What kind of woman do you want to be?
I could answer that question in many ways, but above all else, I want to be a godly woman.
I want to be a woman whose life so evidently displays how much she loves Jesus and loves her husband, through both her words and her actions.
Last week, I began a three-part series about how to be a godly woman, based on Proverbs 31…a chapter in the Bible dedicated to what a godly woman looks like! Make sure you read part one and then continue here!
*Note: These are simply my thoughts on the verses and how I want to apply them to my life. In no way am I a Bible scholar! I recommend reading the chapter for yourself (Proverbs 31:10-31) – and feel free to share your thoughts in the comments!*
“She provides food for her family, and portions for her female servants.”
Part of my “job” as a godly woman is to prepare food for my family. I obviously don’t have maidservants, but I take this as a reminder to be kind towards other people and give generously to those in need, whether it be through food, finances, prayer, or another way of helping.
“She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.”
This reminds me that I need to be wise with my money. I shouldn’t have impulse buys; I should carefully choose what I purchase and make sure that I am glorifying God with the way I spend the money He has allowed me and Hudson to have. While I think the husband should be the main supporter for his family, I do want to work to contribute what I can. I also want to be involved in financial decisions so that I can understand our budget.
“She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her tasks. She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night.”
This verse reminds me of how Colossians 3:23 says “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.” A Proverbs 31 woman is a hard worker; she’s not lazy. It appears that she would work hard both during the day and at night. She works hard knowing that what she does is a blessing to God and to her family. I want to be known as that type of woman! Not someone who is lazy and hardly gets the things done during the day that she needs to and then wastes time at night.
“In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her fingers.”
This is referring to making clothing with a spindle, so doesn’t really apply to me in that way haha. I did read something about this verse though that I thought was a neat reminder…it said “a woman’s hands should not be idle; she should be engaged in worthwhile, constructive pursuits.” Everything I do should be something worthwhile in some way!
“She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.”
I want to be someone who reaches out to help those in need. It is so easy for me to get consumed in my own wants and “needs” that I forget about all that God has blessed me with. Everything I have is really God’s, not my own, so I need to do a better job of giving back both with my money and with my time. Giving something to others is also a great way of not only meeting their physical needs, but also to have the opportunity to meet their spiritual needs too by telling them about the love of Jesus.
“When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet.”
I should not be afraid of difficult times; I should be prepared for them and have trust God when those times fall on us.
“She makes coverings for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple.”
Contrary to what some people might think, being a Christian woman doesn’t mean you can’t dress up all pretty. The Proverbs 31 woman wore beautiful clothing. The difference was that she didn’t build her identity on that clothing, but on God.
“Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.”
Behind every good man is a good woman. The Proverbs 31 woman was an encouragement to her husband, and he was able to succeed due to her help, encouragement, inspiration, and prayers. I want to be a woman who celebrates when my husband succeeds, and encourage him to be a great man in every area.
“She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes.”
Like was mentioned before, the Proverbs 31 woman brought extra income to her family by being a hard worker. I want to remember that my ability to work, whether at a job or at home, should be a joyful opportunity from the Lord instead of a frustration.
“She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.”
This is one of my favorite verses in the whole passage! It’s also one of the most challenging. The Proverbs 31 woman had strength and honor that others envied because of her faith in God. Also, instead of worrying about the future and living in fear, she was prepared for anything and had a confident, optimistic attitude about the future. She knew that no matter what happened, she would spend eternity in heaven because of her faith and trust in God. I sure want to live like that! Why do I even worry about the future when I know God already has a plan? I don’t know what the future holds, but I know WHO holds the future.
Will you pray for me as I learn how to become a more godly woman? I’d be happy to pray for you too. Feel free to let me know how I can do that, or share your thoughts on Proverbs 31 below! And then make sure you read part three of this series.
