Real Woman Makeover-Day 4

Today Nancy Leigh DeMoss says:

"It doesn’t say she does him good and not evil as long as he does her good—as long as he’s kind to her, as long as he remembers her birthdays and anniversaries, as long as he meets her needs. She does him good and not evil all the days of her life. Why? Because she’s a covenant-keeping woman."

One of the biggest things that I have been learning while listening to this series at Revive Our Hearts is that doing what's right in in my relationship with my husband and kids or in my job as a homemaker is to honor God and obey Him. My doing what's right is not conditional on what my husband or kids do or more importantly how I feel. What's right is right and deep down I know when I'm "off-track" and being lazy or doing things only to make myself feel good. I have become very good at ignoring that feeling in my stomach I get when I choose to do what I want to do instead of what needs to be done to keep this family up and running as efficiently as I can.

I have a bucket of excuses I pull out in order to quiet that voice that tells me I should be doing something else during my day. Here are some of my favorites, "I'm too tired. I'm still recovering from having Baby Girl (she's 2 1/2!). I need more 'me' time. Taking care of me takes care of my family because I'll be more energized to care for them." And the MOTHER of all excuses......"I have PMS." I have to see these for what they are, EXCUSES but not good ones. There are women out there who could say, "Well, I'm going to let the laundry go for another day because I had my chemo treatment yesterday." And they DON'T! How can I, a healthy, happy woman have any excuses for not doing what's right in my home????? No more excuses they are a damaging force in my life and in my home.

Then is the voice of discouragement I hear that sometimes holds me back, "I will never be able to get on top of all this stuff. I'm so far behind what's the point? Nobody is here to help me. I'm all alone. I'm a terrible homemaker. It doesn't really matter what I do. My work is not important." Any one of these discouragements can flatten me for an entire day or longer. These thoughts can't be from our loving Heavenly Father who wants what's best for me so where are they from? Yep, the enemy, my own flesh and/or the world and therefore empty and useless.

Since these thoughts and excuses are valueless in my life and I have made a decision to put these excuses and discouragements into a mental box and give them to the Lord. They keep me in the same place instead of moving me forward to be the wife and mother I want to be. The wife and mother my God can give me strength and ability to be. It's all about Him, I have to hit my knees daily to banish these thoughts and some of the bad habits I've gotten into. It won't happen all at once, little changes everyday will help me build up better habits. And I can't do this in my own strength. I will lean on God for the energy and the leading to transform me into a P31 woman. Not perfect but on the right path to being a blessing to my family and a covenant keeping woman. Amen.

Here is the New American Standard version of Proverbs 31:10-31 I read today:

¹⁰An excellent wife, who can find?
For her worth is far above jewels.
¹¹The heart of her husband trusts in her,
And he will have no lack of gain.
¹²She does him good and not evil
All the days of her life.
¹³She looks for wool and flax
And works with her hands in delight.
¹⁴She is like merchant ships;
She brings her food from afar.
¹⁵She rises also while it is still night
And gives food to her household
And portions to her maidens.
¹⁶She considers a field and buys it;
From her earnings she plants a vineyard.
¹⁷She girds herself with strength
And makes her arms strong.
¹⁸She senses that her gain is good;
Her lamp does not go out at night.
¹⁹She stretches out her hands to the distaff,
And her hands grasp the spindle.
²⁰She extends her hand to the poor,
And she stretches out her hands to the needy.
²¹She is not afraid of the snow for her household,
For all her household are clothed with scarlet.
²²She makes coverings for herself;
Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
²³Her husband is known in the gates,
When he sits among the elders of the land.
²⁴She makes linen garments and sells them,
And supplies belts to the tradesmen.
²⁵Strength and dignity are her clothing,
And she smiles at the future.
²⁶She opens her mouth in wisdom,
And the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
²⁷She looks well to the ways of her household,
And does not eat the bread of idleness.
²⁸Her children rise up and bless her;
Her husband also, and he praises her, saying:
²⁹"Many daughters have done nobly,
But you excel them all."
³⁰Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain,
But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.
³¹Give her the product of her hands,
And let her works praise her in the gates