Forever Beloved

Faith, Love & Truth

A Proverbs 31 Woman {Week 1}

Nearly two years ago, I did a Bible Study here on the blog of the Proverbs 31 woman.  I really enjoyed going through the study with y’all and learning all that I could.  I thought this would be a great time to revisit the study and hopefully learn something new!  Each Sunday we’ll have a new post with a breakdown of a verse or two, until we make our way to the end.  It’s 12 weeks, finishing up right before Christmas.  I’m so super excited to share this study with y’all.

I have striven, for years, to serve God in every aspect of my lives.  I’ve just always had this drawing to the Proverbs 31 woman and thought if I learned more about her, that would help me serve Him better. Seems to have it all together, doesn’t she y’all? She blesses her husband, manages her home, plants vineyards, weaves cloth, helps the poor, travels to the ends of the earth for good food and apparently never sleeps. She also is dignified, optimistic about the future, always wise, and amazingly kind. I mean, it’s not like she was busy or anything.

In the meantime, here I am just muddling through. Trying to balance running kids, laundry, housework, meal prep, doctor appointments and family time. She seemed to just glide gracefully through her million things while I have a hard time juggling my few.

I want everything to be perfect. Perfectly perfect. I want to have the perfect balance, perfect marriage, be a perfect parent and run a perfect household. I want to be the proverbs 31 woman. I want to do it all and be it all.

Going through this study, I realized it’s not about be “perfect.” It’s about living life with purpose, diligence, priorities, forgiveness and repentance.

I have to say, Solomon is one of my favorite Bible authors.  Song of Solomon is among my favorites as well, even having a tattoo of one of the verses on my back.  So knowing that Solomon wrote Proverbs 31 made me super happy and made me want to learn more!  Proverbs 31 is a beautiful poem of the characteristics of a virtuous woman and noble wife. While the book of Proverbs was written by Solomon but when we come to Chapter 31, there is a new voice. It’s a mother’s voice, telling her son what to look for in his life partner. It was Solomon writing the advice his mother, Bathsheba, had given him. Solomon wrote it using his pseudonym name, King Lemuel. It’s not just wisdom given from a mother to her son, it’s God’s Word. It’s what we, as women, are to attain to. What we should strive to be.  Let’s read through it’s entirely before beginning our study.

A wife of noble character who can find? 
She is worth far more than rubies. 
Her husband has full confidence in her 
and lacks nothing of value. 
She brings him good, not harm, 
all the days of her life. 
She selects wool and flax 
and works with eager hands. 
She is like the merchant ships, 
bringing her food from afar. 
She gets up while it is still dark; 
she provides food for her family 
and portions for her servant girls. 
She considers a field and buys it; 
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. 
She sets about her work vigorously; 
her arms are strong for her tasks. 
She sees that her trading is profitable, 
and her lamp does not go out at night. 
In her hand she holds the distaff 
and grasps the spindle with her fingers. 
She opens her arms to the poor 
and extends her hands to the needy. 
When it snows, she has no fear for her household; 
for all of them are clothed in scarlet. 
She makes coverings for her bed; 
she is clothed in fine linen and purple. 
Her husband is respected at the city gate, 
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land. 
She makes linen garments and sells them, 
and supplies the merchants with sashes. 
She is clothed with strength and dignity; 
she can laugh at the days to come. 
She speaks with wisdom, 
and faithful instruction is on her tongue. 
She watches over the affairs of her household 
and does not eat the bread of idleness. 
Her children arise and call her blessed; 
her husband also, and he praises her: 
“Many women do noble things, 
but you surpass them all.” 
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; 
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. 
Give her the reward she has earned, 
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate. 
Proverbs 31:10-31 

This week we’ll begin our study on verse 10.  It begins with A wife of noble character who can find?The King James Version has this verse as Who can find a virtuous woman?  So what would this wife of noble character look like?  When we look up the definition of virtuous, it says having or showing high moral standards and chaste.  The definition of noble says having dignity and elevation.  So set your standards and morals high ladies.

A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones. 
Proverbs 12:4 

The second part of verse 10 says She is worth far more than rubies. This virtuous woman is so rare that when you find her, she will be worth more to you than rubies. We are not called to be women of the world, who are very easy to find. We are to be rare and hard to find.  God attaches a pretty high value to this rare, virtuous woman.

She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her. 
Proverbs 3:15 

Don’t get discouraged when you read all the Proverbs 31 woman accomplished.  It’s sure easy to do reading all that.  But we need to remember these aren’t things she did all in one day. This is what she completed over her lifetime. She drew all her strength from God and He enabled her.  She fixed her eyes on Him and never looked elsewhere. Wow, what an amazing example for us to follow!

While I was doing my study, I was searching around the internet and trying to learn all I could about this amazing lady. I was shocked at some of the opinions women had of her. I saw comments like “this passage is all about women being slaves to their household and that it’s chauvinistic”. I guess I shouldn’t be shocked, we do live in a fallen world. But I’ve always saw the virtuous woman as this beautiful woman that I WANT to be.

This chickie is far from a Proverbs 31 woman but it sure is my heart’s desire to be one. I believe if you love God and you want to be a Proverbs 31 woman, you absolutely can. But the only way to do that is by fixing your eyes on Him. Get in His word and read it. Spend time with Him. It’s going to take some time and there will definitely be some bumps in the road.  There will be lots of heart work God will need to do on us to develop our noble and virtuous character.  And those moments might be ouchie.  He sure does love you right where you are but he doesn’t want you to stay there, He has much better things planned for you.

