This Proverbs 31 Woman is something else, isn't she? How can it be that this portion of scripture is for we women NOW in the 21st Century. Everything in the Word of God is there for us until we come face to face with God the Father and Jesus the Son.

Let's take another look into the life of Moses on his journey.

Moses lived 40 years in Pharaoh's Kingdom as an adopted son being groomed to be the next Pharaoh. The next 40 years he was in the desert being groomed to lead the Israelites out of bondage into the Promise Land.

Something had to get Moses' attention in order for him to move on in this journey. Even though he was educated and raised as an Egyptian, he was still an Israelite. He became very upset when his birth people were mistreated. Anger overtook him and his "human nature" took over. Moses was now a murderer! He is now on the run and moved away from Egypt to Midian. God knew where Moses was, Moses just didn't know where God was at this time UNTIL The Burning Bush!!! Moses was now hearing from God and the plan was laid out for him. We are usually thrilled to hear from God, but Moses was NOT! He tried to get out of the Plan, but God assured him He would lead, direct & guide.

Just because circumstances look bleak-don't give up on God and His plan for your life. Faithfulness and Obedience were the keys in Moses becoming a Man of God. Faithfulness and Obedience or (the Fear of God and Wisdom) were the key in the Proverbs 31 woman's life.



J.I. Packer has so beautifully explained what the Purpose of Grace is for us:

Not by shielding us by assaults from the world, the flesh, and the devil,nor by protecting us from burdensome and frustrating circumstances, nor yet by shielding us from troubles created by our own temperament and psychology; but rather by exposing us to all these things, so as to overwhelm us with a sense of our inadequacy, and to drive us to cling to Him more closely.

Ask yourself today ARE YOU MAKING EXCUSES to God? Can you hear His voice? Are you willing to go forward on this journey of life as a 21st Century Woman of God?

A B C -JOURNEY TO BECOMING A 21ST CENTURY WOMAN OF GOD

1. ACCEPT CHRIST INTO YOUR HEART.
a. Ask Him to forgive your sins
b. Accept His forgiveness

2. BEGIN TO PRAY FOR YOUR OBSTACLES.
a. Husband
b. X-husband
c. Children
d. Loss
e. Those who have hurt/harmed/abused you.

3. CONTINUE TO STOP THE BLAME GAME.
a. Move on
b. Don’t look back.
c. Accept who you are and how special you are to God.

Proverbs 3:13 “BLESSED IS THE WOMAN WHO FINDS WISDOM, THE WOMAN WHO GAINS UNDERSTANDING.”

Ecclesiastes 2:26 “TO THE WOMAN WHO PLEASES HIM, GOD GIVES WISDOM…”

Isaiah 33:6 “HE WILL BE THE SURE FOUNDATION FOR YOUR TIMES, A RICH STORE OF SALVATION AND WISDOM AND KNOWLEDGE; THE FEAR OF THE LORD IS THE KEY TO THIS TREASURE.”

2 Peter 1:2,3 “GRACE & PEACE BE YOURS IN ABUNDANCE THROUGH THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD AND OF JESUS OUR LORD. HIS DIVINE POWER HAS GIVEN US EVERYTHING WE NEED FOR LIFE AND GODLINESS THROUGH OUR KNOWLEDGE OF HIM WHO CALLED US BY HIS OWN GLORY AND GOODNESS.”

Ephesians 3:17b-19 “I PRAY THAT YOU, BEING ROOTED AND ESTABLISHED IN LOVE, MAY HAVE POWER, TOGETHER WITH ALL THE SAINTS, TO GRASP HOW WIDE AND LONG AND HIGH AND DEEP IS THE LOVE OF CHRIST, AND TO KNOW THIS LOVE THAT SURPASSES KNOWLEDGE-THAT YOU MAY BE FILLED TO THE MEASURE OF ALL THE FULNESS OF GOD.”

As we continue studying about the life of Moses - a MAN OF GOD- who like us was not perfect, we can apply what Moses learned to our own lives. As we become OBEDIENT to the WORD OF GOD, we will find we CAN become a 21st Century Woman of God.

A dear friend of mine who is an author sent me a description of THE PROVERBS 31 WOMAN. Little did we know that we both were receiving a message for the women in this 21st Century. Following is her document.

