Monday, December 15, 2008

Proverbs 31 - Commited to Marriage

I have time and the mental acuity to do my devotions today! YEAH!
Continuing on with the Revive our hearts devotions from the true woman conference I attended. Nancy starts us off with these words:

Committed to Marriage

Marriage is a covenant. Learn more about this life-long commitment.*

  • A wife has a permanent, unconditional commitment to act in a way that is according to her husband's best interests—not to serve herself, but to serve her husband.
  • A husband can trust a godly wife to speak well of him and to keep confidences. He can trust her in the way she speaks about him. He can trust her to protect his reputation.
  • A godly wife inspires a man to be worthy of her devotion. He rises to that because he knows he has a woman who is an asset, not a liability—a woman who supports, encourages, and helps him in every way possible.
This series, if you don't recall is based on Proverbs 31.Today the focus is on how this woman is a good wife. See all the words in bold.
10 An excellent wife who can find?
She is far more precious than jewels.
11The heart of her husband trusts in her,
and he will have no lack of gain.
12She does him good, and not harm,
all the days of her life.
13She seeks wool and flax,
and works with willing hands.
14She is like the ships of the merchant;
she brings her food from afar.
15She rises while it is yet night
and provides food for her household
and portions for her maidens.
16She considers a field and buys it;
with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
17She dresses herself with strength
and makes her arms strong.
18She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.
Her lamp does not go out at night.
19She puts her hands to the distaff,
and her hands hold the spindle.
20She opens her hand to the poor
and reaches out her hands to the needy.
21She is not afraid of snow for her household,
for all her household are clothed in scarlet.
22She makes bed coverings for herself;
her clothing is fine linen and purple.
23Her husband is known in the gates
when he sits among the elders of the land.
24She 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.
26She opens her mouth with wisdom,
and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
27She looks well to the ways of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28Her 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.
31Give her of the fruit of her hands,
and let her works praise her in the gates.

Do you see how her husband cherishes her?
She puts him right up there at the top of the list. God, and the fear of him comes first, but then comes her husband. She is an excellent wife to him. She does GOOD to him all her days. Not because he is good to her, not because she feels like it. This is her attitude. Let me fear the Lord, let me do good to my husband. She does good by her family as well, not being lazy, not being self-focused, but by working hard and seeing the needs that they have.

Do you see how he trusts her?
How because of her he lacks nothing?

Isn't that cool?
Imagine what we can be for our husbands if we strive to be this type of woman. What a way to shore up the men that we love!

Rather cool eh? :)
Not based on what he does...but all we do is to be based on our relationship with God. Puts a different spin on things doesn't it? How easy it is for me to say.....but my hubby failed me in this area therefore I won't do thus and such. Or today I'm tired so I won't make any effort to be busy about the house, or trying to make life more of a joy for him. My relationship with God should drive all that I do in my marriage, in my parenting, in everything that I do. THAT is how I will become more of the excellent wife as found in Proverbs 31.

Make God my focus, the rest will come as it comes. :)

No comments: