Proverbs 31:27-31

I read this one, studied it, and man it is on point! Sometimes there's days where I read something out

of the Bible and it is just what I need to read/hear. All week I have been feeling kind of down to be

honest. Our situation isn't great, but we are moving along. I am very much so a "get out of the house,

everyday " type of person and when I can't because money doesn't allow, or the car doesn't work,  I

just get down. I have been feeling down all week and weekend and all I've been doing it feels like is

housework. Cleaning, cooking and tending the babies, all for it to look like it did before I did

anything, an hour after. It can be discouraging, but reading this has really brought me back up and

reminded me that I am doing a good job. I am right where I need to be for my family.

27 She watches over the affairs of her household

    and does not eat the bread of idleness.

28 Her children arise and call her blessed;

    her husband also, and he praises her:

29 “Many women do noble things,

    but you surpass them all.”

30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;

    but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

31 Honor her for all that her hands have done,

    and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

All of these verses are key! This one for me is a little bit harder to break down, after reading the way Courtney of womenlivingwell.org did. Basically, the Proverbs 31 woman does all that she must to maintain her family, her home and herself and even the poor and needy. She does it all with a giving heart and we see in verse 28 that :Hey children arise and call her blessed; her husband also and he praises her;

I know that I LOVE getting compliments from my husband! It feels amazing when he says I'm doing 

a good job or I'm a great mom. That makes it all worth it to me. Him praising/complimenting me is 

kind of a nudge on the shoulder saying "Good Job". and that is exactly how God wants it to be in 

our home. It sure doesn't come easy, and it's not every day that I feel this way but man it's nice when 

it happens. ;) 

Verse 30 : Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be 

praised. 

In a world that is all about how you look and dress and cosmetic surgery and what not, it's pretty hard to stand out. This verse describes that the Proverbs 31 woman has so much more to offer than just her beauty and that is because she is a Daughter of God. She Fears the Lord and that makes her more valuable than any beauty or charm ever will. That is who I strive to be. That should be our role model, not worldly beauty. 

I've really enjoyed getting to study this chapter of Proverbs and journaling through my blog has helped keep me accountable and motivated to keep up with the readings. I hope that if you read this, you too enjoyed it and learned a few things like I did. Be sure to watch the video as Courtney gives a more in depth look into these verses. Thank you for reading and be sure to join on the right column to see more posts.;) 

Proverbs 31: 23-26

Proverbs 31:23-26New International Version (NIV)

23 

Her husband is respected at the city gate,

    where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.

24 

She makes linen garments and sells them,

    and supplies the merchants with sashes.

25 

She is clothed with strength and dignity;

    she can laugh at the days to come.

26 

She speaks with wisdom,

    and faithful instruction is on her tongue.

How good is all of this?! In these three verses we get an insight on what a Man of God, a Godly Husband is to be like. He is a well respected man! A leader! As a wife, I know it can be hard at times to trust the husband to take complete control, but over time, after reading this passage over and over, that is the best thing I could have done for my family. It is in their blood to be leaders, and I want to let him shine. There's nothing more attractive than to have an assertive leading man for a husband ;) Am I right ?! 

Verse 24 describes the crafty/profitable side to being a Proverbs 31 woman as we read in the earlier passages.

Verse 25 " SHE IS CLOTHED WITH STRENGTH AND DIGNITY." I Love that! I want to be just that! I almost see that as someone covered or dressed in something so gorgeous that everyone would want to have on because it brings such radiance and life into this woman. .."She can laugh at the days to come.." She's a humble patient woman!

Verse 26 "She speaks with WISDOM, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.." 

Courtney of womenlivingwell.org explained this perfectly! A lot of us women tend to ramble, to talk trash , if you will, and not sound so pretty when we open our mouths.. That's not what God wants from us.The way we talk to our children as well needs to be in a loving and patient manner. Proverbs 31:26 describes the classy woman we need to be.  I like that Courtney added the verse James 3:2  

 We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.

Absolutely no one but God himself is perfect, so don't forget that. To become this woman, it'll take a lifetime, a daily goal, not something that will become of us overnight. We need to work hard and make the effort to be what God designed for us to be. 

Let's do our best to be classy woman, set apart from what the world has to offer. Let's make this be the new attraction in woman. 

