During a women Bible study session in May this year, we were studying Proverbs 31. I sighed very heavily, because most women do envy the woman spoken of in this scripture. I actually told God directly that I had no idea what He was going to try and show me through this scripture. There is just no way that any person can be that virtuous!
I had to read the piece about 2 times over before the Lord started to slowly open up the Word for me. That’s the Holy Spirit for you! We’re not allowed to use our phones or any other references during the session, making you rely completely and only on the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
The scripture immediately reminded me of a video clip I watched about Joyce Meyer. She was speaking to a group of people about – What happens when a woman says, “I’m going to bed” and what happens when a man says it? The clip was about how a woman will, on her way to her bed, first pick up the washing lying around, quickly go help her child still busy doing homework, fill in a school form, and place some money in an envelope and put it inside her child’s suitcase, then quickly wash her face, step on a toy and angrily throw it in the toybox… and the story continues, until finally she climbs into her bed with her husband already snoring away. Because when a man says he’s going to bed, that’s exactly what he does, he climbs in and goes to sleep.
I thought about this exact scenario that most women know all too well and asked God – but Lord, how do we manage to be a mother, a wife, a woman and not go out of our heads through all of the chaos? Because sometimes it all just gets too much and we feel that our men don’t understand…
Well, He came and spoke to me gently…
The scripture immediately reminded me of a video clip I watched about Joyce Meyer. She was speaking to a group of people about – What happens when a woman says, “I’m going to bed” and what happens when a man says it? The clip was about how a woman will, on her way to her bed, first pick up the washing lying around, quickly go help her child still busy doing homework, fill in a school form, and place some money in an envelope and put it inside her child’s suitcase, then quickly wash her face, step on a toy and angrily throw it in the toybox… and the story continues, until finally she climbs into her bed with her husband already snoring away. Because when a man says he’s going to bed, that’s exactly what he does, he climbs in and goes to sleep.
I thought about this exact scenario that most women know all too well and asked God – but Lord, how do we manage to be a mother, a wife, a woman and not go out of our heads through all of the chaos? Because sometimes it all just gets too much and we feel that our men don’t understand…
Well, He came and spoke to me gently…
The first verse that caught my eye, was verse 17 (AMP) “She girds herself with strength [spiritual, mental, and physical fitness for her God-given task] and makes her arms strong and firm…”. Then the Lord asked me – What gives you the ability to do the things you do and do it right? MY TRUTH [girds with truth], off course! But where do you find My truth? In the Word, off course. Then slowly, the fog around me opened, I saw a woman on her knees praying and she was reading her Bible!
The arms immediately made me think of a woman’s children, how we carry them and that our arms need to be strong. Spiritually, we pick up our kids and we make their burden with this life lighter, we guide them when they are too weak, we teach them, show them, we protect them and let them go slowly but surely. And to be able to do that, we need strength. And our strength comes from there. Now, the Lord started to share with me.
The arms immediately made me think of a woman’s children, how we carry them and that our arms need to be strong. Spiritually, we pick up our kids and we make their burden with this life lighter, we guide them when they are too weak, we teach them, show them, we protect them and let them go slowly but surely. And to be able to do that, we need strength. And our strength comes from there. Now, the Lord started to share with me.
I started to underline some action words about the woman’s actions – She does good, she nurtures, she stands up and she considers… I stop here… at the “considers”, in verse 16 (AMP) She considers a new field before she buys or accepts it [expanding prudently and not courting neglect of her present duties by assuming other duties]; with her savings [of time and strength] she pants fruitful vines in her vineyard …. Now what stood out to me is this virtuous woman always considering before she acts on a decision about a situation. And the fruit of her hand had me thinking about Gal.5 regarding the fruits of the spirit: love, peace, joy, patience [an even temper, forbearance], kindness, goodness [benevolence], faithfulness, gentleness and self-control [self-restraint,continence]. With what she has in her hand, she plants a fruitful vineyard (and that also made me think about her children). They look up to their mom and copy her actions. Children do what we do and not necessarily what we tell them to do. So, with the good fruit that she has in her life, she literally plants seeds for her children (her ground) and they grow up into a beautiful vineyard, to also carry lovely fruit. How beautiful is that? And that vineyard can also be other people in her life – how she sows into their lives.
