Proverbs 31:12 NLT
August 2013
"She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life." Proverbs 31:12 NLT
Everyone and their momma knows about the Proverbs 31 woman. "Who can find a virtuous woman?" "She is clothed with strength and dignity...." etc. We read about her, we know women who are her, and we want to be her. I truly desire to become like the woman of Proverbs 31-----a woman who is beautiful in God's eyes. She is:
Yes, the virtuous woman is a rare treasure----a distinctive, exceptional, extraordinary, superlative treasure----but according to God, the Author of all beauty, you and I can become all that she is. During my quiet time one day, as I studied this chapter, Proverbs 31:12 stood out to me. It reads, "She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life." ALL THE DAYS OF HER LIFE. ALL THE DAYS OF HER LIFE. All. The. Days. Of. Her. Life......…
WHAT?!?!?
I've read this before plenty of times, and maybe just like me you assumed that maybe it meant that "all the days of her life" started after she says "I do." Especially because you just like me have no clue who your future husband is! But as I began to spend some time with Christ......He began to show me that bringing my husband good and not harm.....all the days of my life.....starts right here, right now.....while I am single.
"But I don't even know who he is………. how can I bring good and not harm to him?!!?"
Right here……right now……today you can:
Everyone and their momma knows about the Proverbs 31 woman. "Who can find a virtuous woman?" "She is clothed with strength and dignity...." etc. We read about her, we know women who are her, and we want to be her. I truly desire to become like the woman of Proverbs 31-----a woman who is beautiful in God's eyes. She is:
- Pure----a woman of virtue (vs. 10)
- Honest----her husband trusts her (vs. 11-12)
- Industrious-----she is busy from sunup to sundown managing her interests and expanding her enterprises (vs. 13-19, 21-22, 24, 27, & 31)
- Provident-----her skill with finances enables her to care for her loved ones and increases her property (vs. 14 & 16)
- Strong in character----she faces the daily challenges of life with undaunted courage; she is a woman of integrity (vs. 25 & 29)
- Kind----she is compassionate and sweet speech comes from her lips (vs. 20 & 26)
- Wise----walking in wisdom is her way of life (vs. 26)
- Holy----she wholeheartedly loves the Lord and lives, walks, and talks like Christ (vs. 3} ("Be ye holy, for I am holy" 1 Peter 1:16 Always remember that there is so much beauty in holiness.).
Yes, the virtuous woman is a rare treasure----a distinctive, exceptional, extraordinary, superlative treasure----but according to God, the Author of all beauty, you and I can become all that she is. During my quiet time one day, as I studied this chapter, Proverbs 31:12 stood out to me. It reads, "She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life." ALL THE DAYS OF HER LIFE. ALL THE DAYS OF HER LIFE. All. The. Days. Of. Her. Life......…
WHAT?!?!?
I've read this before plenty of times, and maybe just like me you assumed that maybe it meant that "all the days of her life" started after she says "I do." Especially because you just like me have no clue who your future husband is! But as I began to spend some time with Christ......He began to show me that bringing my husband good and not harm.....all the days of my life.....starts right here, right now.....while I am single.
"But I don't even know who he is………. how can I bring good and not harm to him?!!?"
Right here……right now……today you can:
- Put and keep God first.
- Spend time with Christ daily by studying His Word and praying. (Spending Time With Christ) & Can You Fill My Cup
- Be completely in love with Christ. No more cheating on Him with this world.
- Serve God radically and wholeheartedly. (Dear Sis.,)
- Be about your Father's Business. (Start that ministry He placed in your heart! There are lives out there that are waiting for someone like you!)
- Feed your spirit and starve your flesh constantly. (Feed the Spirit; Starve the Flesh)
- Guard your heart. (Guarding your heart)
- Live a godly life...not just in word! (The Sermon You Preach)
- Stop dating, flirting, giving your heart to, giving all your emotions to, and spending precious time that could be dedicated to doing Kingdom work with someone who you know is not for you! Be FOCUSED SISTER!!!!
"What?!?! So you mean, by being totally in love with Christ, being on fire for Him, and living for Him, not only honors Him, but honors my future husband." Yes girlfriend. I remember making a list of all the things that I wanted in a future husband. I even found the picture to the left on pinterest and immediately was like, "YESSSSSS!!!!!" BUT then after reading Proverbs 31:12, I thought, my future husband probably desires these same things in a future wife. I can't just require him to meet these standards if I don't. And because I am a hopeless romantic I thought, while I am honoring God with my life, living for Him, ministering, and sharing the Gospel....how honored and special I would feel to one day meet my husband and find out that at this very moment he is doing the same! So instead of I want "you" to be.....I say:
Now, you know that I can't leave my sisters in the Word out:
Truth is, you are not ready to begin a journey towards marriage with your future husband until you learn to find confidence, joy, contentment, and security first and foremost in JESUS CHRIST. Only when He is truly in first place are we ready for a God-written love story. As a single young lady this is the perfect time to develop a radical relationship with Christ. Give your whole heart to Him and chase after Him with everything you have. Hide your heart in Christ so that the man that He created for you will have to seek Him in order to FIND YOU! Your time will come (not a moment too late or too early) and together, you two will make a difference in this world for God's glory and your marriage will be what God intended all along.....A MINISTRY! In the meantime, focus on the Lord. You have people to reach, people to share the Gospel with, and a responsibility to shine your light in this dark world!!! God has a mission for you to complete, right now! Don't miss out on the beauty of this season because you are so focused on the next. Rest and trust God!
Be blessed sister!:)
- I want to be a worshipper like David
- I want to be wise like Solomon
- I want to be brave like Jonathan
- I want to obey God like Abraham
- I want to have faith like Joshua
- I want Jesus to be my closest friend like Peter
Now, you know that I can't leave my sisters in the Word out:
- I want to be a woman of wisdom like Abigail
- I want to be a woman of boldness like Esther
- I want to be a woman of faith like Sarah
- I want to be a woman who is willing to risk losing it all to serve the one and true living God like Ruth
- I want to be a warrior like Deborah
- I want to be a virtuous woman
- I want to be a woman who is beautiful to God; one who is faithful, true, and constant; a solid rock in terms of my character, marriage, family, relationships, and ministry.
- I want to be a woman who my husband can trust, who greatly enriches his life....as he does mine.
- I want to bring him good all the days of my life.
- I want to be a great homemaker.
- I want to be clothed with strength and dignity and laugh without fear of the future.
- I want to be able to give instructions with kindness
- I want my private worship of Christ to be just as great as my public worship of Him.
- I want to be a woman after God's own heart....a P31!!!
Truth is, you are not ready to begin a journey towards marriage with your future husband until you learn to find confidence, joy, contentment, and security first and foremost in JESUS CHRIST. Only when He is truly in first place are we ready for a God-written love story. As a single young lady this is the perfect time to develop a radical relationship with Christ. Give your whole heart to Him and chase after Him with everything you have. Hide your heart in Christ so that the man that He created for you will have to seek Him in order to FIND YOU! Your time will come (not a moment too late or too early) and together, you two will make a difference in this world for God's glory and your marriage will be what God intended all along.....A MINISTRY! In the meantime, focus on the Lord. You have people to reach, people to share the Gospel with, and a responsibility to shine your light in this dark world!!! God has a mission for you to complete, right now! Don't miss out on the beauty of this season because you are so focused on the next. Rest and trust God!
Be blessed sister!:)
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