Yada

The theme for the women this year at OCMD has been ‘yada.’ Yada is what my staff team has been pouring into these women and reminding them over and over again. It has been the content we have been discussing in women’s time and is how we brought closure to them today on Women’s Day.

Yada is an old Hebrew word that means to know, to be known, and to be deeply respected. While most use the term as far as sex goes, our staff team brought a whole new understanding and perspective to the student women. As Christian women, we all long to be loved, to be known, and to have a deep emotional longing in our hearts to be satisfied…most of the time we long for men to fill that. However, our God fulfills us even more than men ever will or can because of yada. In the book we have been reading the author explains yada in quite lame terms: “Yada is a word that transcends the physical. It describes the whole knowing of a person. It portrays an uncovering and an embrace of the nakedness of another. There is no secrets, and nothing held back.” And our Father does just that…

God knows me, he makes me known among others, and he deeply respects me. I can’t really explain any of this through my own words and the piece of scripture that just keeps returning in my mind over and over again is John 10:14-15 “I am the good shepherd; I know (yada) my sheep and my sheep know (yada) me–just as the Father knows (yada) me and I know (yada) the Father–I lay down my life for the sheep.” If you take the time to actually re-read this passage over again by placing the word ‘yada’ for the word ‘know,’ you will understand the significance and meaning of these verses so much more! Yada…to know, to be known, and to be deeply respected: Jesus knows me, makes me known, and deeply respects me, just like God knows me, makes me known, and deeply respects me.

After being here for 5 weeks, I know the meaning of yada has radically transformed my relationship with the Lord and how I now view what real love is. I desire to know, to be known, and to be deeply respected by a man of the Lord. I know a man will NEVER satisfy and fulfill me like my God does, BUT I know what I deserve and what God truly wants and desires for me as well. …What does yada mean to you? Are you known and deeply respected?