August 26, 2023

I've been getting an increase in messages from women's leaders that just feel like they don't know where to turn to for advice on what direction to take their women's ministry in certain areas. It seems like there are so many contradicting messages out there relating to women's ministry, and I understand these leaders' frustration. For almost any of these situations, my advice is usually to follow the Holy Spirit's leading, ask your pastor's advice, and bathe it in prayer. And oh, to stop listening to all the voices.

Follow the Holy Spirit not Self-Appointed Advisors

I think there is a problem with some of our women's leaders wanting to fit in with what opinion is popular when it comes to how to run their local church women's ministries, instead of following the Holy Spirit. So many self-appointed advisors try to persuade our women's leaders to do what they think is acceptable, modern, or even politically correct. We see this in some of the training and teaching that it out there online for women's ministry leaders.

I urge you to not to listen to everyone and anything that comes along and says they are called to lead and teach women's ministry leaders. I urge you to judge what they say. Judge what they teach by not only just God's Word but also by common sense. There are a lot of nonsensical things out there that so called teachers and mentors are wanting women's ministry leaders to follow.

And please! Judge and prove what I say as well. Don't just take advice from anyone that has a pretty website, from anyone who says they are called to teach leaders, from anyone that says they have so many number of years experience. Nor by whether they say they have a "ministry".

Following the Holy Spirit will quiet the voices

I think one of the biggest issues I've seen with women's leaders in the last few years is that so many are listening to advice and getting direction from people and not listening so closely to the Holy Spirit. Please, I compel you as leaders to join me and pray that our women's leaders of our local churches turn to the Holy Spirit to be their Guide. We need good sound choices in our women's leader's decisions, and following the leading of the Holy Spirit is the best way to accomplish that.

Look what Jesus said,

But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. John 14:26-27 (KJV)

We have the Holy Spirit to lead us and to teach us. Don't forget that.

Then next, let's look in Romans 8 and what it says about the Holy Spirit. I think sometimes people only want to memorize and quote verse 26, but if you look at all those verses, you will see what amazing stuff that the Holy Spirit does. Let's focus on verses 26-28 and see how much goodness just those few verses alone contain.

Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Romans 8:26-28 (KJV)

I have come to this passage many times when I was working with women's ministry groups because I get so much motivation and comfort from it when it comes time for decisions and guidance. The Spirit is not going to steer me wrong if I am living a holy life and allowing the Holy Spirit to guide me. Those hard decisions that come along in women's ministry seem much easier when I know I have the Holy Spirit there on my side. He's making intercession for me! And wow, with "groanings which cannot be uttered".

And I find verse 28 of that passage such a calm resting place for me. That verse is a peaceful place to rest my weary head when all those voices in my ear comes bearing down on me. I hope as a women's leader that you too will find peace and comfort in that verse and in what the Holy Spirit can do for you when the loud voices enter your head and you feel like you don't know what direction to take.

I think if we just start digging into God's Word as leaders, start praying as leaders, and start allowing the Holy Spirit more control in our lives, the voices of those around will quiet down. In turn, trouble making those decisions in our local church women's ministries won't seem so complicated.

Copyright ©2023 Julia Bettencourt

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