The Proverbs 31 Challenge

What makes a woman of God?

Recently I have been convicted about how I am called as a young woman to serve others and the Lord.  Many verses in Scripture were written to the Christian Church as a whole.  There are also many passages in the Bible that are meant for men of God, emphasizing courage, strength, and leadership... but what about femininity?  What qualities shape a godly woman?

Proverbs 31 is nearly an entire chapter of the Bible all about being a woman of the Lord.  It's a such a source of encouragement.  Instead of simply listing a bunch of "do not's,"  this chapter is filled with examples of who we can strive to become. 

For the next few weeks, I'd like to put my other blog posts on hold and start a special series based off of Proverbs 31.  Every other day, I will share a challenge from a verse in Proverbs 31.  I will be challenging myself to live like a Proverbs 31 woman and I will be challenging you to do the same.

Tonight, I encourage you to take the time to read over Proverbs 31 on your own and become familiar with the passage.  I will be using the New Living Translation for this blog series, but please read the passage in other translations and paraphrases as well.  Consider reading Proverbs 31 in NIV, ESV, and The Message.

Take some time to pray and ask the Lord how He can teach you through this chapter of His Word and through my blog series, that He will open your heart and that He will speak through my words and my heart as well.

The Proverbs 31 Challenge will begin tomorrow.  Share your experiences with me as you undertake these challenges.  Leave a comment for everyone to see, start a thread, or email me here.  I'd love to hear your feedback, stories, and advice about this series.  If you have a friend or younger sister who you think may benefit from this challenge, send them the link to this blog.

I am so excited to see how the Lord can use this Proverbs 31 challenge to emphasize femininity, true beauty, and grace in my own personal life, as well as in the lives of some of my readers.

Proverbs 31:10-31 (NLT)

¹⁰ Who can find a virtuous and capable wife?
    She is more precious than rubies.
¹¹ Her husband can trust her,
    and she will greatly enrich his life.
¹² She brings him good, not harm,
    all the days of her life.

¹³ She finds wool and flax
    and busily spins it.
¹⁴ She is like a merchant’s ship,
    bringing her food from afar.
¹⁵ She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household
    and plan the day’s work for her servant girls.

¹⁶ She goes to inspect a field and buys it;
    with her earnings she plants a vineyard.
¹⁷ She is energetic and strong,
    a hard worker.
¹⁸ She makes sure her dealings are profitable;
    her lamp burns late into the night.

¹⁹ Her hands are busy spinning thread,
    her fingers twisting fiber.
²⁰ She extends a helping hand to the poor
    and opens her arms to the needy.
²¹ She has no fear of winter for her household,
    for everyone has warm clothes.

²² She makes her own bedspreads.
    She dresses in fine linen and purple gowns.
²³ Her husband is well known at the city gates,
    where he sits with the other civic leaders.
²⁴ She makes belted linen garments
    and sashes to sell to the merchants.

²⁵ She is clothed with strength and dignity,
    and she laughs without fear of the future.
²⁶ When she speaks, her words are wise,
    and she gives instructions with kindness.
²⁷ She carefully watches everything in her household
    and suffers nothing from laziness.

²⁸ Her children stand and bless her.
    Her husband praises her:
²⁹ “There are many virtuous and capable women in the world,
    but you surpass them all!”

³⁰ Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last;
    but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.
³¹ Reward her for all she has done.
    Let her deeds publicly declare her praise.