02.13.07
Week One
I hope you have all received your books and are ready to go!
Below you will find this week’s lesson. You might print the lesson out to have on hand during your reading. Please share your responses on this blog by next Wednesday, Feb. 21st. I would encourage each of you to post your own answers and then comment on at least one other person’s post. My hope is that through this study, we can come along side each other and encourage one another as we strive to be more like the Proverbs 31 woman! Remember to bathe your study in prayer, relying on God to give you understanding and wisdom in applying His Word.
Here are this week’s lesson:
1. Read Chapter 1 – “A Rare Treasure; Her Character”
How did this chapter encourage you?
What did you find challenging?
2. Read through Proverbs 31:10-31.
List the traits mentioned in these verses:
Which is your favorite verse? Why?
Which verse is most challenging to you? Why?
3. The word “virtuous” is used only four times in the Bible to describe a woman. Look up the following verses and note why each woman merits this description.
Ruth 3:11 -
Proverbs 12:4 -
Proverbs 31:10 -
Proverbs 31:29 -
Bonus: Do a word study on “virtuous” (or worthy, noble, excellent – whatever word your Bible uses in the verses above). Look it up in the dictionary and find other passages in the Scriptures that describe what it means to be virtuous.
4. A powerful mind – Think about your life. When do you need power of mind to endure and follow through?
What can you do today to strengthen yourself in this area?
5. A powerful body – Think about your body. When do you need power of body to endure and follow through?
What can you do today to strengthen yourself in this area?
6. List four or five desires you would like to realize by the end of your life (you don’t have to share all of them if you choose not to).
What can you do in at least one of those areas of desire…
Today?
This week?
7. What steps can you take today to ensure you time for each of these areas:
Time reading God’s Word -
Time with other godly women -
Time reading biographies -
Tanya said,
February 19, 2007 at 6:38 pm
1. Read Chapter 1 – “A Rare Treasure; Her Character”
How did this chapter encourage you?
I was encouraged to know that, though I see many areas I need to work on in my life to become more like the woman in Proverbs 31, God does not require more from me than He enables me to do. It was encouraging to know that this chapter in Proverbs was not written about someone’s “idea” of what an ideal woman is, but was based on an actual woman. It was encouraging to know that becoming the ideal woman is not something to expect of myself overnight, but that it takes time. It was encouraging to think that Christ has promised to complete the work He has started in me (Phil. 1:6) and so I was encouraged again to view the circumstances of my life as His tools to make me into a woman that is beautiful in His sight.
What did you find challenging?
A lot of things! A big thing was that while this woman is busy doing so many things, it is obvious that her heart and attitude are in the right place. I can be a person who gets a lot done, but I cannot say that in the doing of my busyness that my heart is always looking out for others, that my attitude is always kind, that I am always compassionate. So, I would say that I’m challenged to look at the heart of the matter – to look at my heart.
2. Read through Proverbs 31:10-31.
List the traits mentioned in these verses:
Virtuous
Worth far more than rubies
Trustworthy
Does good and not evil
Willingly works hard with her hands
Rises early
Thrifty
Strong
Generous and compassionate
Prepared
Talented
Honorable
Busy doing things for others!
Wise
Kind
Fears the Lord
Which is your favorite verse? Why?
Verses 10 and 11 stand out for me. This seems to encompass a lot of what the virtuous wife is about. Her worth is far above rubies. And I think of a man who has a lot of rubies and is really wealthy but he can’t trust his wife. She’s unkind and foolish. She looks out only for her own interests and doesn’t want to work. She’s lazy and sleeps a lot so that things go undone. The house is in chaos because she’s not in charge but is busy complaining and bothering her husband. And I a man whose wife is a burden, whose wife is weak; a man who not be able to praise his wife. This doesn’t only apply to wives, obviously. We all impact people to one extent or another and we can either be a burden to them or not. God is so good to give us a blue print to go off of to be the women He would have us be! A print that we can look at and apply specific things to our own lives.
Which verse is most challenging to you? Why?
Verse 26 is convicting for me. My speech is something that I need to watch more, especially regarding kindness. I can tend to be very sarcastic. An attitude of kindness is something that needs to be developed in my life, especially in the face of opposition or unkindness.
