In case you couldn’t tell, Proverbs 31 is one of my greatest inspirations! If you haven’t yet, take a moment to look up verses 10-31 in your Bible. Read it slowly and mark the words that stick out to you. Then come back to me! 

To understand Proverbs 31, we must first understand the book of Proverbs as a whole. Most Proverbs were written by King Solomon. Solomon was the son of King David, and one of the most successful kings of Israel. The greatest reason for his success was that he faithfully served the Lord as his father David did. In 1 Kings 3, the Lord comes to Solomon in a dream. (It’s an awesome story, I recommend you go read it if you haven’t!) Long story short, in this vision, the Lord told Solomon that he could ask for anything he wanted and it would be granted to him. Many kings would ask for power, riches, or fame, but Solomon humbly asks the Lord for wisdom to faithfully govern His people. The Lord is pleased by this request, and grants him more wisdom than anyone who has ever lived or ever will live! The Proverbs are filled with his teachings on how to live a good life before God and the world, and are designed in short, compact sentences to allow God’s people to easily grasp and memorize them. They drive home truth and seek to turn sinners from their wicked ways. They were written to give “prudence to the simple, knowledge and discretion to the young” (1:4) and to make the wise wiser. (1:5) AKA, this is important stuff, sister!

So now the question is: How do I become wise?

Take a look at Proverbs 9:10:

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom…”

The fear of the Lord isn’t the scary type of fear that we might have for spiders, heights, or the dark. It is a loving reverence for God that includes submission to the fact that He is Lord of my life! I have faith in His promises to me!

Out of fear for the Lord, I seek to embody the Proverbs 31 woman in my words and actions. This Scripture lays a framework of God’s design for his female creation – the roles, priorities, responsibilities, and values of a woman, which are equal yet different from those of her husband. (We’ll dive more into that in future devotions!)

Some women shy away from Proverbs 31 because they think that this standard is impossible to live up to. However, I see it as an empowering Scripture for the women of today who want to live in God’s purpose for their lives! It encourages us to step away from the outside pressure to be a certain way. Let’s face it, today’s culture does not naturally drive us to be women of God. In fact, it tends to devalue the natural roles of women in society. But through this deep-dive of Proverbs 31, I want to affirm that the woman of “noble character” as seen in Proverbs 31 is highly valued by God – not only because she is His creation whom He gave His life for, but because her impact on her family and community creates a BIG impact on the world! 

Over the next several months, we’ll dig into each verse of Proverbs 31 to find out just how we can become women who fear the Lord in a culture that pulls us away from Him. By the end, we’ll see a fuller picture of the six characteristics of a Godly woman as seen in this passage:

• Her character is trustworthy & dedicated. She is primarily concerned with her husband's wellbeing, and he trusts her to manage the home effectively. She is an intentional steward of their resources and helps her husband to be successful in business.

• She is consistent in her devotion to her family and to her responsibilities as the homemaker. She is creative, works diligently with her hands, and maintains a positive attitude. She is an early riser so that she can meet the needs of her loved ones, while still finding time to be alone in God's presence. She has the ability to make responsible decisions and uses her skills in ministry, wherever the opportunity presents itself. She may even contribute financially, but care of her family is always her priority.

• She is generous and a good neighbor. Not only does she attend to the needs of her immediate and extended family, she responds to the needs of her community as well.

• She is a teacher and uses her influence for good. She seeks wisdom from the Lord and passes it onto her children and others. Her Godly lifestyle is a representation of God's love and commitment to His children. She has earned respect in and out of her household. She speaks with loving kindness to all.

• Her nurturing/mothering is effective & intentional. She maintains and manages the house work as well as the emotional needs of herself and others. Her husband admires and values her, and her children honor her.

• Her reward will be great in Heaven. Although she is well-groomed and fashionable, she knows that beauty has no real value. She loves and fears the Lord above all else. She embraces the special instruction from God for women, and she lives out her purpose with peace and joy.

Although Proverbs 31 is about the “wife of noble character,” this passage has purpose for all women, regardless of their relationship status. Our most important job as Christian women is to pursue our relationship with the Lord first and foremost. He will be faithful to prune us and grow us to be women after His own heart. So as a wife, seek to embody these characteristics in your home. As a mother, seek to embody them in your dealings with your children. As a single Christian woman, seek to develop these characteristics in order to live out your current vocations and be well-equipped for your life ahead. When seeking a partner, look for a man of God who runs after the Lord as fast and as hard as you do. In asking the Lord to develop these characteristics in you, He will equip you to become the woman He desires for your family and community, which is a picture of His love for all of His children.

I can’t wait to dive deeper into this Proverb with you! Be sure to stay tuned!

By writing these devotions, it is my hope that the Lord will use my words to stir your faith and inspire you to live it out wherever you may be. However, His Words are more powerful than mine ever could be.

For further reading and personal study, consider these verses: 1 Kings 3 | Proverbs 9 | Proverbs 31:10-31

For a time of worship, consider this song: With You (Paradoxology) by Elevation Worship

What are you most looking forward to in our study of Proverbs 31? Have any thoughts you’d like to share? I’d love to connect!

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