Real Woman Makeover - Day 6

Nancy Leigh DeMoss says:

"Verse 13 says, “She seeks wool and flax and willingly works with her hands.” We talked about how this woman works hard. She’s diligent. She’s industrious, and you’ll see that theme throughout the chapter. There isn’t anything lazy about her. And how she works at home—her work centers around her home, particularly in those years when she’s in the child-bearing and child-rearing years, but even beyond that as she makes a home for her family.

Then, I want to pick up on one other word in that verse. She willingly works with her hands. The New International says, “With eager hands she works.” It’s literally with delight of her hands, and this suggests—now, hold on here, because you may not believe this—that she actually enjoys her work. She does it with enjoyment. She puts her hands joyfully to work."

When I worked in the mental health field one of the most frustrating things was when a patient wouldn't take their meds consistently. When we would ask them why they went off their meds they would always say the same thing, "Well, I was feeling better so I figured I didn't need them anymore." I almost fell into this trap today with my "meds" or listening to the messages from Nancy Leigh DeMoss from Revive Our Hearts.

This past week Nancy has opened my eyes to the Lord's plan for me as a homemaker. For the first time I began to feel my load lightened and I didn't feel like a total failure. The light was dawning and I was starting to feel better when..........I decided today that I didn't need to listen to the message today. I can skip 1 day, I thought. Plus, I'm so busy today. I don't have time. But for some reason I reconsidered and decided to listen to Nancy. And of course, the end of this story is totally predictable, the message today was very important for me to here TODAY!

Nancy's message today from Proverbs 31 was about a woman's attitude toward her work. Like I said, I'm very busy today. I'm trying to clean my entire house because I have a super busy week ahead and I don't want things clean because things seem to go so much smoother with a clean house. Anyway, I am working hard today to clean up and I found that my attitude was stinking about it. And I was becoming short with my kids and husband when they "interrupted" my work. I took a break and listened to Nancy's message, "Working Joyfully", and I have a renewed spirit to finish what I set out to do this morning. Like Ms. P31 I am choosing to "work willingly with my hands" and joyfully!

Here is the version of Proverbs 31:10-31 I read today, it's from the Amplified Bible:

¹⁰A capable, intelligent, and ^a]">[a]virtuous woman--who is he who can find her? She is far more precious than jewels and her value is far above rubies or pearls.^A)">(A)

¹¹The heart of her husband trusts in her confidently and relies on and believes in her securely, so that he has no lack of [honest] gain or need of [dishonest] spoil.

¹²She comforts, encourages, and does him only good as long as there is life within her.

¹³She seeks out wool and flax and works with willing hands [to develop it].

¹⁴She is like the merchant ships loaded with foodstuffs; she brings her household's food from a far [country].

¹⁵She rises while it is yet night and gets [spiritual] food for her household and assigns her maids their tasks.^B)">(B)

¹⁶She considers a [new] field before she buys or accepts it [expanding prudently and not courting neglect of her present duties by assuming other duties]; with her savings [of time and strength] she plants fruitful vines in her vineyard. [S. of Sol. 8:12.]

¹⁷She girds herself with strength [spiritual, mental, and physical fitness for her God-given task] and makes her arms strong and firm.

¹⁸She tastes and sees that her gain from work [with and for God] is good; her lamp goes not out, but it burns on continually through the night [of trouble, privation, or sorrow, warning away fear, doubt, and distrust].

¹⁹She lays her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.

²⁰She opens her hand to the poor, yes, she reaches out her filled hands to the needy [whether in body, mind, or spirit].

²¹She fears not the snow for her family, for all her household are doubly clothed in scarlet.^C)">(C)

²²She makes for herself coverlets, cushions, and rugs of tapestry. Her clothing is of linen, pure and fine, and of purple [such as that of which the clothing of the priests and the hallowed cloths of the temple were made].^D)">(D)

²³Her husband is known in the [city's] gates, when he sits among the elders of the land.^E)">(E)

²⁴She makes fine linen garments and leads others to buy them; she delivers to the merchants girdles [or sashes that free one up for service].

²⁵Strength and dignity are her clothing and her position is strong and secure; she rejoices over the future [the latter day or time to come, knowing that she and her family are in readiness for it]!

²⁶She opens her mouth in skillful and godly Wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness [giving counsel and instruction].

²⁷She looks well to how things go in her household, and the bread of idleness (gossip, discontent, and self-pity) she will not eat.^F)">(F)

²⁸Her children rise up and call her blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied); and her husband boasts of and praises her, [saying],

²⁹^b]">[b]Many daughters have done virtuously, nobly, and well [with the strength of character that is steadfast in goodness], but you excel them all.

³⁰Charm and grace are deceptive, and beauty is vain [because it is not lasting], but a woman who reverently and worshipfully fears the Lord, she shall be praised!

³¹Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates [of the city]!^G)">(G)