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Sunday, September 14, 2008

God's Ideal Woman


Have you ever read Proverbs 31? For the last couple of months I have been asking God to show me how to be the woman HE wants me to be. I also asked Him to show me how to get everything done on a daily basis, glorifying Him in the process. I was flooded with feelings of guilt and self-doubt as I read through the qualities of God's ideal woman....

PROVERBS 31:10-31

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 fax
and works with eager hands.

She is like the merchant ships,
bringing fer 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 the tasks.

She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamps 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
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.


God longs for us as women to experience peace in our daily activities. He wants our lives to be filled with joy, not turmoil. And to that end He is inviting us to the place of ultimate comfort, fulfillment and excitement: HIS PRESENCE!

There is simply no better way to take control of our time than by choosing to give our time to God. In seeking His direction about my daily schedule and all the things that take up my day, I am inviting Him to be a part of every element of how I spend my time. That is my prayer, make it yours! God bless you and your family...

4 comments:

Barbara said...

We all strive to be that woman but few of us reach it; it's called life in progress. It's the plan God has for all of us.
PS:Dooley fell out of the truck and broke his leg. Surgery and a month of being carried like a baby!

The Mathis Bunch said...

I did a Bible study on being the "Proverbs 31" woman. I am still working on it. That should be the desire of our hearts-to be a woman after His heart. God bless you!!

Beth Larkin said...

We are all a work in progress! When I read this devotional over the weekend, I too thought about how I fall short in so many ways. I think the devil is always eager to make us, as women, feel like we don't measure up and doubt ourselves.
There was only one man that walked the Earth that was perfect and we know that was Jesus. We aren't going to be perfect (though we fault ourselves for not being), we are going to make mistakes and stumble in this thing we walk through daily called "Life", but as long as we continue to seek "HIS" face and his guidance, we will stay on course.
I love ya, Beth

Samantha said...

Have you read the book by Elizabeth George, "A Woman After God's Own Heart"? It deals with these issues and discusses pratical ways to be the woman in Proverbs 31.

I've always joked that King Soloman had 100 wives so who's to say that the Prov 31 woman wasn't a combination of all of them?? Makes me feel a lot better aobut my inadequacies to divide it all out over ninety-nine others!!