3. The word “virtuous” is used only four times in the Bible to describe a woman. Look up the following verses and note why each woman merits this description.
Ruth 3:11 – Ruth was a hard worker, she was concerned for others and worked hard to help her mother-in-law, she did not “run after the young men”
Proverbs 12:4 – she is like a crown to her husband because she doesn’t cause him shame
Proverbs 31:10 – Her worth is far above rubies
Proverbs 31:29 – Her children call her blessed and her husband also praises her
4. A powerful mind – Think about your life. When do you need power of mind to endure and follow through?
I need power of mind in memorizing Scripture and in taking my thoughts captive. I have seen so much lately how my thoughts can just run down dangerous paths that end up affecting my actions and attitudes. I need to, by the grace of God, take those thoughts captive and turn them to things honoring Him before they get so out of hand. This ties into memorizing Scripture. If my mind is occupied with His Word more, I would not be thinking my own foolishness as much.
What can you do today to strengthen yourself in this area?
Start memorizing Scripture! Confess my wayward thoughts and ask for His help in directing my thoughts onto those things which are noble, virtuous, true, just, lovely… (Phil 4:8)
5. A powerful body – Think about your body. When do you need power of body to endure and follow through?
I think right away of getting up early enough in the morning to have my quiet time in the Word and in prayer. I struggle SO MUCH some mornings with this one. I enjoy the time that I have in the mornings when I do get up early, but every morning is a struggle as I lay in bed right after the alarm clock goes off.
What can you do today to strengthen yourself in this area?
I need to be more consistent about getting to bed earlier to make the morning easy. I need to commit myself to prayer more, relying on the Lord to give me the strength to get up! I just need to stop being lazy and start getting up every morning.
6. List four or five desires you would like to realize by the end of your life (you don’t have to share all of them if you choose not to).
I want to be a woman of kindness – kind words and kind deeds.
I want to have redeemed the time the Lord gave me, doing what HE would have of me.
I want to rely evermore on God for and in EVERYTHING
What can you do in at least one of those areas of desire…
Today?
Do a word search on kindness in the Bible
Prepare to be able to get up early tomorrow morning so that I have that precious time at the start of the day to seek the Lord and what He would have of me for the day
Start ending my days with a time of prayer, thanking God for the day and answered prayers during it, confessing the sin for day, and praying for the morning to come
This week?
Start memorizing one of those verses on kindness so that it is in my mind when I am tempted to be unkind
Start beginning and ending each day with prayer, acknowledging my great need for God’s power to be able to do even the smallest things pleasing to Him
7. What steps can you take today to ensure you time for each of these areas:
Time reading God’s Word – Get up early in the morning and have it be the first thing I do – if I wait until later in the day, so many other things tend to crowd it out and I am much more distracted by the day’s events
Time with other godly women – I would like to meet with an older woman on a regular basis again, and will commit this matter to prayer.
Time reading biographies – Finish the books I am currently reading so that I can start one! Have any of you read biographies that you found particularly encouraging? While it is not quite a biography, I would highly recommend “Stepping Heavenward” by Elizabeth Prentiss. This book was a huge encouragement to me as well as very challenging.
Sammi said,
February 20, 2007 at 3:01 pm
How did this chapter encourage you?
This chapter encouraged me by helping me realize that the virtuous women can be me, that I, by God’s grace can too be virtuous. I have never even come close to thinking I could be like her, the “proverbs 31 women” although it encouraged me, it always overwhelmed me. It was encouraging to read that what I need to realize is that she was not a virtuous women over night, it took time.
What did you find challenging?
What will be challenging for me is by God’s grace remembering that this is going to take time. Just because I don’t wake up in the morning or even in a month and “ta-da”, I’m beautiful in the Lord’s eyes, the Lord will finish what he started in me, He will and is changing me as I put my trust in Him.
2. Read through Proverbs 31:10-31.
List the traits mentioned in these verses:
Purity, honesty, strength, handles money and responsibility wisely, kindness, wisdom, holiness, hard worker, patience, considerate
Which is your favorite verse? Why? (v.25) “Strength and honor are her clothing; she shall rejoice in time to come” It shows that she puts her trust in the Lord, she fears Him and calls on Him for strength.
