Real Woman Makeover-Day 5

As you may have read in my blogs this week I am learning so much from Nancy Leigh DeMoss about what the Bible has to say about being a godly woman, wife and mother I can hardly process it all! She has a set of "30 Day Challenges" on her website for her ministry, Revive Our Hearts. I'm currently taking the 30 Day True Woman Makeover and it is AWESOME! I get an email in my inbox everyday that leads me to a page on the Revive Our Hearts website where I can listen (or read) a message from Nancy on a section of Proverbs 31. She has some incredible insights and is definitely challenging me to see my role as a homemaker in a new way. I'm seeing being a SAHM in a way that seems much closer to God's thoughts on it than some of they ways I have thought about it in the past. I feel renewed, encouraged and more at peace. This week I have prioritized my tasks better and also felt much closer to God as I go about my day.

Here is one of the highlights from Nancy's message today that really spoke to me:

"I don’t like it when I hear people say to a woman, “Do you work?” Now, I know what they probably mean is, “Do you have a job that pays you a paycheck outside of your home?” But the fact is any woman who is a godly woman, a wife and a mother, works. And a godly woman works hard. Here is a woman who takes initiative to meet the practical needs of her husband and her children. She is a hard worker. She’s diligent.

That comes out throughout this passage. Verse 15 talks about her getting up while it’s still dark outside. Verse 18 talks to us about how she stays up late at night. She’s working in the evenings. Verse 27 says she does not eat the bread of idleness. She is a diligent woman. I saw recently a definition of diligence that I thought was helpful. Diligence is viewing each task as a special assignment from the Lord and using all my energies to accomplish it."

I love that definition of diligence! One of the biggest changes I have experienced this week is due to Nancy's insights I have been seeing every task I do as for God instead of for me or for my family. Every job I do, from cleaning the bathroom to folding laundry to dishes is pleasing to God and for Him. When I take care of my family and my home I am pleasing my Lord. It's such a different way to look at it! I have found that seeing my daily chores as for God instead of for me has given me that extra "oomph" I needed to finish things that are especially hard for me to do (dishes, toilets!). This new focus of serving God with my homemaking my home is cleaner than it's been in a long time! It's not perfect, I'm currently looking at a carpet that desperately needs to be vacuumed but it's much better.

My husband doesn't know about this "30-Day Challenge" I'm taking but he actually said to me this week how much he appreciates the efforts I've been making to keep things more organized and clean. I also cooked every meal at home this week and he said he greatly appreciates that! One of the ways I need to take care of my husband is with his stomach. Take out food makes him very sick if we eat it too often. He can handle restaurant food maybe 3 times a month and we've been doing it more like 6-7 times and he has not been feeling well. I confessed to God that I have been putting my needs first in the area of cooking and will make a renewed effort to cut the eating out way down so my poor husband won't get sick. It's hard to admit how selfish I've been in this area but that's how I improve by seeing my failures and making changes with God's help! Yea God!

Here is the version of Proverbs 31:10-31 I read today, it's from the New King James:

¹⁰ Who^a]">[a] can find a virtuous^b]">[b] wife?
For her worth is far above rubies.
¹¹ The heart of her husband safely trusts her;
So he will have no lack of gain.
¹² She does him good and not evil
All the days of her life.
¹³ She seeks wool and flax,
And willingly works with her hands.
¹⁴ She is like the merchant ships,
She brings her food from afar.
¹⁵ She also rises while it is yet night,
And provides food for her household,
And a portion for her maidservants.
¹⁶ She considers a field and buys it;
From her profits she plants a vineyard.
¹⁷ She girds herself with strength,
And strengthens her arms.
¹⁸ She perceives that her merchandise is good,
And her lamp does not go out by night.
¹⁹ She stretches out her hands to the distaff,
And her hand holds the spindle.
²⁰ She extends her hand to the poor,
Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy.
²¹ She is not afraid of snow for her household,
For all her household is clothed with scarlet.
²² She makes tapestry for herself;
Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
²³ Her husband is known in the gates,
When he sits among the elders of the land.
²⁴ She makes linen garments and sells them,
And supplies sashes for the merchants.
²⁵ Strength and honor are her clothing;
She shall rejoice in time to come.
²⁶ She opens her mouth with wisdom,
And on her tongue is the law of kindness.
²⁷ She watches over the ways of her household,
And does not eat the bread of idleness.
²⁸ Her children rise up and call her blessed;
Her husband also, and he praises her:
²⁹ “ Many daughters have done well,
But you excel them all.”
³⁰ Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing,
But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.
³¹ Give her of the fruit of her hands,
And let her own works praise her in the gates.