"10 Who can find a virtuous and capable wife?
She is more precious than rubies.
11 Her husband can trust her,
and she will greatly enrich his life.
12 She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
13 She finds wool and flax
and busily spins it.
14 She is like a merchant’s ship,
bringing her food from afar.
15 She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household
and plan the day’s work for her servant girls.
16 She goes to inspect a field and buys it;
with her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She is energetic and strong,
a hard worker.
18 She makes sure her dealings are profitable;
her lamp burns late into the night.
19 Her hands are busy spinning thread,
her fingers twisting fiber.
20 She extends a helping hand to the poor
and opens her arms to the needy.
21 She has no fear of winter for her household,
for everyone has warm[c] clothes.
22 She makes her own bedspreads.
She dresses in fine linen and purple gowns.
23 Her husband is well known at the city gates,
where he sits with the other civic leaders.
24 She makes belted linen garments
and sashes to sell to the merchants.
25 She is clothed with strength and dignity,
and she laughs without fear of the future.
26 When she speaks, her words are wise,
and she gives instructions with kindness.
27 She carefully watches everything in her household
and suffers nothing from laziness.
28 Her children stand and bless her.
Her husband praises her:
29 “There are many virtuous and capable women in the world,
but you surpass them all!”
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last;
but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.
31 Reward her for all she has done.
Let her deeds publicly declare her praise."
~Proverbs 31:10-31
I came across this scripture for the first time (that I recall) a few months ago. Immediately, it pierced my heart.
First off, I would like to preface this with the title: The Wife of Noble Character. This is the actual passage's title (it varies in different translations of the bible, but this is specifically the New Living Translation's title) in the bible. I believe this scripture is not just for those whom already have a husband or are about to have a husband, but to women of the Body. I believe through Christ, we are called to be part of the Bridegroom in the Body of Christ. For me personally, I already have looked to apply this scripture to my life even though I do not have a husband yet. And I believe when the day comes that God does bless me with a husband, that this scripture will continue to resonate in my soul--feeding it inspiration and direction.
The first thing I really admired about this scripture is it gave me direction. So often, I feel we as God's people in general, just ask of God--pleading, begging, desperate, hungry, searching. But how often do we really take direction well? In fact most of us, when we feel direction from God, it scares us. Why? Because we paint this "pretty" little picture in our heads of what our life needs to be like in order to get stamped with the seal of perfection in our eyes. And God forbid, it our little picture of perfection doesn't line up with Christ's beautiful picture of destiny. I don't know about you, but I could use some direction!! I could use some words of firm instruction but in a loving and gentle manner. I LOVE this scripture for just even the fact that it directs me. It's Christ telling me how to live my life and who to be--which leads me to my next point.
So often it's easy to get caught up in finding our definition, purpose, and worth in the world. It sounds cliche and a bit "broken record-ish", if you will, but it's so true. Even in the sense of social networking; how many people are "following" our blog, how many friends we're friends with on Facebook, how many people "like" and comment on our status' and pictures. We find ourselves just getting sucked into this tornado of who's who in the food chain of social status and personal worth. Living in a world that it's so easy to be self-advertising and self-obsessed, this scripture was just such a humbling, sweet word for me. I just felt God saying "Strive for this. BE this." and I find myself actually hungering to strive for that; to BE that.
I find myself going back to this scripture every morning before I set my feet to the floor, and every evening before I lay my head to my pillow.
Women, I encourage you to let these sweet words sink into your heart. Accept them as Christ's spoken word over your life. Let this be the definition of your heart, your soul, and your life. Let it reflect through your actions, your words, and even your presence. We are called to be a wife of noble character.
Here's to living the destined life..
First off, I would like to preface this with the title: The Wife of Noble Character. This is the actual passage's title (it varies in different translations of the bible, but this is specifically the New Living Translation's title) in the bible. I believe this scripture is not just for those whom already have a husband or are about to have a husband, but to women of the Body. I believe through Christ, we are called to be part of the Bridegroom in the Body of Christ. For me personally, I already have looked to apply this scripture to my life even though I do not have a husband yet. And I believe when the day comes that God does bless me with a husband, that this scripture will continue to resonate in my soul--feeding it inspiration and direction.
The first thing I really admired about this scripture is it gave me direction. So often, I feel we as God's people in general, just ask of God--pleading, begging, desperate, hungry, searching. But how often do we really take direction well? In fact most of us, when we feel direction from God, it scares us. Why? Because we paint this "pretty" little picture in our heads of what our life needs to be like in order to get stamped with the seal of perfection in our eyes. And God forbid, it our little picture of perfection doesn't line up with Christ's beautiful picture of destiny. I don't know about you, but I could use some direction!! I could use some words of firm instruction but in a loving and gentle manner. I LOVE this scripture for just even the fact that it directs me. It's Christ telling me how to live my life and who to be--which leads me to my next point.
So often it's easy to get caught up in finding our definition, purpose, and worth in the world. It sounds cliche and a bit "broken record-ish", if you will, but it's so true. Even in the sense of social networking; how many people are "following" our blog, how many friends we're friends with on Facebook, how many people "like" and comment on our status' and pictures. We find ourselves just getting sucked into this tornado of who's who in the food chain of social status and personal worth. Living in a world that it's so easy to be self-advertising and self-obsessed, this scripture was just such a humbling, sweet word for me. I just felt God saying "Strive for this. BE this." and I find myself actually hungering to strive for that; to BE that.
I find myself going back to this scripture every morning before I set my feet to the floor, and every evening before I lay my head to my pillow.
Women, I encourage you to let these sweet words sink into your heart. Accept them as Christ's spoken word over your life. Let this be the definition of your heart, your soul, and your life. Let it reflect through your actions, your words, and even your presence. We are called to be a wife of noble character.
Here's to living the destined life..
