P.M.S. For Female Believers

RISE AND SHINE FOR JESUS! \O/

By Pam Iannello (my late mother)

PMS, or pre-menstrual syndrome, is a time of the month for females when basic emotions are elevated by way of hormonal changes. Syndrome is a word that simply means “a set of symptoms”. In other words, ladies, there are definite signs that our hormones are shifting gears. PMS does not mean that women with bodies preparing for menstruation are sporting a fatal disease that requires admittance to the intensive care unit for ongoing observation and/or a special license to be excused from anything they say or do prior to blood flow. The fact is Christian women can rise above their “set of symptoms” with the help of the Lord – IF THEY REALLY WANT TO. The emotional changes that we experience are simply more of what we already contend with on a daily basis. For instance, if you have successfully managed a particular emotion any other time of the month, PMS is nothing out of the ordinary; the same emotion is simply intensified. Therefore, the self-discipline you applied (hopefully!) at an earlier date simply needs to be elevated to meet the intensity of the emotional change. Besides the chocolate cravings and early cramping, PMS can cause an attitude elevation. Even so, as Bible-believing women, all we need to cope with these heightened feelings is greater amounts of God’s grace. A rising of the flesh requires a rising of the Spirit…

James 4:6 (KJV)

But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

The women who wrestle in vain with specific emotions during PMS are women who probably aren’t dealing adequately with these same emotions on a smaller, day to day scale. Thus, they become easily defeated during times when their hormones are shifting gears. Ladies, are you daily applying God’s grace to your typical emotional struggle points? If so, apply more when the occasion calls for it! “Kick it up a notch!”, as Emeril would say. Just as you look to the Lord for the strength to meet your daily needs, depend upon Him even more when conditions intensify. Trust me; God won’t mind being God to you!

With Jesus Christ living in our hearts, there is no reason for a born-again female to justify or fall victim to her elevated mood swings simply because of the hormonal changes taking place in her body! “Come now, and let us reason together, saith the Lord…” (Isaiah 1:18) If God designed our bodies to operate in this manner on a regular basis (and He did!), don’t you think He is able to supply us the power to endure these changes triumphantly, still glorifying His name and preserving our Christian testimony in the process??

Elevated emotions are an opportunity to elevate God’s grace. Contrary to popular belief, PMS is not God’s idea of a bad joke on mankind. Much to heaven’s dismay, many female believers actually behave as if God created women’s bodies to menstruate and then said, “Oops, I forgot to give them the capacity to cope!” Yes, ladies, the symptoms are real, but it’s also possible to gloriously manage yourself in spite of the cyclic shift in your hormones. “But He giveth more grace.”

Psalm 42:5 (KJV)

Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.

1 Cor. 10:13 (KJV) 

    There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

1 Thes. 5:18 (KJV)

In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

You may have never heard this before but I’ll be honest with you ladies, I think we should thank God for PMS! Now, let me explain why before you shoot me in a hormonal frenzy… I say that because it gives us women an opportunity every month to diligently work on crucifying our flesh and gain greater control of our emotions. And the Lord knows we need it!  Life the rest of the month would be a breeze if we truly learned how to master our emotions during PMS. If you think about it, menstruation prepares a woman’s body to cultivate new life.  Spiritually speaking, new life as a Christian can be cultivated monthly as we cling to God with greater dependency whenever our emotions threaten to run away with our hearts and minds. Too many women place emphasis on external conditions while God places emphasis on internal conditions. No matter what your circumstances encompass, self control is possible – and expected of us by God. Now, to help give new meaning to the term “PMS”, I put together a healthier, holier focus instead of just your feelings. Pick one perspective each month and try a different type of PMS – or all of them if you care to stun your friends and family with an enormous dose of the grace of God! Most of all, I pray that each of you will endeavor to please the Lord ALL MONTH LONG, with no excuses.

PMS FOR CHRISTIAN WOMEN:

• PRAISE MY SAVIOR

• PERFECT MY STRENGTH

• PRAY MORE SINCERELY

• PRESS MY-SELF
• PURGE MY SOUL

• PURIFY MY SPIRIT

• PLANT MEEK SEEDS

• PONDER MANY SCRIPTURES

• PACE MY SPEED

• POSITIVE MENTAL STIMULI

• PLAY MUSIC STEADILY

• PICK MY STRESS

• POLICE MY SPEECH

• PROTECT MY STUDENTS (children)

• PARDON MAN’S SINS

• PROVIDE MORE SMILES

• PLAN MY SCHEDULE

• PRODUCE MEMORIES SWEET

• PRESCRIBE MERCY SWIFTLY

• PRETTY MY STYLE

• PADLOCK MOOD SWINGS

• PLEASE MY SWEETHEART

• PRACTICE MANNERS SACRIFICIAL

• PROVE MY SPIRITUALITY

God Bless,

Pam

Isaiah 60:1&2

Copyright 2005 Pamela A. Iannello