THE PROVERBS 31 WOMAN

We all know, because we have been repeatedly told, that no woman can measure up to this model. I do not believe God had this chapter penned to intimidate women. As I reread this last chapter of Proverbs, I can say, “Yes, I have done this, and yes I do that….” Likely, as a Christian woman, you can join me—no matter your age or stature: Either you are already doing many of the things this woman has done, or you aspire to do them.

Let’s examine.

Beginning with the listings of virtues in verse 11, I can say that my husband can safely trust in me, and as The Living Bible says, I “…richly satisfy his needs.” And, how do I do that?? Well, my husband is my partner and is cared for spirit, soul, and body. I lift his spirit when he is depressed; I know when he needs encouragement. Sometimes his soul needs a soft touch because of disappointments or hurts. That’s when I, through the years, have burned the midnight oil and fought in prayer for him.

This great lady does the same as she “looks well to the ways of her household and is not idle” (v.27). I have always been a willing worker. If something needed to be done, and it was in my power, I would do it. Although I never liked to work outside the home, in lean times, I pulled up my sleeves and went to work.

The Scriptures did not say this busy woman always felt like taking care of her family, buying groceries, preparing meals night and day, working in her garden, sewing, selling her wares, giving to the poor or taking time to give wise counsel. It does say her children called her “blessed.” And, with her support, her husband became an official in her city.

No doubt, you are now seeing yourself in this portrait of the Proverbs 31 woman. If not, take daily inventory. You will be surprised and never intimidated again!

Scripture Meditations: Proverbs 31

A weekly Devotional by Evelyn Mills – 03-14-11

I -BECOMING THE WOMAN GOD INTENDED ME TO BE

INTRODUCTION

WEEK 1 - INTRODUCTION & PROVERBS 31 WOMAN
1. How do you define the Ideal Women – Write down 4 essentials you think the ideal woman possess.
2. Scriptures to look up: Proverbs 16:9, I Samuel 16:7,
3. Answer these questions:
a. Are you in the process today of becoming the person you want to be tomorrow?
b. Do you desire to become a virtuous woman?
c. Are you intimidated with the Proverbs 31 suggested woman of God?
d. Proverbs 31:30 says: “…a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” What does it mean to “FEAR THE LORD”?

WEEK 2 – LEGACY & COVENANT
WEEK 3- Exodus 1:8-22, 3:7-10, 3:16-17,
a. Was Moses’ life planned from the start?
b. What events led up to him leading God’s people.: taken out of his home & placed in a strange place, separation from family, adoption, rejection, homeless, hid away with strangers, ALL IN GOD’S PLAN. Even when chosen to lead God’s people, things went wrong. Moses kept going, trusting & moving.



GOD’S WORD IS OUR ONLY STANDARD OF TRUTH. HE FEARFULLY AND WONDERFULLY CREATED EACH ONE OF US, AND ONLY HIS WORD CAN EQUIP US WITH TRUE IDENTITY, ONE THAT BRINGS A GODLY CONFIDENCE, SECURITY, SATISFACTION AND GENUINE SUCCESS.

IF I WAKE UP EVERY DAY, LOOKING FORWARD TO THE DAY, INSTEAD OF DREADING IT, I WILL BE A BLESSED WOMAN. IS THIS POSSIBLE AFTER ALL THAT HAS TRANSPIRED IN MY LIFE UP TO NOW???

OVER THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, IF WE CAN TAKE 2 STEPS FORWARD AND 1 BACKWARD WE WILL HAVE ACHIEVED THE GOAL.

I WANT TO PASS OUT A COVENANT FOR EACH OF US TO REVIEW AND KEEP AT HAND AS A REMINDER OF WHERE YOU HAVE BEEN, WHERE YOU ARE, AND WHERE YOU WANT TO BE.

FOR THE FIRST LESSON I AM GOING TO ASK EACH OF YOU TO CONSIDER YOUR MISSION STATEMENT.! I SERIOUSLY WANT EACH ONE OF US TO REFLECT, REJECT & REGROUP.

