March 01

Christian Women Devotionals

Christian Women Devotionals

Christian Women Devotionals

Christian Women Devotionals

Margaret Wilson (1667–1685) was a young Scottish Covenanter who died as a martyr at just 18 years old for her steadfast refusal to renounce her Reformed Presbyterian faith. In a time of brutal persecution under the rule of King Charles II, when attendance at unauthorized worship services (known as conventicles) was punishable by death, Margaret stood unwaveringly for Christ — even unto drowning.

Born in Wigtownshire, Scotland, Margaret was raised in a devout Covenanting household. Her family, like many in the region, resisted royal efforts to impose bishops and the Book of Common Prayer on Scottish worship. The Covenanters had pledged to remain loyal to Christ as King over His Church — a pledge that brought them into conflict with civil authorities who demanded religious conformity.

Margaret and her younger sister Agnes, along with an older widow named Margaret McLachlan, were arrested in 1685 for attending a forbidden prayer meeting. The local authorities tried to force them to swear allegiance to the king as head of the church — but they refused. Though Agnes was eventually released, Margaret Wilson and Margaret McLachlan were sentenced to be tied to wooden stakes in the Solway Firth and drowned by the incoming tide.

Wilson’s Final Words (as recorded by witnesses):

“I see Christ wrestling yonder.”
Spoken as the tide rose and she looked toward her elderly companion being drowned beside her.

Source: “The Cloud of Witnesses,” 18th-century Covenanting martyr accounts

Selected Anecdotes:

The Psalms and the Sea
As the water lapped around her, Margaret sang Psalm 25 aloud — “Unto Thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul…” Her voice rose in worship as death approached.

The False Recantation Offer
Witnesses say guards offered her freedom at the last moment if she would say “God save the King.” She replied, “I will not; I am one of Christ’s.”

The Elder’s Prayer
Margaret McLachlan, the older woman tied beside her, was executed first. Margaret Wilson was forced to watch. She prayed: “Lord, receive thy servant. Let me follow.”

The Father’s Plea
Her father pleaded for her release, citing her youth. The judge replied, “Then teach her to submit.” He answered, “She submits to Christ alone.”

The Resilient Sister
Agnes, who had been imprisoned with Margaret, later testified to her sister’s courage. “She feared no man — only losing her Lord.”

Famous Quotes Attributed to Margaret Wilson:

"I will not deny the King of kings to please the kings of earth."
"Better to drown in the truth than live in a lie."
"My feet are in the sea, but my heart is on the Rock."
"Christ’s crown is not for sale."
"Tyrants take breath — Christ gives life."

Legacy:

Margaret Wilson’s story became a rallying cry for Scottish Presbyterians and a symbol of youthful courage in the face of tyranny. Her death is memorialized as one of the most vivid testimonies of faith during the “Killing Times” in 17th-century Scotland. She reminds the Church that even the youngest voices can roar with conviction, and that no earthly power can drown eternal truth. Her name lives on in hymns, monuments, and the living memory of a Church built on the blood of martyrs.

Mary Fletcher (1739–1815), born Mary Bosanquet, was a leading spiritual voice in the early Methodist movement and one of the first women in England recognized for her public ministry and religious writing. A gifted speaker, writer, and devout Christian, she chose a life of service to the poor, the sick, and the spiritually hungry. She became the wife of renowned Methodist theologian John Fletcher, and after his death, she continued his legacy with her own strong theological convictions and daily acts of compassion.

Born into a wealthy Anglican family, Mary was deeply moved by the preaching of John Wesley and chose to devote her life to Christ in defiance of social expectations. In 1763, she opened an orphanage and school in Leytonstone, where she cared for the poor, taught Scripture, and practiced early forms of medical care. She boldly preached and led classes, despite criticism from many in the Church of England, and was defended by Wesley himself.

In 1781, she married John Fletcher, one of the foremost theologians of early Methodism, and together they served at Madeley until his death just four years later. Mary remained in Madeley for the rest of her life, leading Bible studies, mentoring young women, and writing devotional works that emphasized holiness, prayer, and perseverance.