Proverbs 31: 19-22

Do you like to go shopping?! Do you like to be organized and prepared?! Keep reading! Surprisingly we can glorify God in doing these mundane tasks! Hallelujah! lol

Proverbs 31:19-22New International Version (NIV)

19 

In her hand she holds the distaff

    and grasps the spindle with her fingers.

20 

She opens her arms to the poor

    and extends her hands to the needy.

21 

When it snows, she has no fear for her household;

    for all of them are clothed in scarlet.

22 

She makes coverings for her bed;

    she is clothed in fine linen and purple.

Reading verses 19-22 got me feeling like "Hey, I'm doing something right!" LOL

The Proverbs 31 woman is about fending for not only her family but even serving the poor and needy! She is giving a helping hand wherever she can by opening her arms to them. I sometimes find myself starting to almost judge in a way, certain homeless people that I see day in and day out, in the same spot with the same sign and wonder "They must have more money than I do by now just from standing there at that same spot for the past month!" The Bible does not say "you must extend your arms to the poor, if you think they are worthy..." NO! God is the only one who can make that call, who can judge. Being the woman God intended for me to be means obeying his scripture and helping those in need where I can. 

"Do NOT neglect to do good and share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God." 

Hebrews 13:16

Now, as mentioned, when we shop for our family we are pleasing God. Why? Because we are preparing our family for certain needs before hand. It is good for us to plan ahead of time and have what we need so that our family is clothed and clean. Verse 21, says .." When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet." When we go shopping, we do it so that our family benefits. As Courtney of Women living well.org expains, that we are glorifying God when we do this the right way. Budget so that we have set aside money for this, or shop clearance or as I do, second hand. Do what you must to do this the correct way. If you are overspending and doing this when you cannot afford to and putting your household in debt, that is doing it in the wrong. Make a list and plan ahead of time to be able to provide your family with their needs. 

Verse 22, .."She makes coverings for her bed.."

Obviously most of us do not make our own bedsheets or duvet covers.. We buy all of that. But we do need to make sure to keep these clean and have our beds made. This is again for the benefit our family. I know that I like to have two sets or more of sheets and bed coverings so that every week I am able to change them out, wash them and never be in need of them. I especially make sure the bed sheets and blankets and what not are cleaned often when my Son or husband is sick. Me and Germs do not get along at all. I am a bit of a germ a phobe, and am always thinking about the different types of bacteria or sickness that can derive from germs and want to do my best to keep my family healthy and my home clean.

The last verse says "She is dressed in Purple.." meaning she is dressed in quality clothing. Now like I said, stick to your budget and dress in what you can afford. Courtney also said in her video, if you are able to afford quality clothes, wear it, you are glorifying God in that way and should not be put to shame because of it. This reminds me that as women, we need to be nice to one another, and accepting. Not judging of each other. We are all doing our best to be the Proverbs 31 woman, and should keep trying and keeping one another accountable. 

*I Pray for God to show me to give with a giving heart, and to stop me when I begin to judge someone else's situation. I pray for forgiveness and that I learn to become the woman he intends for me to be. *

Proverbs 31: 15-18

Proverbs 31:15-18New International Version (NIV)

15 

She gets up while it is still night;

    she provides food for her family

    and portions for her female servants.

16 

She considers a field and buys it;

    out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.

17 

She sets about her work vigorously;

    her arms are strong for her tasks.

18 

She sees that her trading is profitable,

    and her lamp does not go out at night.

Today is day 2 of studying Proverbs 31 now verses 15-18. If you haven't checked out the site I'm following along with it is HERE. What I got from this passage is that this woman is an extremely hard worker. She works hard for her family and for her home. Not only is she always making sure that the chores are done, food is made, cleaning is done but she is also looking for ways to improve and profit for her family! She is a very smart woman! She is smart in her investments and manages her money well. Not only that but she is patient with the process of it as well. Something that Courtney from women living well mentions in her post is to NOT be discouraged. This was not an overnight event but rather a lifetime of doing, a lifestyle. So when we feel like breaking down because we've been up all night tending to a sweet baby and than your toddler decides to wake up way too early, don't feel discouraged. Ask God for grace and for strength. ;) He will guide us. 