Come back next Sunday to continue our study on this amazing virtuous woman!

Your Words = Your Testimony

This is not what I had on my mind to blog about today.  But during my quiet time this morning, God spoke to my heart.  I just could not get the Proverbs 31 woman out of my head.  I’ve learned over the years that when God nudges, I had better sit up and listen.

She speaks with wisdom, 
and faithful instruction is on her tongue. 
Proverbs 31:26

This girl right here likes to talk, a lot. And as we can see from Proverbs 10:19, when there are a lot of words there is a lot of room for there to be slip-ups. I cannot count how many times I’ve put my foot in my mouth. The Proverbs 31 woman didn’t neglect her mind, she filled it with wisdom from Gods word. Wisdom that allowed her to pick and choose her words carefully. Wisdom of when to speak, and when to not.

In the multitude of words there lacks not sin: but he that refrains his lips is wise.
Proverbs 10:19

She speaks with wisdom and teachers others to be loving and kind, using her own words as an example. She is slow to speak and her words are like a honeycomb. She adds value to the conversations she is part of. When she talks, it’s definitely something worth hearing. And I can almost guarantee she never once referred to her husband as her “old man”. Her words were always respectful and when people refer to their spouses that way (which irritates me) it isn’t showing respect at all.

Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health to the bones. 
Proverbs 16:24

This noble woman would never participate in gossip or cut others down during conversations. As women, we simply love to discuss things, especially when we can enlighten someone else about an issue that they are uninformed about. Why this brings such recreation to us, i wish i knew, but this is simply the nature of women as God created us. God does not seem to distinguish between whether the information is true or false or bad. The scriptures simply say that we are a gossiper if we reveal the secret. If we conceal the secret, we are of a faithful spirit. Gossip is bad. Period. We disappoint God when we listen to gossip or spread gossip ourselves. We need to show God our faithfulness by not participating in the spreading of other people’s secrets.

As I’ve said before, this girl likes to talk. And I totally admit at times my conversations would absolutely be considered gossip. Over the past few years, God has really strengthened my walk. Through that, I’ve noticed something new occurring. When a conversation is taking a turn towards gossip, I get a little pang inside me that warns me. Danger Will Robinson, danger. This is the Holy Spirit revealing the truth, convicting me of my sin and appealing to my conscience. And I sure need to sit up and listen.

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 
James 1:19

The Proverbs 31 woman had a filter and stopped herself from saying anything that wasn’t kind. Her words were filled to the brim with grace, faithfulness, kindness and mercy. Can you say that? I know I can’t. So many days the first thought that hits my mind comes straight out of my mouth. And this girl right here, sadly, she has a big mouth. And a small bit of a temper.  But I am learning to control my tongue. There are times to speak up and speak truth, but seek Gods wisdom and discernment to know those times.

From the fruit of their mouth a person’s stomach is filled; with the harvest of their lips they are satisfied.
Proverbs 18:20

As Christian women, our speech should be completely different than what the world’s speech looks like. This takes me back to last February. I was having my pre-surgery appointment and getting my kidney removed the next day. It was just a normal norm day for me. As the nurse started taking my medical history, and it never seemed to end, she stared at me in amazement. I’ve always ended my story with how many blessings it was filled with along the way {which it totally was thanks to Him}. The nurse started crying and rushed over to hug me. She told me more people should be like me and go through their trials with smiles on their faces. You never know who God is going to bring into your life for you to touch with your words!!  Are you going to be a Negative Nancy or Positive Patsy?  Remember, our words are part of our testimony!

We need to live this life, so our children can watch us. So they will be the wives and husbands God intended them to be. So our daughters know how to act towards their husband and children. So our sons know what to look for in a wife.

Did you ever feel like He is trying to drive His point home? While I was writing this I was listening to the radio. Words by Hawk Nelson came on and directly afterwards Let Them See You by Colton Dixon played. I cannot tell you much I love love love when He does that! Just when I’m questioning if that was what He really wanted me to write today, He gave me the answer. Loud and clear!!! 

a proverbs 31 woman

Give her the reward she has earned, 
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
Proverbs 31:31
throughout all of Proverbs 31, we see this woman who works hard with her hands.  if we want to be a woman that honors God, we see over and over that we must work with our hands.  we must be willing to work with our hands doing those mundane things.  and do them with a joyful heart.  we need to use our hands to serve our husband, serve our littles and serve those outside of our home.  this reminds me of a quote by the Shakers “hands to work, hearts to God”.  i’m going to tell ya’all, this week as i was cleaning the kitchen for the 1,284 time that day, i felt a little sass rising up in my heart.  and at that moment God reminded me of this.  
this lady has worked hard and now she gets rewarded for that.  and what is her reward?  praise!  who is praising her?  her children (vs. 28), her husband (vs. 28-29), the Lord (vs. 30) and the community (vs. 31).  she certainly isn’t going around town singing her own praises with pride and arrogance.  this lady is humble.  in her heart, she worked hard for her family because she knew it honored God.  she didn’t do it for praise.  
Let someone else praise you, and not your own mouth; an outsider, and not your own lips.
Proverbs 27:2
how is it possible that we are already at the end of our study on the Proverbs 31 woman? thank you so much for joining me weekly! i will absolutely admit, i’m a little sad. i’ve enjoyed every second of diving into His word and finding out as much info as i could about this noble woman. and i loved how it’s impacted my life!  though we might have ended the series, i never want to stop striving to be this noble lady and follow in her footsteps.
out for now
~kisses