What does it really mean to be a godly woman?
For many of us, the picture we’ve carried is rooted in doing: serving more, volunteering more, staying productive, holding everything together, and somehow doing it all with a smile. But Scripture gently reorients that assumption.
Godliness is not first about what we do, it’s about who we are becoming in the presence of God.
True godliness is formation. As Scripture tells us, we are “being transformed into the same image from glory to glory” as we behold the Lord (2 Corinthians 3:18).
Christ is being formed in us (Galatians 4:19), and that formation happens not through striving, but through proximity.
Few women in Scripture embody this more beautifully than Mary of Bethany. Across three Gospel moments, Mary shows us what it looks like to choose the “better portion.”
From Mary’s life, we learn seven powerful ways to become a godly woman.
1. A Godly Woman Chooses Presence Over Productivity
When Jesus entered the home of Mary and Martha (Luke 10:38–42), Martha was busy serving and doing good, necessary things. But Mary chose something different.
She sat at Jesus’ feet and listened to His word.
Mary understood that intimacy with Jesus held greater value than activity for Jesus. Her worth wasn’t found in what she produced, but in who she was close to.
This challenges a deeply ingrained mindset many women carry: that being busy equals being faithful.
Godliness begins when we choose presence over performance.
2. A Godly Woman Listens Before She Strives
Mary didn’t rush into action; she positioned herself to listen first. A godly woman allows herself to be filled before she pours out.
This is spiritual maturity, refusing to serve from emptiness. When we prioritize sitting at the feet of Jesus, we’re formed by His voice, not driven by pressure.
Giving God our first moments, our attention, and our Sabbath isn’t about obligation; it’s about transformation.
We become more effective in the world when Christ forms us first in stillness.
3. A Godly Woman Obeys God Over Cultural Expectations
Mary’s posture was radical. Sitting at the feet of a rabbi was the position of a disciple, a role typically reserved for men in the first century. Yet Mary was unbothered by social norms, opinions, or even her sister’s disapproval.
Her priority was obedience, not acceptance.
A godly woman places God’s voice above every other voice.
She is willing to look different, be misunderstood, and even disrupt expectations if it means staying close to Jesus.
4. A Godly Woman Prioritizes God’s Word
Scripture tells us Mary “heard His word.” She intentionally became a student of truth.
Studying the Bible isn’t reserved for theologians or church leaders; it’s for every believer.
A godly woman is shaped by what she consumes, and she chooses to be formed by Scripture rather than the noise of the world.
When we sit with God’s Word, our minds are renewed, our values are reshaped, and our lives begin to reflect His truth.
5. A Godly Woman Finds Worth in Proximity, Not Praise
Mary wasn’t seeking recognition for a clean home, a good meal, or visible success. Her worth was anchored in closeness to Christ.
Scripture says a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised, not because of what she accomplishes, but because of whom she loves.
Mary’s confidence came from intimacy with Jesus, not affirmation from others.
When our worth is rooted in proximity to God, we’re freed from the exhausting pursuit of approval.
6. A Godly Woman Walks in Discernment
Discernment is knowing what to choose…and when.
Mary recognized the moment she was in and chose wisely. She said no to good things in order to say yes to the best thing. This kind of discernment flows from intimacy with God, not from pressure or comparison.
A godly woman learns to ask: What is God inviting me into right now? And she trusts Him enough to respond accordingly.
7. A Godly Woman Knows Her Time with God Is Never Wasted
Jesus said of Mary, “She has chosen the good part, which will not be taken away from her.”
Everything in this world can be lost…titles, relationships, possessions, accomplishments. But time spent with God carries eternal weight. Mary invested her life in what would last forever.
Intimacy with Christ is never wasted, delayed, or forgotten. It produces fruit that outlives us.
Final Encouragement
What’s striking is that Mary appears three times in the Gospels, and every time, she is found at the feet of Jesus.
- In Luke 10, she sits at His feet to learn.
- In John 11, in her deepest grief, she falls at His feet—and Jesus weeps.
- In John 12, she anoints His feet with costly oil in bold, sacrificial worship—and Jesus defends her.
Her posture reveals her power. Proximity moved the heart of Jesus. Intimacy invited His defense.
Busyness is often socially acceptable, but it can quietly replace intimacy.
The question we must ask ourselves today is this: Who is discipling me?
The world is always shaping us, but godliness comes from allowing Jesus to form us. Like a tree planted by streams of living water (Psalm 1), a godly woman is rooted, steady, and fruitful, not because life is easy, but because her source is secure.
God is not calling us to anxious striving. He’s calling us to abide.
This week, choose the better portion. Sit at His feet. Let Christ form you. And trust that intimacy with Him will produce a life that brings glory to God and fruit that lasts.
Want to Go Deeper?
This message comes from Episode 4 of The Bible Made Real With Kathy Podcast: “What It Means to Be a Godly Woman.”
You can listen wherever you get your podcasts, and subscribe to Kathy’s email list for free Bible study tools and weekly devotionals.
