us wanted or expected.
When I told hubby about the place, he said 'No'. Even after much persuasions and pleadings from me, he refused to agree. So, I gave up, and agreed with him to settle for a place near the church.
Do you know that as he went searching for some other place on his own, he was taken to this same place that I first saw and told him about. He loved it as soon as he saw it. He immediately called me and told me, "I found the place you were taken to the last time. Well, since you said you liked that place, let us go there." Meanwhile, i had taken my mind off the place. I told him, "No! it is too far from church; neither is it close to the heart of town." Now, it was his turn to start persuading me but I insisted.
Then the Holy Spirit interrupted me, "I thought you wanted my will?"
I replied, "Yes, of course. I do and You know it" Then He said, "Why are you now fighting it?" I was surprised to hear that, so I asked, "You mean...?" He replied, "Yes, that is My will" I had no choice. I had to succumb to and align with the new development.
We have never ceased to thank God for that house. The neighbours, the environment, the atmosphere, everything was just beautiful and more than we could ever ask for. We could not have gotten a better place at that period... and we nearly missed it because it did not appear to be where we wanted it or what we wanted.
God's will, most times, may be different from what we ever imagined. If eyes have not seen, ears have not heard, and if it has not entered the heart of any man what He has prepared for all that love Him, then all that love Him must keep an open mind... even
after praying for what they desire; so that they will not miss Him and His best for their lives.
May God help us to recognize and accept His will even when it comes in a disguise.
May God's will be done in every aspect of our lives in Jesus' name... and may we align with it.
Amen.
Have a great day, great women of God in the house.
Shalom.