Women have often looked to men to define us, to affirm us, and to lead us. Men told us that women belonged at home raising the children and in the kitchen – even in the Church, we were relegated to the kitchen. Again, in the Church, men told us women couldn’t preach and, instead, appeased us with the title of missionary. As a number of men received spiritual insight, their position changed and they later allowed women to preach. Some men used the demeaning analogy of a jackass to explain their change of heart; “If the Lord can use a jackass to deliver His Word, surely He can use a woman,” (Numbers 22:28-30). Although women were eventually permitted to preach, we were prohibited from occupying the position of pastors and apostles. Once again, as men’s eyes were opened, and as women became more determined to obey God rather than men (Acts 5:29); women also began to take their places in those positions.

I read a quote recently, “Never let someone who didn’t create you, define you.” Thank God for pioneering women who relied on their Creator to define them, tell them what to do, when to do it and how to do it. Thank God for trailblazing women who, in spite of being told what they could not be and what they could not do, dared to be and do anyhow. Thank God for those daughters that burned with a desire to please their Father, and did not allow men’s opinions to intimidate them.

The Father still seeks those daughters that will allow His Word to define them and allow His Spirit to direct them; daughters who will trust what He says about them; daughters who will be bold and who will not allow fear to stop them; daughters like the daughters of Zelophehad. (Numbers 27:1-8). These five sisters dared to challenge the religious system of their day. They dared to ask for what they thought was rightfully theirs. Even though the law was not on their side, they did not allow the law to deter them. The sisters courageously went to Moses and the leaders and pled their case. Because they dared to speak up, they not only received their father’s inheritance but the law also was changed. They had no man to speak for them – their father was dead and they had no brothers – they had to speak for themselves and the Lord honored their request.

The Father equally seeks those daughters who will pursue Him. “But the hour comes, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeks such to worship Him.” (John 4:23). In Mark 14:1-9, a woman dared to walk into a room filled with men and unashamedly, unapologetically, despite the whispers and the looks, worshipped the One that delivered her from bondage and gave her a new life. The One she was worshipping is the One who defended her against the whispers, and He also spoke a blessing over her that is still being fulfilled today (vs. 9). This woman did not need the approval of the other men. She only needed the approval of one man – “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.” (2 Corinthians 9:8). Or, as I like to say, He will give you what you need, when you need it, every time you need it!

Daughters of the Most High God, we must free ourselves from the opinions of others. It is imperative that we follow after God and do all that He places in our hearts to do. He will define, affirm, establish, defend and bless us. He will break down the barriers that stand in our way. We do have a man – the One that died for us (John 15:13); the One that all power in both Heaven and earth has been given to Him (Matthew 28:18); the One that sent us a Helper in this earth to counsel and guide us (John 16:7-14). We have Christ Jesus – the One who has promised to be with us always, until the end of the world (Matthew 28:20). So, let us break open our alabaster boxes and break out of the boxes of others’ opinions.

So that we may boldly say, the Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me. Hebrews 13:6