Fletcher’s Final Words (as recorded by her maid):

“Jesus is precious — my soul is going home.”
Spoken quietly just before she passed into eternity after a long illness.

Source: “The Life of Mrs. Mary Fletcher,” compiled by Henry Moore, 1817

Selected Anecdotes:

The Leytonstone Home
Mary sold her fine clothes and furniture to found a home for orphan girls and poor widows, calling it “my little kingdom of grace.”

John Wesley’s Defense
When others accused her of overstepping in preaching, Wesley replied, “God owns her labors — and I will too.”

The Cottage Meetings
She led Bible readings and prayer services in the homes of working-class women. One noted, “She spoke like a flame, and we trembled in joy.”

Widow and Witness
After her husband’s death, Mary carried on his ministry alone. Locals said she was “the steady candle still burning in Madeley.”

Her Pen and Her Pulpit
She wrote daily letters of encouragement to missionaries and struggling believers. Her collected works were widely read by Methodist women throughout Britain.

Famous Quotes Attributed to Mary Fletcher:

"Holiness is not high-mindedness, but low-heartedness before God."
"Let not the world tell you what a woman can be — let Christ."
"My calling is to the broken, for there I found Him too."
"Preach if you must, but never cease to live the sermon."
"If the Lord asks for everything, He will supply everything."

Legacy:

Mary Fletcher was a quiet revolutionary — a woman who stepped into ministry at a time when it was nearly unthinkable for women to preach or lead. Her theological clarity, unshakable faith, and deep compassion for the poor made her one of the most respected Christian women of her age. She proved that holiness is both practical and powerful, and that a life of private prayer can yield public transformation. Her legacy lives on in Methodist history, women’s ministry, and every believer who chooses to serve from the margins with joy and obedience.

 Lumina of Gaul (4th Century) lived during the fourth century in Roman Gaul, a time of transition when Christianity was spreading but not yet rooted in every household. Though not mentioned in official church histories, her life was remembered in early monastic records and rural legends as a woman of deep compassion and quiet strength. She was known for her long periods of fasting and her secret service to the poor — especially beggars and lepers cast out from the city gates.

Living on little more than bread and herbs, Lumina often slipped away at dusk to bring food, water, and woolen coverings to the destitute. She avoided recognition and refused even small payments or thanks, saying, “The right hand should not know what the soul gives.” She prayed before each act of service and fasted not to boast, but to align her heart with the suffering of Christ and the hungry around her.

Her acts were discovered only after her death, when villagers pieced together stories told by the beggars she had helped. To them, she was known only as “the woman of the warm basket.”

Lumina’s Final Words (as preserved by oral tradition):

“The hunger I feel opens the door to His mercy.”
Spoken quietly in her final hours, lying on a simple mat, with a wooden bowl and torn cloak nearby.

*Source: 6th-century monastic collection, Sayings of the Desert Women of Gaul.

Selected Anecdotes:

The Hidden Loaf
Each week, she left a fresh loaf of barley bread in a hollowed stone near the edge of town. Beggars came to call it “the angel’s rock.”

The Cold Winter Gift
One frostbitten woman remembered a shawl wrapped around her shoulders and a whisper: “He warms more than fire — trust Him.”

The Lent of Silence
For 40 days, Lumina spoke no words except Scripture verses and prayers offered while washing the feet of the sick.

The Village Child
A child once followed her through the woods. She gave him a fig, kissed his brow, and said, “Let the little ones teach us how to give.”

The Oil and the Lamp
Despite fasting, she kept a lamp lit each night to pray for widows. A monk later found the wick still warm in the morning of her passing.

Famous Quotes Attributed to Lumina:

"Fasting is not hunger — it is hospitality to heaven."
"Give in secret — for only the angels need to know."
"Bread shared in silence feeds the soul doubly."
"What I lay at His feet, I never miss."
"Even the crumbs of love are enough when given to Christ."

