31: 28-29
seek from above
28. Her children rise up and call her blessed; her husband also praises her:
29. “Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.”
Several months ago I wrote a blog about how my default mode tends to be laziness. I don’t know if that will ever really change (I am definitely writing this blog from the comfort of my bed) though I believe a practical effort to make some lifestyle changes occurred within the month of September for me. I had activities planned nearly every weekend, most of which involved getting outdoors or seeking new adventures, though the days where I didn’t have fun planned were still very productive. It has been weighing on my heart to address my character flaws, particularly the profound desire to simply do nothing.
One weekend last month I took a short roadtrip to stay with a friend and her husband in their home. I don’t have many married friends, let alone many married Christian friends, so I took every opportunity to observe their interactions as a couple. I gleaned far more wisdom than I could have predicted! This woman in Proverbs 31 has a family who deeply admires her. Her husband commends her for her efforts in her day to day life. This is, once again, an absolutely incredible standard to live up to. The thought of one day being married to someone who genuinely believes that I am set apart from all women felt, up until recently, like a very lofty idea.
While I was spending time with this young couple, they discussed the origin of their relationship and the catalytic events that led to my friend’s husband choosing to pursue her. Much like our Proverbs 31 woman’s husband, he said that something about my friend stood out. He had been in the company of other women who were wonderful, but with her it felt different. I found this not only to be very sweet, but a clear demonstration of the foundations of biblical marriage- he saw the Holy Spirit at work in her. On the drive back home I thought a lot about this couple, their love story, and their shared faith. Their faith bound them together, and this desire to put God at the center of their relationship led to their marriage.
This opportunity was very enlightening. What am I doing in my life to demonstrate that my faith is the guiding force throughout my life? It isn’t the cross pendant I wear around my neck, nor my presence in the pew each Sunday, and it’s certainly not singing worship in the car on the way to work. Those are, admittedly, all signs that I have faith, but how am I living out the gospel and imitating Christ tangibly? As the month progressed I spent more time reflecting on this, and this introspection resulted in a very distinct change in behavior. I woke up early to spend time in the word each day. I gave generously, more so and in more ways than I ever have- time, effort, and even monetarily. I started thinking more about my life and my relationship with the Lord, and I lifted prayers up to Him about my struggles and how I want to overcome them with Him.
Our Proverbs 31 woman is not perfect- she is a flawed sinner like the rest of us. But she is a hardworking wife and mother, and beyond that she is God-fearing. The best way to be like her is to put Him first in all things; my relationships, my lifestyle, and my attitude.