Don't cringe!!! I hope this post is uplifiting to all the women out there. I know sometimes when I hear all the attributes of the Proverbs 31 Woman I say to myself...well that's just the Christian version of Superwoman. And aren't we taught to allow God to pour grace into our lives so that we can let go of these too high standards and relieve some of the pressure of being perfect wives, Moms, sisters, daughters, and friends? So what is it God...am I supposed to be Super Woman or not?
Yes...and No. I believe that God is providing an example of who we can be if we rely on Him to order our lives, our schedules, our finances, our time, our relationships. There is no possible way I can be this girl on my own...it exhausts me to even think about it. The last thing I need to add to my daily to do list is sewing clothes for my family. Seriously, I don't even own a sewing machine! But, I'm choosing to not throw the baby out with the bathwater. I believe there are still some very applicable truths in these verses for the "modern woman."
I'm not going to unpack every verse in Proverbs 31:10-31, but I am going to leave some thoughts here.
1. I believe that the Proverbs 31 woman seeks God with all of her heart, soul, and mind. This must begin with surrendering some sleep (or staying up too late) and spending the first part of her day with the LORD. How can we possibly know what God wants us to do if we're not spending time with Him? For me this happens right after I brew my first cup of coffee and at least 30 minutes before my son wakes up.
2. I believe that if she is married she spends time building her husband up instead of tearing him down. She shows respect and appreciation for what he does with his life and how he cares for his family.
3. If she is a mother she invests in her children, teaching them about Christ and showing unconditional love for them. She realizes that taking care of their spiritual needs is just as important as taking care of their physical needs.
4. She takes pride in caring for her family...feeding them, washing their clothes (my most dreaded chore), caring for their home, and creating an environment full of warmth, love, and security.
5. She takes care of herself....getting enough sleep, exercising, and eating well.
6. She serves others in her community.
7. She makes wise financial decisions, sticks to a budget (a big work in progress for me), and learns how to stretch a dollar.
8. She adds value to her family either monetarily, by using what she already has, or by finding ways to save money.
9. She's smart with her time...not wasting time on things that do not honor the LORD.
10. She's has an inner beauty, wisdom and grace that only comes from a deep rooted relationship with the LORD.
In one of my current devotionals, The Frazzled Female, I read this list and loved it so much I typed it up to print out. Please feel free to right click, save, and print. I have it posted on my refrigerator as a reminder. In your next quiet time I encourage you to talk to God about what the Proverbs 31 woman would look like in your world. Do you need to add or subtract something from your life in order to be more aligned with His will for your life?
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