Legacy:

Though Lumina left no writings, no church, and no monument, her life is remembered through whispered acts of mercy. She embodied the call to serve the least of these, not with speeches, but with her hands and tears. Her devotion to fasting was not rooted in asceticism, but in empathy — a way to draw near to both Christ and the poor. Lumina’s life reminds us that quiet saints often light the brightest lamps in the hidden corners of history.

Elisabeth Elliot (1926–2015) was a missionary, author, and spiritual guide whose life of surrender and resilience inspired generations of Christians worldwide. Born in Belgium to missionary parents and raised in the United States, she committed her life to Christ early and studied Greek at Wheaton College. It was there she met Jim Elliot, the man she would marry — and later mourn.

In 1956, her husband was speared to death by the Waorani (Auca) tribe in Ecuador while attempting to bring them the Gospel. With a heart stripped of bitterness and full of grace, Elisabeth made a staggering decision: she stayed. Not only did she remain in Ecuador, but she and her young daughter eventually lived among the very tribe who killed her husband — learning their language, translating Scripture, and sharing the love of Christ.

Her return to the United States marked the beginning of a powerful writing and speaking ministry. With a voice that was calm yet piercing, she called Christians to radical trust, purity, obedience, and cross-bearing faith. Her legacy continues through her books, broadcasts, and the many who were changed by her life.

Elisabeth’s Final Words (as recorded by her family):

“I have surrendered all — He is enough.”
Spoken in the quiet of her final days, these words reflected the enduring theme of her life: Christ’s sufficiency in suffering and surrender.

Source: Family recollection, published in Be Still My Soul: Reflections on Elisabeth Elliot, 2016.

Selected Anecdotes:

The Jungle Decision
After Jim's death, she was asked why she would return to the tribe. She answered simply, “Because God sent His Son while we were still His enemies.”

Amy’s Mission Field
Elisabeth brought her toddler daughter, Valerie, into the tribe's village. The image of the young widow walking hand-in-hand with the child of a slain man softened hearts and opened doors.

The Language of Mercy
She painstakingly learned the Waorani language to translate the Gospel of Mark — often by firelight, after caring for villagers all day.

The Voice in the Quiet
Her radio program, Gateway to Joy, reached thousands of women worldwide. Her signature opening was always: “You are loved with an everlasting love.”

A Widow's Wedding Ring
She wore her wedding band for years after Jim’s death. When asked why she didn’t remove it, she said, “It still means what it meant — covenant with God’s purpose.”

Famous Quotes Attributed to Elisabeth Elliot:

"You can never lose what you have offered to Christ."
"Faith does not eliminate questions. But faith knows where to take them."
"The will of God is never exactly what you expect, but it is always better than what you imagine."
"Suffering is never for nothing."
"Do the next thing."

Legacy:

Elisabeth Elliot lived the Gospel in bold ink — not only through her books, but through her wounds. She bore widowhood, loneliness, rejection, and misunderstanding with grace that pointed not to herself, but to Christ. Her life teaches that the deepest surrender yields the richest harvest. Whether in a jungle hut, a pulpit, or a prayer closet, her message never changed: Jesus is worthy. Today, her words still challenge believers to live a life of obedience, even when it costs everything.

Christian Women Devotionals

Christian Women Devotionals

Christian Women Devotionals

Christian Women Devotionals

Christian Women Devotionals

Christian Women Devotionals

Christian Women Devotionals

Christian Women Devotionals

E. Margaret Clarkson (1915–2008) was a Canadian schoolteacher, author, and one of the 20th century’s most influential Christian hymn writers. Though her life was marked by chronic illness, personal solitude, and seasons of pain, she poured her suffering into songs that pointed others to Christ. She is best known for hymns such as “O Father, You Are Sovereign” and “So Send I You,” hymns that still stir hearts in worship today.

Born in Saskatchewan and raised in Ontario, Clarkson came to faith as a teenager and soon discovered her love for both poetry and theology. She taught school in northern Ontario, where she often experienced loneliness and hardship, yet used the time to write hymns that gave voice to deep longing and trust in God’s sovereignty. She remained single her entire life and often wrote candidly about singleness and suffering — not with bitterness, but with conviction and grace.