Courtney reminds us in her post that seasons of life change, so whatever you are going through, is just a season. What seems like "forever" will pass .So I'll be honest that right now, it's difficult for me to juggle my time with a two month old and a two year old and cooking, cleaning and wanting to get a breath of fresh air with daily activities. She mentions that it is important to be home and do what we have to do to maintain our home. I constantly try and do too much in one day with being out and about, and when I finally make it back home and nothing is done, I get even more frustrated. So I know I need to embrace being home more often and doing my work for not only my family but for God as well.

I'm not going to lie, when on Women Living Well, they mentioned the word Diligence a couple times, I had to look it up. I know what it means to be a hard worker but a woman of diligence is not only hard working but also consistent with her hard work, and that is something to strive for. I want my lamp to never go out, and always be thinking of ways I can better the home and our situation for our family. 

So my prayer for this night is for God to please give me the strength and patience I need for everyday. I want to be this virtuous and diligent woman He intends for me to be . I pray that I am given the wisdom to manage our finances well and be able to invest and profit in a way that is his will for me and my family. 

Proverbs 31 Woman

So this week I am following the Womenlivingwell.org on their devotional on being a Proverbs 31 woman. I've read this many times already but have yet to actually follow along with a group and really study what it means to be this Godly driven wife that God intended for me to be. I follow women living well on instagram and that is how I saw that this week they would be focusing on Proverbs 31, so let's begin!

Here She blogs about our findings in the reading of Proverbs 31: 1-14.

It begins with King Lemuel's mother instructing him on what he should find in a wife. Think of this as a mother just like you or me, talking to her son and saying these are the characteristics you should look for in a Godly wife.

I like that Courtney of Women Living Well mentioned Hebrews 12: 2-3.
In order to achieve being the Proverbs 31 woman we want to be we need to FIRST fix our eyes on Jesus and not worry or stress about the women next to us or any other distractions or comparisons. We must fear the Lord, he will give us strength.

And than the characteristics begin :

Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character

10 [b]A wife of noble character who can find?
    She is worth far more than rubies.
11 Her husband has full confidence in her
    and lacks nothing of value.
12 She brings him good, not harm,
    all the days of her life.
13 She selects wool and flax
    and works with eager hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships,
    bringing her food from afar.

So after reading this and watching the videos Courtney posted, this is what I got out of it. 

Basically, we , as a Daughter of God, as a desirable Godly wife, need to work our booty off. Literally! The verses I highlighted I got this: Her husband is able to have confidence in her - trust her with the finances, spending, trust her with the relationship, trust that she will basically hold down the fort. Who wouldn't want that?! Now a' days its so easy to get caught up on material things and getting in debt, and TV shows show lust and cheating and divorce... we need to stray away and remember what God is asking of us. He wants for our husbands to completely trust in us that we will stand by their side and that we mean what we said the day we married. 

-She brings good not harm- Courtney wrote -She does not talk about doing good to her husband – she DOES it!

I am definitely guilty of having done this. We all want to mention to our girlfriends some of the things we want to do for our husbands on special occasions or any time and than it doesn't happen. I want to become more of that woman that praises her husband, to him and to others. My grandmother once told me that a good wife does not talk about her marriage issues or talk negatively of her husband to others. Those are things you discuss and resolve with your spouse.

-She works eager with her hands- This can include plenty of things. Anything you do for your family, such as cleaning, doing laundry, washing dishes, cooking, crafting for the kids, etc. I love this verse because I fully intend on being this person. I want my hands and feet to hurt at the end of the day knowing that I worked so hard for my family and home. I, myself, feel like I do work eager with my hands BUT, I need to work on the "Don't look at it with Dread" that Courtney mentions. I do complain from time to time, I do say I'm tired, and I definitely do roll my eyes when I see this:

Or roll my eyes when I'm struggling to get one screaming child into a Walmart shopping cart while the lifting the carseat with an infant in it and than attempt grocery shopping while both are fussy and have had it. Instead of losing my cool (which believe me, it does happen) I need to be more patient and do My Job like my heavenly Father intended for me to do.

All of this, I want to write and share on here because I want for others to know that No One is perfect. There is no such thing as a "Super Mom". But there is such a thing as being a Godly wife and mother to the best of our ability. I want to share what I am learning and discovering as well. So follow along on here, or on Womenlivingwell.org and we can learn together. ;)