God, help me to be a woman after Your heart.
A woman who seeks good for others not harm.
May your love and wisdom shine through me, propel me and focus me on Your will always.
Focus of the Month: Ordinary Women with Extraordinary Hope
Here’s my confession – I love God’s Word. I didn’t always love it and sometimes it is still hard to grasp. Really hard. It seems the hardest when I can clearly see where I fall short. Some days it would be easy to say I have messed up too much or I have simply failed at what God has for me. But God’s plan cannot be destroyed by the likes of me. I am not that powerful. And just like the women we have been studying, I too, am special to God. I don’t have to be Wonder Woman to be worthy of His love. He calls me precious.
Last week, Maryann, began our journey into a passage of scripture that could feel quite daunting to a woman. Proverbs chapter 31. If we fully embrace how valuable we are to the Lord, this scripture becomes a love song to us, rather than a comparison trap. Today we will look at relationships, particularly marriage. However these truths are not limited to this Union.
The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life. (Proverbs 31: 11-12)
Do you remember earlier when I mentioned those really hard places in scripture? Well buckle up because here we go… Can I be trusted with my husbands heart? Am I a woman who brings him good and not harm? I am the only helper God chose to give him. Me. Only me. I have been given this esteemed position by God in order that I would be a benefit to him.
I absolutely desire to be a positive force in my words and actions toward my husband, but I fail a lot. Sometimes I justify my actions by using “his words or actions toward me” as an excuse for my poor choices. But no place in scripture have I found where God says that is ok. In fact, He says the opposite many times.
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. (John 15:12)
God tells us to love as HE loves. His love is pure, unrelenting, unwavering, steadfast and forever. That is a love that can be trusted.
Likewise, wives, be subject to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives, when they see your respectful and pure conduct. (1 Peter 3:1-2)
Even in situations when our husbands might not be following God’s word or living a righteous life, we as Christian women, are called to live as God asks of us. If we try to operate in our own strength we will grow weary and possibly fail. When we call upon the Lord for wisdom, for help, and for a heart for our husbands, we will not fall.
God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day. (Psalm 46:5)
There are days when I feel I have knocked it out of the park in doing good for my husband. But, one day of carelessness can destroy it. I don’t want to be a woman who is too prideful to make necessary corrections to my thoughts or actions in order to bring my husband good.
Whether we are married or single women, we can bring good to others. We can help others see Jesus through the way we make decisions. We can hold the position of “woman” high and remember that God says we are more valuable than precious jewels.
Hmmm…maybe this chapter isn’t so hard to delight in after all. Let’s rise up today and walk forward doing good for those around us. As we are diligent, compassionate, hopeful and gracious we can make a difference in the world around us.
Holding Fast to Hope,
Jen
Scripture References: Proverbs 31:11-12; John 15:12; 1 Peter 3:1-2; Psalm 46:5