Her hymns, books, and poems touched thousands. She reminded the Church that worship is not always birthed in ease but often emerges from dark places where faith must fight for every note. Her lyrics reveal a mind steeped in Scripture and a heart that knew what it meant to wait, trust, and endure.

Clarkson’s Final Words (as remembered by a friend):

“He has been faithful in all things.”
Spoken just days before her passing, reflecting her lifelong trust in God’s sustaining grace.

Source: Personal correspondence cited in “Faith and Hymnody: Reflections on Margaret Clarkson,” 2009

Selected Anecdotes:

Northern Lights and a Hymn
During her time teaching in a remote logging town, she wrote her famous missionary hymn “So Send I You” after meditating on John 20:21. She later said, “It was written through tears and prayer.”

The Sunday Afternoon Desk
Clarkson often spent Sunday afternoons penning lyrics from her desk with a Bible, concordance, and hymnbook beside her. Her journal reads, “Let what I write be worthy of Him.”

Writing Through the Pain
Battling lifelong migraines and arthritis, she would sometimes dictate hymns while bedridden, telling friends, “My body may ache, but my Savior sings still.”

The Letter to Singles
In her essay “Loneliness: What to Do,” she wrote, “Our culture pities the single; Scripture honors the surrendered.”

Hymns for the Suffering
She deliberately wrote hymns that offered comfort to those grieving or waiting. One collection was titled “Grace Grows Best in Winter.”

Famous Quotes Attributed to E. Margaret Clarkson:

"The sovereignty of God is not a doctrine to endure — it is a pillow to rest on."
"Hymns are theology that sings."
"Sing truth, even when your voice shakes."
"The Lord does not waste sorrow — He sanctifies it."
"Loneliness surrendered becomes a platform for ministry."

Legacy:

Margaret Clarkson’s hymns are her lasting legacy — gifts to the Church that express truth, reverence, and real-life faith. She wrote from a place of honesty, never shying away from pain, yet always leading readers and singers to the feet of Christ. In an age of shallow songs, hers were rich with doctrine and devotion. Through over 100 published hymns, several books, and countless personal reflections, she taught that a life given to God — whether married or single, healthy or hurting — is a life well-spent.

Christian Women Devotionals

Eva von Tiele-Winckler (1866–1930) was a German countess turned Christian reformer whose heart beat not for nobility or power, but for the orphaned, the wounded, and the forgotten. Born into wealth and privilege in the Prussian aristocracy, Eva astonished her peers by exchanging her silks for simplicity and her title for servanthood. She chose a life of Christian humility, dedicating her fortune and energy to the care of abandoned children and the spread of the Gospel.

Moved by her deep faith in Christ and the social tragedies of her day, Eva founded the Friedenshort Deaconess Home in Miechowitz (now in Poland) in 1890. What began as a small house for neglected girls blossomed into a network of homes and ministries for orphans, the disabled, and the poor. Her work combined practical care with spiritual discipleship, shaping children not only to survive — but to live as believers with purpose.

Nicknamed “Sister Eva”, she lived in the homes she founded, sharing in the chores, prayers, and tears of those she served. Though she came from noble blood, she lived as a servant of the King. Her writings, hymns, and spiritual insights also reached far beyond Germany, offering comfort and challenge to believers in every walk of life.

Sister Eva’s Words (from her journals):

“I will live as if Christ is enough — because He is.”

Source: Personal Diary, Friedenshort Archives

Selected Anecdotes:

A Countess Among the Coal Bins
Eva once scrubbed floors beside orphaned girls after a coal delivery. When asked why, she said, “Christ did not come to sit on velvet.”

Singing Through Suffering
She often led hymns for the children, especially during illness or famine. “When we cannot eat,” she said, “we can sing.”

The Coat Exchange
One winter, she gave her only warm coat to a child who had none. When asked what she would wear, she replied, “His arms are enough.”

