i have been thinking about this for over a week.
i am not usually so wordy...
i don't want to give a sermon...just some encouragement.
the study book Women of the Bible that our group finished in may...
but i just finished now (i skipped some lessons) had an entire chapter on prov.31.
it has been helpful to my struggles.
_________________________________________________________________________________
Proverbs 31:10-30 (New International Version)
10 A wife of noble character who can find? 11 Her husband has full confidence in her 12 She brings him good, not harm, 13 She selects wool and flax 14 She is like the merchant ships, 15 She gets up while it is still dark; 16 She considers a field and buys it; 17 She sets about her work vigorously; 18 She sees that her trading is profitable, 19 In her hand she holds the distaff 20 She opens her arms to the poor 21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household; 22 She makes coverings for her bed; 23 Her husband is respected at the city gate, 24 She makes linen garments and sells them, 25 She is clothed with strength and dignity; 26 She speaks with wisdom, 27 She watches over the affairs of her household 28 Her children arise and call her blessed; 29 "Many women do noble things, 30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
She is worth far more than rubies.
and lacks nothing of value.
all the days of her life.
and works with eager hands.
bringing her food from afar.
she provides food for her family
and portions for her servant girls.
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
her arms are strong for her tasks.
and her lamp does not go out at night.
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
and extends her hands to the needy.
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
and supplies the merchants with sashes.
she can laugh at the days to come.
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
her husband also, and he praises her:
but you surpass them all."
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
__________________________________________________________________________________
(the words in color are directly from the book....)
how did you feel when you were first introduced to this Prov. 31 woman...
overwhelmed?
angry that God expected all of this from you?
guilty?
determined to become her?
if you are beaten down by this 'perfect' woman, take heart.
i have good news for you.
She is the IDEAL woman God wants to develop all women to be as they follow Him.
did you catch that?
GOD is the one working the transformation.
'He who began a good work in you, will be perfecting it until the day of Christ Jesus...Phil 1:6'.
Seeing what you can become(by His grace and work) should be a catalyst, not a condemnation.
if you are a perfectionist, an understanding of the truth will set you free from trying to be
or do for Him, so that you will allow Him to make you the woman He wants you to be.
the foundation of all horizontal relationships is the vertical relationship - our relationship
with God gives us the security to be real and vulnerable.
it is walking in God's grace that makes us agents of grace to others.
Even our abilities to grant forgiveness & ask forgiveness is tied to our relationship with God.
we cannot make ourselves into a virtuous woman.
but if we walk with God day after day, yielding our lives to His control,
He will keep making us more like Jesus.
The virtuous woman of proverbs 31 is not a standard or yardstick to measure up to,
but the goal toward which women should be moving.
she is the woman God is developing women to be today as they follow Him.
The first step we can change is not gritting our teeth & trying harder to be the perfect woman.
it is surrender.
the most important word in the christian community is not commitment, but surrender.
we can be committed in the flesh, but surrender is admitting what we cannot do in our strength.
_________________________________________________________________________________
it was just what i needed to hear.
and maybe you did too?
i highly recommend the study book Women of the bible.
it's a lot of homework but i have learned so much...i really enjoyed it and i am ready for book 2 this fall.
