30250 Fans 
2000 Followers
Welcome back my dear friends! I can’t believe we are already up to week 8 in our Proverbs 31 study!!!
This week we are looking at verses 23, 24 & 25.
Her husband is respected at the city gate,
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
She makes linen garments and sells them,
and supplies the merchants with sashes.
She is clothed with strength and dignity:
she can laugh at the days to come.
(If you are seeing this in a feed or email- click here to see the video)
We’ve heard the saying, “Behind every great man is a great woman!” ……that saying is especially true for the husband of the Proverbs 31 woman! This week we read that the husband of the Proverbs 31 woman is respected at the city gate….we see he is a man of influence. I believe one of the reason’s why the husband of the Proverbs 31 woman is so respected is because of his wife! Because she serves and manages her home so well she enables her husband to be a man of influence outside their home!
I love seeing how together they are having a mighty impact for the Lord inside and outside their home!
As I was reading and thinking over verse 23, I asked myself, “What can I start doing that will help my husband be the man of influence, God is calling him to be?”
Because of the Proverbs 31 woman’s focus….she brought respect to her husband.
She was focused on her relationship with her Lord….that’s where she draws the strength for her noble character.
She was focused on her husband…bringing him good all the days of her life.
She was focused on her household…selecting and working with eager hands, bringing food from afar, being available to her family and being well prepared by what she creates and how she clothes herself and her family.
She was focused on others….by extending her arms and hands to the poor and needy.
Because of what she did inside the home, she was a reflection of her husband outside their home…….and that reflection brought him respect.
Reading through Courtney’s ebook this weekend, I wanted to highlight one important point she makes in reference to verse 24 on page 29.
“The lesson in Proverbs 31:24 is: she is willing to use her talents to add to her family’s finances BUT she does not sacrifice the family pursuing them….” – Courtney Joseph
God has blessed us all with talents we can use to be a blessing to others but we need to pray and seek His guidance and the guidance of our husbands as we pursue those talents.
In verse 25 we see that the Proverbs 31 woman saw her future in a positive light! She knows good is coming…..even if she isn’t experiencing it right at the moment.
She knows her future is in her loving Father’s hands and that brings her confidence “to laugh at the days to come!” Her confidence isn’t in her own abilities, her worthiness as a mother or wife, her excellence in running her home or business…..no, her confidence comes from her relationship with God.
Her confidence comes because she knows who she is…….she is a daughter to the King of kings……she is His!
No matter what happens on this earth, she belongs to Him…….that’s where her confidence rests…….in Him!
Week 8 Challenge: Ask yourself this question this week “What can I start doing that will help my husband be the man of influence, God is calling him to be?” Also focus this week on giving your fears over to God. Mentally pray each time a fear pops in and give it to God. Instead of focusing on the fear, thank God for something instead and realize that YOU have a bright future with God…..one that will bring you joy and laughter “at the days to come!” Remember whose daughter you are and allow God to cloth you in His strength and dignity!
Now it’s your turn! How can you apply these verses to your life today? I’d love to hear your thoughts!
Love God Greatly!
* To find the videos and blog posts for weeks 1-7 -click here.
* To find the Proverbs 31 Bible reading plan -click here and begin Week 8 today.
* If you would like to receive the Proverbs 31 eBook that goes with this series- subscribe to Women Living Well. At the bottom of every email you receive from WLW will be the link to the ebook. If there’s been a gliche in the system and you have not received your free ebook- please DO NOT leave a comment below but rather email Courtney at (Courtney@womenlivingwell.org) and she will email you the direct link within 24 hours! Thanks!
When I think of a marriage I think of two people working as a team. When I read your thoughts it made me consider that every team has one leader. Two is too many!
When you have two leaders it leads to chaos! Yes, to be a part of the team isn’t as much in the spotlight and doesn’t come with as much honor as the leader, but the leader needs needs a team to accomplish what needs to be accomplished. This made me think that I need to make sure I am being a team player in my marriage and not fighting for leadership! I need to sit back and allow my husband to lead. And I am thinking that when I do, he might just let me play my part of the team like it should be played as well.
Thanks for your words of wisdom.
I am always praying for wisdom on this manner of my husband being the spiritual leader, but me doing a good job making all those little decisions and day to day work as a stay at home mom. Sometimes it seems I run those day to day things at home, though he is in charge of the family, and I want to make sure I’m doing a good job but not overstepping my boundaries. It was also so encouraging to hear that the Proverbs 31 woman celebrates her husband’s promotions and opportunities while she is doing a lot of insignificant work. It was a reminder to remember that is my sacrifice to the Lord and a way I can continually bless my husband.
Kim,
Ohhhhh you got it girl!!!! I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE your comment today!!! That’s exactly how I view marriage too! Yes, one leader but both people working together toward the common goal….to glorify God with their lives and point others to Jesus!!!
Love God Greatly!
-Angela
Christy,
Your work is significant too! What we do, how we help, how we support….it all plays a part in their success which in turn is our success too! Like I said, they worked as a team and it sounds like you and your husband do too!!!
Love God Greatly!
-Angela
I really enjoy pondering the question: “What can I start doing that will help my husband be the man of influence, God is calling him to be?” I think of this often because I believe that both of us have an important purpose on this planet before we die. It wasn’t until I found my purpose and started going after it that my husband really started to blossom into his also. But I have noticed that when I am really in the spotlight he tends to shrink to the background, and if I go more to the background he steps up like the man that he is.
So, I think that staying out of too much of the spotlight is the first thing, and helping to put him more fully into the spotlight is the second. Also, telling him all the time about the man of influence that I see him as would be a valuable thing to start doing.
Thank you for helping me to ponder these things.