I was first introduced to the Proverbs 31 Woman by our pastor's wife back in 1992, and I, have to say, I was immediately fascinated by her. Her life was centered around a reverent fear of God. She was kind, compassionate, faithful, and loving. She was everything that I wanted to be, but wasn't.
I began studying this fascinating, new-to-me, Proverbs 31 Woman. Early on I was so taken with her that I wrote, and had a friend publish, a tract about her because I wanted everyone I knew to meet her. Looking back at that tract I chuckle. I realize now how little I actually knew and understood back then. What Biblical knowledge I did possess was page-deep and surface-level at best. Over the years, as I studied and read the Bible more and more (and every book I could find on the subject of the Proverbs 31 Woman), my understanding of God's Word deepened, as did my understanding of that beautiful P31 Woman, and my life's goal became (and still is) to, not overnight, but over a lifetime, become a living example of her.
I was in my early-30's when I first met the P31 Woman. In my mid-30's I was blessed with a computer and was introduced to the World Wide Web. There I found all sorts of wonderful resources and connected with other women from around the globe that had the same fascination and desire that I did...to become a living example of that lovely Proverbs 31 Woman.
In 1998, I was asked to take over an on-line group of over 1000 women whose desire appeared to be the same as mine, but, in time, that proved not to be the case with many of them. Many of the members of that group were wolves in sheep's clothing...some weren't even women! Some were men seeking "virtuous" women for companionship, marriage, or...whatever. Many of the women that were there proved not to be Christians at all. Some were actually witches sent there on purpose to stir up trouble, and do their best to destroy the group. Over time, through much prayer and anguish, God revealed what was what, changes were made, and, eventually, a small group of women whose hearts' desires were real and true, settled into a long season of Christian love and fellowship. Many of those relationships grew into real and lasting friendships, and a few of us even got to meet up with each other a few times and spend many wonderful visits together.
By my late-30's...early-40's...I had designed a series of challenges based on the Proverbs 31 Woman for the ladies in my group. The daily challenges were called The Challenges of the Proverbs 31 Woman, and we went through Proverbs 31:10-31 a verse (sometimes a half-verse) at a time, several days a week online. I would present the lesson within the group, present the challenge that went with it, then the ladies, and myself, would respond accordingly to the questions, or challenge, of the day and communicate on a regular basis concerning our hearts' desires to become more and more like that beautiful P31 lady. The study seemed to go over well and, over the course of several years, was repeated more than once. It was during that same time, that I totally committed myself to the Lord and promised myself that by my 50th birthday I would BE that living example that I so longed to be.
Well...soon after that things began to unravel in my personal life. Changes began to take place within our family that would forever change things from the way we had always known them...children married, my mother passed away, grandchildren were born, and I became fearful and unable to cope. Due to that inability to cope...try as I might...things got out of conrol and things that were once of great importance to me began to fall by the wayside. Life became a constant struggle. Everything seemed totally out of control and my main focus, every minute of every day, was just to make it through, And, as many of you know, my 50th birthday has come and gone long ago and, at times, I feel that I'm no closer to being a living example of that beautiful Proverbs 31 Woman than I was when I first started out.
BUT...it's a new day and a new season, and that old longing to keep moving forward in this area of Biblical womanhood is stirring...stirring like it hasn't stirred in nearly a decade! Over and over again, the Lord keeps bringing my attention back to that favored, marked, highlighted, noted, and worn place in my Bible. His Spirit whispers to me that it's not too late. In fact...it's never too late! As long as there's breath, there's hope, and there's life. And if there's life, it's meant to be lived! On purpose. For Him!
So...today I share my experience with the Proverbs 31 Woman with you. As I do so, I wonder...how many women today truly aspire to be like her? Do you?
I'd like to encourage you, and challenge you, today, to pick up your Bible and read (or reread) Proverbs 31:10-31. Whether it's your first time...or your hundreth...or your thousandth...or even your ten-thousandth time...let the ministry of fresh vision for Biblical womanhood sink down into your spirit, capture your heart, and challenge you to greater heights than you've ever known for the glory of God.
