The Dignified Woman

This is one of my favorite verses. In fact, it’s probably considered a life verse for me. At a time in my life when I felt so unworthy and useless. I didn’t feel like I was good at anything and I felt like a very stupid person. The Lord began revealing scriptures to me about who He thought I was and who He created me to be. I reflect on this time as the beginning of my insatiable hunger for God's word.  I read “So Long, Insecurity” by Beth Moore and so began my journey to finding self-worth. It is such a great book filled with many truths of who God says we are. One of the verses she brought to life was this verse.

When we feel unloved, unworthy, useless, ugly, or stupid… then we can know... whole-heartedly and without a shadow of doubt that the Father has clothed us with strength and dignity. He has given us the strength we need to keep going through difficult times. To put our faith in Him to uphold us while we feel weak. He has clothed us with dignity… we aren’t stupid or useless.

We are daughters of the King and He upholds us with grace and beautiful character. In His eyes, as His child, He clothes us with strength and dignity. This means we are clothed with moral character. Another way of translating these words would be that we are clothed with vigor and honor.

Vigor is to have mental and/or physical strength. To put forth effort and enthusiasm. Honor is to mean we have great respect and esteem. To be held in a place of honor. This is how the Father looks at us!

And because of the confidence instilled in her by God, then she is confident in facing the futures of tomorrow. She is not boasting, but rather this refers also to her preparing for the future.

Are you a dignified woman? Do you believe that you are who God says you are? Oh Sister.... you are so loved by our Heavenly Father! I pray you realize how He sees you and that one day you'll wake up and see yourself as a dignified woman of the King!

The Independent Woman

22 

Proverbs 31:22-25

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.

24 

25 

We are reminded she is royalty she is using the finest linens and purple to dress herself. I know that sometimes we are tired, as women. We work hard, we have a family, and sometimes it’s just getting through the day that we strive for. However, I think that it’s important for us to dress appropriately. I think we can look presentable without spending a fortune or wearing things that are super dressy. The way we dress reflects who we are, it reflects on our husbands, and it shows what sort of person we are. I am not saying it's okay to judge an unkept person and fault them for not being perfect. I am stating the fact that the way we present ourselves represents our families. This Proverbs 31 woman is someone who presents herself in the best light possible in order to bring honor to her husband and her family. 

Her husband is respected at the city gate. City gates were the social and economic hub of the city. The elders were the leaders responsible for legal rulings. The husband of the “excellent wife” was known and respected among the leaders of the town. Job describes how he was respected by all at the city gate before his suffering (Job 29:7–11).[1]

During this day it also means he’s at work all day. He cannot be reached by text, phone call, or email. Even to send a messenger may have been a difficult task. So this meant that our lovely lady is making decisions for her home that best benefit her family. She isn’t relying on his opinion to sway her or choose for her. She is choosing the best option and he trusts that she will make good decisions for their home. I think there are many decisions that husband and wife should make together. I believe that men are the heads of the household and should be consulted in big decisions.

photo credit: quotesgram.com

However, there are many things that we as women can do to help take the burden off of the men in our lives and decide for ourselves. I am really bad about asking The Hubs what he thinks I should make for dinner. He has a lot of decisions he’s already making and truly, the last thing on his mind is what he *wants* to eat. Let’s face it… he doesn’t really care what I make for dinner! He is gracious in that he is happy if I just make a peanut butter & jelly sandwich just as well as he’s happy with a big sirloin steak. I know that I can personally learn from this woman how making small decisions and making household choices lends itself to serve our husbands and our families well.

We also learn that her productivity is so much so that she even brings sashes to the merchants. When she isn’t taking care of her family physically, then she is helping to take care of them financially. I also gather from verse 25 that she is a giver. Maybe the merchants are rich and maybe they’re poor. Either way, we know that her heart is gracious in wanting to give to others for the sole reason that she is able to, therefore she does.

I love her independence and I love her giving heart! Are there areas in your life that you can work to be more independent or use your gifts to give to others in need?

^[1] Barry, J. D., Heiser, M. S., Custis, M., Mangum, D., & Whitehead, M. M. (2012). Faithlife Study Bible (Pr 31:23). Bellingham, WA: Logos Bible Software.

The Noble Woman

It's been a while since I've been able to write on my blog. We've been super busy and then I was having some problems with my computer, but I am finally back to finish sharing my Proverbs 31 study with you!

Proverbs 31:19-22

19 She extends her hands to the spinning staff,

and her hands hold the spindle. 

20 Her hands reach out to the poor,

and she extends her hands to the needy. 

21She is not afraid for her household when it snows,

for all in her household are doubly clothed. 

22 She makes her own bed coverings;

her clothing is fine linen and purple. 

A spinning staff and spindle are tools that are used to gather wool and flax and twist it into thread or make yarn. If you remember, back in verse 13 we are told she works with willing hands. I love that she is willing... she doesn't complain. She wants to bless her family! She is considered noble, because she is also generous. She loves to use her gifts and help those who are less fortunate. Over and over in God’s Word we can see that the righteous man will give to those in need. Proverbs 11:25 says, “A generous person will be enriched, and the one who gives a drink of water will receive water.” When we give to others then we also receive blessings!

Maybe you don’t have the resources to give monetarily.

Despite her wealth, I wonder if one way that this woman may have used her gifts was to give some of her woven cloths to the poor who were cold or maybe she gave cloths for those in need of material for clothing? Remember, she uses the skills that God gave her in order to bless others. Look back at verse 17 and we learn she draws on her own strengths. Her strength was sewing, but maybe your strength is cooking, organizing, or cleaning? Maybe you have a good listening ear or you’re good at giving advice? Maybe you are an encourager and prayer warrior or possibly you help others by doing for them? We *all* have gifts that the Lord has given us! 

So when we see those in need, then we can use our gifts and our skills to serve Him and extend our hands to those around us in need. It doesn’t always have to be giving money. In fact, sometimes it’s the giving of our time that is the most helpful in blessing others.

Some translations tell us that her household is clothed in scarlet. Some translations tell us her family is doubly clothed. The Hebrew word is scarlet which from what I have found could once again goes either way.  From what I gather... it could mean both. Scarlet is a color of royalty & nobility (like purple is) & is also a color choice worn during the winter. Kind of like we wear darker colors in the Fall/Winter or corduroy clothing, etc. Since they’re a royal household, then it may mean they’re clothed in fine clothing like royalty as well as doubly clothed in order to maintain warmth during the winter. She spares no cost in providing them with warmth and dignified clothing for their royal standing. She doesn’t panic that winter has arrived. She doesn't have to worry that they have nothing to wear. Remember, she is a planner and has planned for what they will need in order to stay warm.

She is noble because of her generosity and in her social standing.  We can gather that she is a fine woman who uses the gifts God has given her to help others and be a blessing. Are you using the gifts God has given you to bless others?

In what ways do you like to give to those in need? One of my favorite things to do is help others by cooking for them. It's something that our children can help with and it's a blessing to us as well as the family receiving the food we've made. How do you use the gifts God has given you?