MOSES – EXODUS 2,3,4 --------------------THE BEGINNING JOURNEY TO BECOME A GREAT MAN OF GOD.
CHAPTERS 2 –3:10

1. Life threatened at birth.
2. Adopted as a babe.
3. Raised in a heathen home
4. He became angry & hot tempered & sinned (murder)
5. Rejection
6. He was born a Hebrew, raised by Egyptian. Looked like an Egyptian, educated in Egyptian schools by the king’s family.
7. He knew he was a Hebrew, but everyone knew him as an Egyptian.
8. He fled to a foreign desert land and stayed 40 years. (grooming years)
9. Married and worked for his father-in-law – manual labor
10. God did a further work in Moses’ life while in the desert.
11. Moses was attentive to God’s voice.
12. God’s people continuing crying out to God while slaves to Egyptians. 2:23
13. God heard their cry and was preparing THE MAN to lead them out of bondage.2:24
14. Meanwhile back in the desert, Moses saw a burning bush. 3:2
15. Angel of the Lord appeared and Moses knew it was God. 3:6
16. God told Moses to rescue his people – 3:10
17. Moses doubted his purpose, God told him he would be with him. 3:12
18. Moses was fearful, who shall I tell them that I am? 3:13
19. Tell the “I am that I am” 3:14

THERE ARE SEASONS ON THIS JOURNEY OF MOSES & OF YOURS.
1. BIRTH
2. GROWING UP
3. DECISIONS FOR FUTURE
4. SETTLED INTO WHAT YOU HAVE REAPED
5. THE CALL & PURPOSE
6. CHOICES IN DISCOURAGING TIMES
7. DO YOU GO ON AND KEEP GOING AS MOSES DID?

MOSES WENT FROM BEING HIDDEN IN THE NILE, TO THE PALACE TO SOLITUDE IN THE DESERT.

NEXT WEEK – CHAPTERS 3:10 – 4

BECOMING A 21ST CENTURY GODLY WOMAN:

We will begin a 6 week study on BECOMING A 21ST CENTURY WOMAN OF GOD.

In order to understand this journey we are going to study the Life of Moses starting from birth up to the Red Sea Journey. In becoming a MAN OF GOD, Moses had: OBSTACLES, SETBACKS & DISCOURAGEMENT. Sound familiar? Along with the life of Moses we are going to Proverbs 31 to study the Proverbs 31 woman.

Questions to ask yourself about your OBSTACLES & SETBACKS:
1. Can you change them?
2. Can you face them positively?
3. Are you facing them with God as your source?
4. Have they affected your outlook on God, Yourself & Others?

God's word is our only standard of truth. He fearfully and wonderfully created each one of us. Only His word can equip us with true identity, one that brings a Godly confidence, security, satisfaction and genuine success.

If I wake up every day, looking forward to the day, instead of dreading it, I will be a BLESSED WOMAN. Is this possible after all that has transpired in my life.

Over the next few weeks if we can take 2 steps forward and 1 back we will achieve the goal set before us in becoming a Godly woman.

There is a COVENANT for each of us to review and keep at hand as a reminder of WHERE YOU HAVE BEEN, WHERE YOU ARE, AND WHERE YOU WANT TO BE.

1. I WILL BE A PERSON OF INTEGRITY - 2 Timothy 2:15
2. I WILL PURSUE CONSISTENT SPIRITUAL GROWTH - Colossians 2:6,7
3. I WILL SPEAK AND LIVE A RELEVANT, AUTHENTIC AND CONSISTENT WITNESS - I Peter 3:15
4. I WILL SEEK OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE IN CHRIST'S NAME. - Luke 4:18,19
5. I WILL HONOR MY BODY AS THE TEMPLE OF GOD - I Corinthians 6:19-20
6. I WILL BE GODLY IN ALL THINGS, CHRISTLIKE IN ALL RELATIONSHIPS - Colossians 3:12-14
Virtuous Reality by Vicki Courtney

Read Exodus chapters 2,3 & 4 Also read Proverbs 31

Dear Father:

As I seek to become more like you, may my heart be open to your Holy Spirit for teaching, instruction & council. As I open YOUR WORD to study show me Your Ways, Your Thoughts and Your Plan for my life.

In Jesus Name Amen