Proverbs 31
A Proverbs 31 woman. For those of us who have been in church for any amount of time, we find that this woman is set as the standard of perfection for females. A readthrough of the last chapter in Proverbs is enough to tire and discourage any woman other than Superwoman! How many of us feel up to the task of being that woman when we wake up in the morning? Certainly not I.
What have been your thoughts and feelings when reading Proverbs 31?
Even the author of this chapter says “An excellent wife, who can find?” Yeahwhere is she? We are constantly being told by the media and the people around us that we are not good enough, and most women today are desperately in need of refreshment and encouragement, not another list of things to do or be. Was Proverbs 31 written to be yet another list for us to measure up to?
Yes and no. There is no denying that God has a set of standards and expectations He has placed for us. As children of God we are to be living Christlike
lives. As women, we are to be reflecting God’s character by being virtuous women. Proverbs 31 may be seen as the outward results of a heart that is being transformed into Christlikeness, the observable image of a woman after God’s own heart. However, it is important to note that a virtuous woman may not do any of the things listed in Proverbs 31 and yet still be a virtuous woman. That also leads me to think of the women in my life who exhibit characteristics of a virtue.
Is there a woman you know who has set an example to you of being a godlywoman?
These women are not perfect, nor would they claim to be. In fact, humility and a realistic perspective of oneself is one thing that sets a godly woman apart. Just as Paul speaks of the fact that he has not attained perfection and is still “pressing on toward the goal” in Philippians 3:1214, we, also, are to be striving
to be the woman that God intends us to be. This does not mean that we have to accomplish it all in one day. It does not mean that God expects us to be perfect. It means that we are to be living with a focus on becoming that woman that God desires us to be and to be consistently growing toward that.One of the wise women in my own life says, “Who we are today is who we will become tomorrow.” This shows the fluidity of the growing process. Trying to change into the person we want to be in five years is an overwhelming thought, but what about just being a little more like the person you want to be today?
Just today. When we look at the situations we face today and consider how that woman we want to become would handle these situations, that gives us not only a better idea of how to become the woman we know that God desires us tobe, but is a task that seems a little more manageable.What kind of woman do you want to be five years from now?
How can you live today in a way that will take you to that point in the future?
It is also important to realize that attempting to be this woman apart from a nourishing, sustaining, lifegiving relationship with Christ, is only going to lead to burnout and resentment. The New Testament story of Mary and Martha shows us that if we are not taking time to sit at the feet of Jesus and let Him speak to us personally, then we are missing the most important thing, the thing that gives
us strength for the tasks of the day, enables us to maintain and nurture the various relationships in our lives, and to play the roles that we are daily required to play. Mary was not being lazy when she spent time with Jesus. She was most likely
taking time from her busy day of responsibilities to do what was foundational for everything else she did. She was soaking in the mindset, priorities, and love of Christ. The heart of a Proverbs 31 woman is the type of heart that Jesus had, and wants to develop in us, as well. Let Him do work in your life and listen for Him to give you guidance throughout the day. Let Him lavish you with His love so that you are full, healthy, and able to give the same care to others that He desires to give to you. Now that we see that the idea is to be on a journey of allowing God to work in your life in a way that transforms you into His image, and that gaining the strength for that journey comes from an intimate and nourishing relationship with Christ, we come to the question of what heart characteristics are behind the actions of the Proverbs 31 woman that God desires to develop in us, as
well. A good example is key in understanding any concept. Not only do we have other women in our own lives that set examples for us, but we have been given a number of examples in scripture of godly women who live out the different characteristics of the Proverbs 31 woman. This series will take a look at some of the heart characteristics of a Proverbs 31 woman, the women in scripture who exhibit these characteristics, and how we can allow God to begin developing
these things in our lives, as well.
What do you need to do in response to this lesson?
Please give your thoughts on this lesson. The lines in blue are qustions asked during the lesson.
What have been your thoughts and feelings when reading Proverbs 31?
I will probably never be everything the Proverbs 31 woman is, but I can strive towards that goal everyday and improve my relationship with Christ.
Is there a woman you know who has set an example to you of being a godlywoman?
Unfortunately, no.
What kind of woman do you want to be five years from now?
How can you live today in a way that will take you to that point in the future?
I want to be someone's yes answer to an example of being a godly woman. I need to determine to take care of my family and house, and most importantly, my relationship with God.
Thank you for the Bible study. I will try keeping up with it.
What have been your thoughts and feelings when reading Proverbs 31? I have felt very intimidated by reading of the proverbs 31 woman. Who in the world could be this woman she does more then I ever dreamed of everyday. And she is very close the Lord as close as I wish to be.
Even the author of this chapter says Is there a woman you know who has set an example to you of being a godlywoman? The closest that I can think of is my MIL she is wonderful woman of God she has fath that i would love to have.
What kind of woman do you want to be five years from now?I want to be woman that younger married woman can look at and say"I wish I had her closeness to the Lord and the discipline that she shows in taking care of her family.
How can you live today in a way that will take you to that point in the future?One of the main things is I need to spend more time with the Lord, I need to pray more and listen to the direction that the Lord want me to go. What do you need to do in response to this lesson?I Really like this lesson It showed that this woman is not only a busy woman but she also has a heart of Christ.
I want to be this woman! While I realize I might never be evrything that she is, I CAN be a woman who fears the Lord and thus is worthy of praise! I believe in a relationship with God, He could bring forth all these qualities in me! Before we come to Him we are always thinking we have to have everything together before we can work on our relationship with God. Not so! Come to God with your house and family life in ruins and He will create in you the Proverbs 31 woman!
IS THERE A WOMAN YOU KNOW WHO HAS SET AN EXAMPLE OF BEING A GODLY WOMAN?
My Aunt Norma is a wonderful example of a godly woman. There is not a single person who knows her that could say anything bad about her. She follows the Lord in every aspect of her life and has peace and joy that comes only from God.
WHAT KIND OF WOMAN DO YOU WANT TO BE 5 YRS FROM NOW? HOW CAN YOU LIVE TODAY IN A WAY THAT WILL TAKE YOU TO THAT POINT IN THE FUTURE?
In five years, I want to be like that saying that says something like a woman should be so lost in God her family has to search through Him to find her. I want God to guide my every step. In growing in that relationship, all my other relationships will flourish, especially with my family. I want to be a loving mother and effective disciplinarian who will lead her kids to Christ. I want to be my husbands help-meet, best friend, and love. I wantto be fun and make family memories evry second. I also hope to be teaching kindergarten at this time and contributing to the family financially and by keeping the house up.The first step is to pray and go in the directions God calls me to. If I follow His word and rely on Him and make serious effort, I believe all these things will be given to me.
Love Dare Day 2
- tjb1127
on Feb. 2, 2010 at 6:12 AM