Sunday Reflection

This week during our women's prayer time we read over Proverbs 31.
No it isn't torture.  It is truth and it is something to work on.

First we have to realize that the woman that the mother of King Lemuel describes is not a specific woman.  It says an oracle which is a wise saying.  It would be like me teaching my sons to look for these qualities in a woman.  That is a load of the shoulders huh?  But going through it we should be struck with a desire to work on areas of our own life.

When the boys were younger I worked on different areas than I work on now.  Earlier I needed work on rising early to see to the day.  I needed work on keeping my hands busy and not idle.  I still work on that.  But as the seasons of my life are changing I am seeing other areas that I am becoming freer to do.  Things like give to the needy.  Standing up for those who can't defend themselves.

God is pointing me in a direction to be more vocal and more hands on when it comes to things like abortion.  I have always detested it but now as my boys are more independent I have more time.

Where do you see yourself in the Proverbs 31 woman?  What areas can I pray for you about?

Let's us keep on encouraging each other while it is still called today.

Proverbs 31

1 The words of King Lemuel. An oracle that his mother taught him:

² What are you doing, my son? What are you doing, son of my womb?
What are you doing, son of my vows?
³ Do not give your strength to women,
your ways to those who destroy kings.
⁴ It is not for kings, O Lemuel,
it is not for kings to drink wine,
or for rulers to take strong drink,
⁵ lest they drink and forget what has been decreed
and pervert the rights of all the afflicted.
⁶ Give strong drink to the one who is perishing,
and wine to those in bitter distress;
⁷ let them drink and forget their poverty
and remember their misery no more.
⁸ Open your mouth for the mute,
for the rights of all who are destitute.
⁹ Open your mouth, judge righteously,
defend the rights of the poor and needy.

The Woman Who Fears the Lord

¹⁰ An excellent wife who can find?

She is far more precious than jewels.

¹¹ The heart of her husband trusts in her,

and he will have no lack of gain.

¹² She does him good, and not harm,

all the days of her life.

¹³ She seeks wool and flax,

and works with willing hands.

¹⁴ She is like the ships of the merchant;

she brings her food from afar.

¹⁵ She rises while it is yet night

and provides food for her household

and portions for her maidens.

¹⁶ She considers a field and buys it;

with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.

¹⁷ She dresses herself with strength

and makes her arms strong.

¹⁸ She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.

Her lamp does not go out at night.

¹⁹ She puts her hands to the distaff,

and her hands hold the spindle.

²⁰ She opens her hand to the poor

and reaches out her hands to the needy.

²¹ She is not afraid of snow for her household,

for all her household are clothed in scarlet.

²² She makes bed coverings for herself;

her clothing is fine linen and purple.

²³ Her husband is known in the gates

when he sits among the elders of the land.

²⁴ She makes linen garments and sells them;

she delivers sashes to the merchant.

²⁵ Strength and dignity are her clothing,

and she laughs at the time to come.

²⁶ She opens her mouth with wisdom,

and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.

²⁷ She looks well to the ways of her household

and does not eat the bread of idleness.

²⁸ Her children rise up and call her blessed;

her husband also, and he praises her:

²⁹ “Many women have done excellently,

but you surpass them all.”

³⁰ Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,

but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

³¹ Give her of the fruit of her hands,

and let her works praise her in the gates.

 

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