In Him and With All My Love,
~Rebecca
P.S. - If you don't mind sharing, I would love to hear about your experiences with the Proverbs 31 Woman. Just leave a comment below or feel free to e-mail me at proverbs31heart@yahoo.com. Thank you! And God bless! <3
I began studying this fascinating, new-to-me, Proverbs 31 Woman. Early on I was so taken with her that I wrote, and had a friend publish, a tract about her because I wanted everyone I knew to meet her. Looking back at that tract I chuckle. I realize now how little I actually knew and understood back then. What Biblical knowledge I did possess was page-deep and surface-level at best. Over the years, as I studied and read the Bible more and more (and every book I could find on the subject of the Proverbs 31 Woman), my understanding of God's Word deepened, as did my understanding of that beautiful P31 Woman, and my life's goal became (and still is) to, not overnight, but over a lifetime, become a living example of her.
I was in my early-30's when I first met the P31 Woman. In my mid-30's I was blessed with a computer and was introduced to the World Wide Web. There I found all sorts of wonderful resources and connected with other women from around the globe that had the same fascination and desire that I did...to become a living example of that lovely Proverbs 31 Woman.
In 1998, I was asked to take over an on-line group of over 1000 women whose desire appeared to be the same as mine, but, in time, that proved not to be the case with many of them. Many of the members of that group were wolves in sheep's clothing...some weren't even women! Some were men seeking "virtuous" women for companionship, marriage, or...whatever. Many of the women that were there proved not to be Christians at all. Some were actually witches sent there on purpose to stir up trouble, and do their best to destroy the group. Over time, through much prayer and anguish, God revealed what was what, changes were made, and, eventually, a small group of women whose hearts' desires were real and true, settled into a long season of Christian love and fellowship. Many of those relationships grew into real and lasting friendships, and a few of us even got to meet up with each other a few times and spend many wonderful visits together.
By my late-30's...early-40's...I had designed a series of challenges based on the Proverbs 31 Woman for the ladies in my group. The daily challenges were called The Challenges of the Proverbs 31 Woman, and we went through Proverbs 31:10-31 a verse (sometimes a half-verse) at a time, several days a week online. I would present the lesson within the group, present the challenge that went with it, then the ladies, and myself, would respond accordingly to the questions, or challenge, of the day and communicate on a regular basis concerning our hearts' desires to become more and more like that beautiful P31 lady. The study seemed to go over well and, over the course of several years, was repeated more than once. It was during that same time, that I totally committed myself to the Lord and promised myself that by my 50th birthday I would BE that living example that I so longed to be.
Well...soon after that things began to unravel in my personal life. Changes began to take place within our family that would forever change things from the way we had always known them...children married, my mother passed away, grandchildren were born, and I became fearful and unable to cope. Due to that inability to cope...try as I might...things got out of conrol and things that were once of great importance to me began to fall by the wayside. Life became a constant struggle. Everything seemed totally out of control and my main focus, every minute of every day, was just to make it through, And, as many of you know, my 50th birthday has come and gone long ago and, at times, I feel that I'm no closer to being a living example of that beautiful Proverbs 31 Woman than I was when I first started out.
BUT...it's a new day and a new season, and that old longing to keep moving forward in this area of Biblical womanhood is stirring...stirring like it hasn't stirred in nearly a decade! Over and over again, the Lord keeps bringing my attention back to that favored, marked, highlighted, noted, and worn place in my Bible. His Spirit whispers to me that it's not too late. In fact...it's never too late! As long as there's breath, there's hope, and there's life. And if there's life, it's meant to be lived! On purpose. For Him!
So...today I share my experience with the Proverbs 31 Woman with you. As I do so, I wonder...how many women today truly aspire to be like her? Do you?
I'd like to encourage you, and challenge you, today, to pick up your Bible and read (or reread) Proverbs 31:10-31. Whether it's your first time...or your hundreth...or your thousandth...or even your ten-thousandth time...let the ministry of fresh vision for Biblical womanhood sink down into your spirit, capture your heart, and challenge you to greater heights than you've ever known for the glory of God.
In Him and With All My Love,
~Rebecca
P.S. - If you don't mind sharing, I would love to hear about your experiences with the Proverbs 31 Woman. Just leave a comment below or feel free to e-mail me at proverbs31heart@yahoo.com. Thank you! And God bless! <3
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