A Virtuous Woman

"She is clothed  with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come." -Proverbs 31:25

STRENGTH.

I've been told a few times over the last week that I'm a strong woman.  At times, it's hard to believe, especially those times I get inside my head.  However, God doesn't want my heart to be troubled.

"To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps." -1 Peter 2:21

I've been reflecting on this verse the last two weeks and even have it hanging under a picture at my desk.  I strive to be this woman.

A woman of God.

A woman who is learning to love God, as He loves me.

There will be days we fall short of who we strive to be.  Which is okay in this world full of brokenness.  Think of those from the Bible who struggled too, but remained faithful and put all their trust in Christ.

Paul, Joseph, and Daniel are a few examples.

We must keep pushing forward and become who God intends us to be.

"Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.  Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it.  But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead.  I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." -Philippians 3:12-14

How do we as women cloth ourselves with strength and dignity?

The LORD himself provides these garments to the believing heart that is looking to Him.

Inner strength and a trust in God will shine and radiate into our outer appearance,

A virtuous woman will know that God is the strength of her life.

"The Lord is my light and my salvation - whom shall I fear?  The Lord is the stronghold of my life - of whom shall I be afraid?" -Psalm 27:1

DIGNITY.

Dignity is another word for honor.  

The Lord is clothed with honor and majesty (Psalm 104:1).

We get our strength and dignity from our LORD!  By trusting Him and allowing our hearts and souls to be touched and healed by His grace.

"....she can laugh at the days to come."

As believers in Christ, we have been guaranteed a bright, eternal future.  We have a promise of God that the future cannot separate us from the love of God.

We do not know what the future holds, but we can be confident of Who holds the future.  We know that everything that happens to us in the future is for God's glory and for our good.

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose." -Romans 8:28

We are guided that the God who began a good work in us will complete that good work in the future.

"Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus." -Philippians 1:6

Be strong.

Be honorable.

Be Christ-like.

And most importantly, be filled with joy knowing that God is in control and will guide us to one amazing future.

The Mystery of Life....

"I tell you, you will weep and mourn, but the world will rejoice; you will have pain, but your pain will turn to joy.  When a woman is in labor, she has pain, because her hour has come.  But when her child is born, she no longer remembers the anguish because of the joy of having brought a human being into the world.  So you have pain now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you." - John 16:20-22

Suffering.

It's a complete mystery.

Unfortunately, it's an inevitable part of life and often times have little to no control over it.

It's how we respond that makes the difference.

I've been experience severe back pain, among other pain as well.  I've been pretty miserable all weekend, but tried to see the positive throughout the weekend.

For example, the sun finally was shining on Saturday and it was 60 degrees here in Indiana!

That rarely happens in January!

Positive!!

I've been reading a book called "Rediscover Jesus" and the chapter I came across tonight was "Making Sense of Suffering."

The world views suffering as worthless.  In the Old Testament, suffering was viewed as a consequence of sin.  However, in the New Testament, through His words and actions, Jesus exclaims that suffering has VALUE.

Suffering is a tool in this life that can transform us into loving people.

Many of us have heard the term, "Offer it up!"

I used to hate hearing those 3 words.  But after reading this chapter tonight and reflecting on a few verses from Scriptures, offering it up has a whole new meaning to me.

Scripture encourages us to offer everything that happens in our day in prayer to God.

Joys and suffering.

In doing so, suffering becomes a very powerful prayer and eventually that prayer will fill us with a deep peace within ourselves.

"If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their crosses daily and follow me." - Luke 9:23

Each day, we are given a cross to bear.  There are times it can be the same cross for a long period of time.  Other times, it can be a different cross to bear each day.

What we choose to do with that cross makes a difference.

By choosing to accept that cross to bear and carrying it, we are turning our worthless suffering into value.  

The best part is, Christ wants to help us carry our cross.  We are NEVER alone!

With that in my heart tonight, it's amazing the peace I feel even though my back still hurts.

But I've chosen to bear this suffering and carry my cross, knowing that through Christ,  I will find strength to do so.

Suffering will lead us to grow in our faith.

Are you ready to turn suffering from worthless to value?

What cross are you having to bear right now?

Do you accept it?

Are you going to carry it, knowing Christ will help you?

"We rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope." - Romans 5:3-4

Purity of Heart

"A woman's heart should be so lost in God that a man needs to seek Him in order to find her."
-Maya Angelou

How amazing is this quote?!

I've had this quote in my heart for at least 15 years of my life, but never once have I actually followed it.

I've always wanted a healthy, happy, and successful relationship, but what I failed to realize was I couldn't give others what I didn't have yet.

My heart was not completely lost in God.

In doing so, I have failed a lot of things in my life, especially relationships.

I don't regret any of those relationships though, because each one taught me how important this quote by Maya Angelou is. 

I've always walked away stronger and knowing I hadn't found my Knight in Shining Armor yet.

I'm not talking about a tall, dark, and handsome worldly guy.

I hadn't found my true Knight in Shining Armor.

The one who loves unconditionally. 

The one who forgives always.

My Knight in Shining Armor has never once left my side.

God.
That's my Knight in Shining Armor.



I want my relationship with God to be so strong, that no matter what comes my way in life, I know His love, mercy and grace will carry me through.

My relationship and trust in Him will bring me strength and courage.

I want to be in love with Christ.

Our journey in faith can be difficult in a world full of brokenness.  A world that encourages such sinful behavior.  But that's what makes the journey worth it.

Think of St Paul's journey to find faith.  It's starts in Acts 9. 

Paul's conversion is truly amazing and I feel like all of us sinners can relate to.  He was what Christian's called, "the worst enemy" as he persecuted those who were followers of Jesus.  The name given to him at the time was Saul.  During his journey to the city of Damascus, Saul and his men where surrounded by a light so intense, that it blinded Saul.  God asked him why he was persecuting Him.  Saul asked who the Lord was and He replied that he was Jesus and asked him to go into the city and he will know what to do.  He found his faith through this journey and finally decided to be a follower of Christ, and use his Roman name, Paul.

(Cliff notes version btw!)

My therapist a couple weeks ago paid me any amazing compliment.  He told me I remind him of Ruth.

Ruth is an example of how God can change a life and take it in a direction He has always had planned.  Once Ruth met God, she became a living testimonial to Him by faith.

Even though my therapist had told me this, I still didn't quite believe it.  Only because I want to have that deep, personal relationship with God as she did.

She didn't need a man to make her happy.  She had the one man who would always make her happy....her Knight in Shining Armor.  

In doing so, God rewarded her faithfulness and brought Boaz into her life.  But Boaz had to find God as well, in order to get to Ruth's heart.

I'm ready to take these next 6 months and develop this amazing relationship with God.  I want to be faithful to Him and Him alone.  

I want to become so strong in my faith in Him.

I want to love Him, just as He loves me.

I want to experience God's love on a much deeper level than I ever have before.

Be able to say no to people because I love God more.

Stand firm in my faith, just as Ruth did.

I just need to plant that seed and keep it nurtured in order for it to bloom into something I've never experienced before in my life.

I'm ready to be so lost in God.

Are you?