Have you ever had someone cut in front of you in line at Walmart or cut you off in traffic? I know I have! Oh, the rage… the anger. I mean, the unmitigated gall of that person! It makes me want to ask them, “Who do you think you are?!” (Insert exasperated sigh here!)
But I would like to take this question a bit further into our personal lives and ask you, “Who do you think you are?” Other questions you have most likely asked yourself are “Why am I here?” or “What is my purpose?” Many times, we as women tend to downplay our role in life—we are just a housewife, or just a mother, or even just an unmarried lady who seems destined for a convent. I have been right there with you on every one of those aforementioned “thought derailments.” Thankfully, I’ve come to understand that who we are is not defined by a label or a title. Sometimes we need to be reminded that we are so much more and that our thoughts about ourselves do indeed matter.
“Likewise, ye wives, be in subjection to your own husbands…” – I Peter 3:1
This has always been one of my husband’s (and probably most husbands out there!) favorite scriptures. I mean, how rude of Peter to throw this in there! But let’s take a step back and really interpret what is being said in these first six verses of this chapter. Verses 1 and 2 continue: “that if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; while they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear.” As much as it pains me to say it, ladies, Peter knows what up! He is the only married disciple, so I will credit him with at least being familiar with the opposite sex, probably more than the other eleven. But his words here should give you pause, because the word “conversation” is from the Greek word meaning “behavior or conduct,” while the word “fear” refers to “reverence and respect.” When a married woman honors and respects her husband enough to be in subjection to him, it speaks volumes to the world, and they may actually come to know Christ through our showing of this deference to our husbands.
New thought #1: You are not just a wife; you are a soul-winning machine, ladies!
I have been around and involved in music for as long as I can remember, probably as a little cherub up in heaven before God decided to send my mother the best-est gift ever—ME! Her tiny angel of music! I decided I wanted to play piano when I turned nine, much to my parents’ chagrin since they wanted a prodigy, but I digress. They taught me Amazing Grace and wrote the key letters on the piano keys my grandmother bought for me—to clarify, she bought the entire piano, not just the keys. After that, it was God that did the teaching and allowed me to excel in that field, being able to hear a song a few times and pick out the general theme within moments. But more than this exceptional skill, he also granted me an anointing when I play. As I have grown older, I realize that the anointing is what He intended for me to focus on the whole time—to learn to submit to it and allow it to flow into someone’s life and possibly change them, just as David’s music did for Saul. I am not an altar worker, I am not a door-knocker, and I most definitely am not a Sunday School teacher (shudder!); I am a musician with talents that God can use to reach people with or without words.
New thought #2: You are not just a (insert title here) in a church; you are a minister to those who need redemption and mercy, as well as a reminder of God’s love for humanity!
“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are... true... honest... just... pure... lovely... of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” Philippians 4:8
Well, this verse just sums it all up for us simple-minded individuals: we are what we think about. This is why how you think about yourself is so very powerful. Never think of yourself as being “just a” something; you are everything you need to be, even more so in the moment that “something” is required to manifest. You have already been equipped with everything you need to fulfill your purpose, and just like the lady with the cruse of oil and a little bit of meal, your “little bit” can sustain you and others during what you think might be the dryest season of your life, saving all of you from spiritual starvation. It is important to keep in mind that even the greatest heroes and heroines of the Bible had moments of doubt about themselves, and we are no different. But we can take strength and encouragement from their stories and know that God has created us to be the light of the world, and once we know—I mean truly know—who we are, then our thoughts about ourselves will begin to permeate our being and shine through in our lives.
New thought #3: My life is what my thoughts make it. When I alter my thoughts towards others, they will be altered toward me.
I have rewritten this article about three times, and I do hope that this final product has helped you to regain your confidence and give you a renewed vision full of gusto and verve. I know just writing it has opened some new doors for me to step through. So, after doing a little soul-searching in this article, I ask you again, “Who do you think you are?” Hopefully, your answer has changed from “I’m not sure if I even have a purpose” to “I am (insert your name here) and I am everything God has created me to be!”
“Nurture your mind with great thoughts; to believe in the heroic makes heroes.” – Benjamin Disraeli
“The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts.” – Marcus Aurelius Antoninus
“He that will not command his thoughts will soon lose the command of his actions.” – Woodrow Wilson
About the Author
My name is Sarah Browder, but I go by Becky. I’m married and have 4 children and 2 grandchildren. I am an accomplished musician and singer. Our family has had the honor of being music ministers at multiple conferences and camps. We have also held music and vocal workshops in various states in order to train others to have a successful music ministry in their churches. I am an author of 2 self-published historical romance novels, The Minister’s Daughter and The Lord and the Lady. I have also written some short stories that are still in the publication works. My husband, Phillip, and I are currently in the process of trying to start a podcast that deals with daily life from a conservative point of view and how to deal with all the craziness of today’s world, with a little humor thrown into the mix. One day I hope to be able to retire from my job and just travel and write and enjoy my family. You can visit my site here!