But the most beautiful image that God showed me was in verse 21 (AMP) “She fears not the snow for her family, for all her household are doubly clothed in scarlet…”. The words “doubly clothed in scarlet” had me thinking of Jesus’ blood. Now I was thinking, through the strength given by God (the Word, His truth, prayer) this woman could take care of her people in the difficult days that could come, those winter days (snow) in a person’s life (those times her husband has a difficult time at work, her kids struggle at school with friends, or whatever). And she does help them by covering them with the blood of Jesus – His protection and forgiveness. His blood comes and washes us clean and as we declare His blood over us, we declare that He is our refuge and protection. In other words, this woman stands in prayer for her entire household. It’s not a physical dress up with clothes (although it could also be), but spiritually, we as wives and mothers literally we take care of our men and children by being an intercessor for them at the Lord, by standing in the gab. Then they are dressed in His scarlet blood! Wow!
I realised that if we would live a life of an intense prayer relationship with God and His Word, our words (tongue) will be filled with wisdom and our counsel and instruction …. (verse 26). And everything is about fearing God.
Lastly, the word “opmerksaam” [translated as attentive] in the Afrikaans (remember I was reading an Afrikaans Bible) stayed with me, in verse 27 (AFR53)….She looks well to how things go in her household, and the bread of idleness she will not eat (In Afrikaans – Opmerksaam gaan sy die werksaamhede van haar huis na, en die brood van luiheid eet sy nie). Now as the story of Joyce Meyer above spoke about how absolutely focused on detail we women are, I realised, that that’s how God put us together. We can see the finest nuance in our house and pick up on the tiniest emotion and reaction of people around us. God made us that way, and a man has been made differently. He doesn’t see the dirty socks that lies in the hallway, he doesn’t know about the school forms and letters that mom first must read and sign and send back… I realised, we pick up when our husbands are upset about work when they step into the house, without them saying a word or showing their emotion. We know that our child didn’t have a great day at school, even though he/she tries really hard to smile. We just know. We pick it up in our spirit – and this word … opened for me. The Lord gave us women a spirit of attentiveness (looks well to things). For a reason. So that we can listen, empathise, can heal wounds, can give calm and peace, and help, and give advice where needed. How fantastic did God not make us?
The bread of laziness (idleness) had me thinking that you can choose which bread you want to eat – the bread of life or the bread of idleness. Where do we find this bread of life? Jesus. Again, God showed me, how do we do all these virtuous acts? How am I a virtuous woman?
By abiding/staying in Jesus! He is the true vine and His Father the Vinedresser (John15) and we are his branches (Just again look at the vineyard example that the woman plants!)
Then this word came up “stillness”. The quiet spirit of a woman. There is so much power in it. And I realised, we have to bow in front of Him, hear from Him. And Proverbs 31 got new meaning to me.
Suddenly it didn’t look as impossible to be this virtuous woman. It’s about placing ourselves and our households in God’s hands, and to really and truly hear from Him! To live an intense prayer relationship with Our Saviour who loves us so intently and made us so absolutely mighty!
Hope this blessed you the same way it blessed me.
Gerda
Lastly, the word “opmerksaam” [translated as attentive] in the Afrikaans (remember I was reading an Afrikaans Bible) stayed with me, in verse 27 (AFR53)….She looks well to how things go in her household, and the bread of idleness she will not eat (In Afrikaans – Opmerksaam gaan sy die werksaamhede van haar huis na, en die brood van luiheid eet sy nie). Now as the story of Joyce Meyer above spoke about how absolutely focused on detail we women are, I realised, that that’s how God put us together. We can see the finest nuance in our house and pick up on the tiniest emotion and reaction of people around us. God made us that way, and a man has been made differently. He doesn’t see the dirty socks that lies in the hallway, he doesn’t know about the school forms and letters that mom first must read and sign and send back… I realised, we pick up when our husbands are upset about work when they step into the house, without them saying a word or showing their emotion. We know that our child didn’t have a great day at school, even though he/she tries really hard to smile. We just know. We pick it up in our spirit – and this word … opened for me. The Lord gave us women a spirit of attentiveness (looks well to things). For a reason. So that we can listen, empathise, can heal wounds, can give calm and peace, and help, and give advice where needed. How fantastic did God not make us?
The bread of laziness (idleness) had me thinking that you can choose which bread you want to eat – the bread of life or the bread of idleness. Where do we find this bread of life? Jesus. Again, God showed me, how do we do all these virtuous acts? How am I a virtuous woman?
By abiding/staying in Jesus! He is the true vine and His Father the Vinedresser (John15) and we are his branches (Just again look at the vineyard example that the woman plants!)
Then this word came up “stillness”. The quiet spirit of a woman. There is so much power in it. And I realised, we have to bow in front of Him, hear from Him. And Proverbs 31 got new meaning to me.
Suddenly it didn’t look as impossible to be this virtuous woman. It’s about placing ourselves and our households in God’s hands, and to really and truly hear from Him! To live an intense prayer relationship with Our Saviour who loves us so intently and made us so absolutely mighty!
Hope this blessed you the same way it blessed me.
Gerda