Teaching the Gospel by Firelight
Many nights, Eva would gather the children around the fire, reading Scripture and sharing how Jesus had rescued her from pride and fear.

The Silent Retreat
Though known for service, she also valued quiet. Once, she disappeared for a week to pray alone, returning with renewed vision and a new hymn.

Famous Quotes Attributed to Eva von Tiele-Winckler:

"Let the noble become low, that Christ may be high."
"A child who knows Jesus is richer than an empress."
"The Church must live in the streets if it loves the cross."
"We do not adopt the poor — they adopt us."
"My castle is now filled with orphans, and I lack nothing."

Legacy:

Eva von Tiele-Winckler modeled what it meant to surrender status for service. Her peaceful revolution did not march through politics but flowed through orphan halls, dirty laundry rooms, and whispered prayers in hospital beds. Her Friedenshort homes outlived her, expanding across Europe, and her vision of Christ-centered compassion continues through the deaconess movement. Sister Eva teaches us that greatness in the kingdom of God comes not through inheritance, but through selfless love.

Macrina the Younger (c. 327–379) was a fourth-century Christian ascetic, spiritual leader, and one of the greatest early female theologians of the Church. Sister to Basil the Great and Gregory of Nyssa — two giants of early Christian thought — she was a guiding spiritual force within her family and an intellectual equal to her renowned brothers. Macrina’s life of prayer, study, and humble service became a model for early Christian monasticism and feminine wisdom.

Born into a devout Cappadocian family, Macrina received a thorough education in Scripture and classical philosophy, thanks to her mother Emmelia and grandmother Macrina the Elder. Though betrothed at a young age, she chose a life of consecrated celibacy after her fiancé’s death, regarding herself as "still bound to him in Christ." She devoted her life to community service and founded a religious order for women near her home in Pontus, turning the family estate into a monastic center of learning, prayer, and care for the poor.

Gregory of Nyssa’s famous Life of Macrina reveals her as the spiritual matriarch of a household that shaped the future of the Church. Her theology, drawn from a life of contemplation and action, deeply influenced her siblings — especially in their writings on the soul, resurrection, and the nature of holiness.

Macrina’s Final Words (as recorded by Gregory of Nyssa):

“Thou, O Lord, hast freed us from the fear of death.”
Spoken in prayer just before she died, her eyes fixed on heaven.

Source: Gregory of Nyssa, “Life of Macrina”

Selected Anecdotes:

The Soul’s Philosopher
Gregory of Nyssa recorded a theological dialogue with her on her deathbed, in which she explained the immortality of the soul and the resurrection with clarity that rivaled any Church Father.

The Monastic Sisterhood
Macrina gathered women of all classes — including freed slaves — into a community centered on work, worship, and equality before God.

The Consolation of Her Mother
After the death of one of her brothers, Macrina consoled their grieving mother with Scripture and steadfast peace. Her brother later wrote, “She spoke with the serenity of heaven.”

The “Teacher” of the Teachers
Both Basil the Great and Gregory called her “the Teacher.” Basil often said that Macrina’s spiritual insight kept him humble in the midst of his scholarly acclaim.

The Simplicity of Her Cell
Macrina chose to live in a small bare room with a wooden bed and a single oil lamp. It was said of her: “Her riches were in wisdom, and her glory in humility.”

Famous Quotes Attributed to Macrina the Younger:

"True philosophy is to die to the world and live unto God."
"Our souls rise when we serve, and bow when we seek praise."
"What use is wisdom if it does not teach love?"
"The body fades, but the soul awaits the face of God."
"Teach with silence, and guide with holiness."

Legacy:

Macrina the Younger stands as one of the most revered women in early Church history — not because she held office or sought renown, but because she shaped souls. Her theological insight, expressed through daily sacrifice and spiritual depth, helped lay the intellectual and devotional foundations of Christian monasticism. She showed the Church that holiness is not confined to the pulpit or the page — it is lived in prayer, suffering, and service. Through the pens of her brothers and the witness of her life, Macrina remains a teacher still.