Daughters of Sarah--Life giving or life draining?

"Daughters of Sarah"

God's design for Eve was that she be life-giving.

Are we life-giving women?

I know, at times, we can all be life-draining--and the dread of our presence can precedes us. We don't think of ourselves as being the wife with the rolling pin held high, and yet we feel it our privilege to wield the old tongue when it seems convenient for us to do so.

I once knew a woman who was so good at ranting that, when her back was turned, her husband would prop himself up to act like he was listening and simply fall asleep; a habit which almost proved fatal, one day, as they were traveling on a winding mountain road!

 "A foolish son is the calamity of his father: and the contentions of a wife are a continual dripping." (Proverbs 19:13)

Consider these synonyms for "rant" (to talk in a noisy, excited, or declamatory manner; to scold vehemently):

Spout--the speak or utter readily, volubly, and at length.

Harangue--a ranting speech or writing, syn.: censure, condemnation, denunciation, indictment, rebuke, reprimand, reproof, admonition, correction, lecture, sermon.

I've explained Eve's predicament before. As her daughters, we are stuck in our old, fallen nature. We are slaves to the "created".

 "A wise woman builds her house, But the foolish tears it down with her own hands." (Proverbs 14:1)

"It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and angry woman." (Proverbs 21:19)

But Jesus has set us free. He told us that from Him would flow rivers of living water--and that water was meant to overflow and spill out onto those all around us!

 "Heaviness in the heart of man makes him stoop: but a good word makes him glad." (Proverbs 12:25)

Yes, our abiding faith in God's redemptive plan can transform us into the true "daughters of Sarah".

"A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver." (Proverbs 25:11)

Our Precious, Lovely Jesus makes it possible for us to be life-givers, just as we were originally intended to be. If you have been slipping lately, you probably have not been to the Well that will never run dry! Get on your face, repent, meditate upon God's word, then pray and ask the Holy Spirit to fill you with His power to renew your sleep-deprived body!

Consider these antonyms for rant:

Encomium--glowing and warmly enthusiastic praise.

Tribute--a formal attestation as to the worth, value or effectiveness of the one in question.

Accolade--a ceremony or salute concerning knighthood; an expression of praise.

I know it may feel awkward to begin to praise others, but we must step out in faith. We must speak faith-filled words. We must become like the priests who carried the ark of God over the Jordan River--we have to put our feet into the water before the flow will be stop. It takes a step of faith to become a conduit of God's love and power to those we are the most familiar with and they are the ones who really need our words of kindness.

"A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies." (Proverbs 31:10)

But just make a start--as soon as God's blessings start flowing through you, His joy will begin to spring forth, and you too will be hooked!