Ladies, if we had been born a generation or so ago we would have been encouraged, prodded and demanded to have “good posture”. Perhaps, some of you had mothers, sisters, aunts or grandmothers who would admonish you to “stand up straight”, “walk tall” or “get your head up”. Some of you shorter women probably didn’t have this problem because you were always conscious of getting the most out of the height God had given you! Those of you who “got your height” early on probably went through a time when you felt like slouching or slinking to try and fit in with the others around you. Perhaps you didn’t want to be noticed.

If God has called you into leadership then He is calling you to “Stand Tall”. To stand tall we must be sure first of our own foundation in Christ. Do you trust Him to be perfecting that which He has begun?

It is very important to allow the Holy Spirit to show you His image of yourself. If we are to stand tall in the Lord, it must come from the inside confidence that God is a good and gifted potter. He decides what shape and purpose each vessel He makes is to be used for. Sisters, learning to stand tall in all areas of our lives must include learning not to compare ourselves with others. Memorize, Meditate and Measure yourself by II Corinthians 10:12. “For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves and comparing themselves among themselves are not wise.” Either we will be puffed up or pounded down by our comparisons. We can only measure ourselves by His calling and obedience to that calling. To Stand Tall we need to allow Him to deal with any areas of insecurities. This can be difficult, but again as we allow His Spirit to work in our lives it will promote much fruit by which we will glorify the Father! One definition of glorify, is to enhance the reputation of God! By Standing Tall in the Spirit of God (as tall as He has made us to be!) we will indeed bring glory to Him. In Christ we all have the opportunity to keep on growing and growing and growing!

I encourage you to remind yourself that you were created in the image of Christ. That even before time began that He knew you and called you and created you, even as Esther, for such a time as this. Esther 4:14 It is not by accident that you are alive in this season of history. God planned for you to make a difference for His kingdom in 1998!

I would remind you that He knows that sometimes our hands get weak and our knees get feeble ( why else would he remind us to strengthen the weak hands and confirm the feeble knees? Isaiah 35:3) When you feel weak kneed, remember to call upon Him and He will give strength. If the enemy of your soul can convince you that you are not necessary and that it is really in God’s best interest for you to fold and sink, then he not only has defeated you, but God’s people that He wanted you to strengthen as well.

God is calling us to “Stand Tall”. To be strong in the power of His might and in whom we are in Him.

God needs us to stand tall and be accounted for. I read a book this summer by Jack Hayford, “Pastors of Promise”. One comment that stood out was the statement, “even the weakest pastor on his worst day is a threat to the enemy”. As I began to ponder that statement I began to realize that there are some days that I don’t “feel” like standing tall. I just want to hide in the corner and simply exist! However, God has been showing me that that is a luxury that I can no longer afford. I am needed to stand tall—and so are each of you. We are not always aware of who is watching us to find their way. When we are in a crowded place I always look for Darryl because with his height I can follow him and not get lost in the shuffle. Each of us, who are called to a place of leadership, whether we feel greater or smaller, we are important and we need to be reminded that there are always those following us through the crowded maze of today's life.

Written by: Martha Rodman