Which verse is most challenging to you? Why?
(V.26) “She opens her mouth with wisdom, And on her tongue is the law of kindness.” I deeply desire to always speak with godly wisdom and kindness. I am struggling with my attitude right now and it flows right out of my mouth. I am praying for the Lord to change that in me, so that every word out of my mouth glorifies Him.
I only get one?
3. The word “virtuous” is used only four times in the Bible to describe a woman. Look up the following verses and note why each woman merits this description.
Ruth 3:11 -she is loyal
Proverbs 12:4 -she is a crown to her husband
Proverbs 31:10 -she has great worth, more than rubies
Proverbs 31:29 -she exceeds the efforts of those who have done well
Bonus: Do a word study on “virtuous” (or worthy, noble, excellent – whatever word your Bible uses in the verses above). Look it up in the dictionary and find other passages in the Scriptures that describe what it means to be virtuous.
4. A powerful mind – Think about your life. When do you need power of mind to endure and follow through?
I need power of mind on a moment to moment bases. Having been sick and having to rest 99% of the time, my mind tends to wonder easily or dwell on my situation. Then my attitude is not glorifying the Lord, I am not praising Him for the many blessings He gives, and that’s not my goal or my desire.
What can you do today to strengthen yourself in this area?
Having verses that I am memorizing laying by me on my bed. So as soon as that starts, by God’s grace, take that thought captive and focus and meditate on scripture.
5. A powerful body – Think about your body. When do you need power of body to endure and follow through?
Oh my,I need power of body to get out of bed. This is a huge need for me since I need every ounce of strength and energy to do even the smallest things. Right now my priorities are time in the word, hearing it, studying it, memorizing it, and reading it. I also have household chores to do and both are often a struggle physically.
What can you do today to strengthen yourself in this area?
Go to water aerobics when possible for strength of my muscles and pray continually for the Lord to give me strength and energy to endure my day.
6. List four or five desires you would like to realize by the end of your life (you don’t have to share all of them if you choose not to).
1)I want to speak with wisdom and kindness always.
2)Think and love of others more than myself.
3)To react to every situation whether good or bad with grace and a quiet and gentle spirit.
What can you do in at least one of those areas of desire…
Today?
Pray for the Lord to search my heart and change me in these areas.
This week?
Look up a verse that deals with one of those subjects and memorize it. I will start with selfishness.
7. What steps can you take today to ensure you time for each of these areas:
Time reading God’s Word – every day right after I take my first meds of the day get in God’s word before my pain pills make me “loopy.” (loopier!)
Time with other godly women -Make sure my heart and eyes are open to opportunities the Lord gives in His timing, and take them.
Time reading biographies – I had bought a biography about Amy Carmichael through the encouraging of an older godly women, but have not read it yet. My goal is to begin reading it.
I am so encouraged by this study and thankful that the Lord has placed it within our lives. I pray that the Lord will make us women that are beautiful in His eyes!
Tanya,
After doing my study, I read yours and am encouraged by the attitude the Lord has given you. It looks like we both struggle without the way we speak. I will be praying for you( and myself) that the Lord will give you grace to speak in a manner that would be pleasing to Him. Have a great week growing in the knowledge of our Lord!
Vanessa said,
February 20, 2007 at 9:15 pm
1. Read Chapter 1 – “A Rare Treasure; Her Character”
How did this chapter encourage you?
I was really encouraged by the reminder that God’s idea of beauty might be very different from our own and am so excited for Him to grow me in understanding His vision of beauty. I was also very encouraged by the reminder that this takes time-which is both hard and good-I am so thankful that God grows us at a pace and gives us strength and always holds us up.
What did you find challenging?
The how-to about spending time with other women. This was so much easier at home, but I need to be pursuing friendships with godly women here and also actively maintaining friendships from home.
2. Read through Proverbs 31:10-31.
List the traits mentioned in these verses:
Trustworthy
A blessing to her husband
Hard worker-willingly
Rises early
Cooks well
compassionate
industrious
strong
works into the night
makes clothing
well dressed
dressed in strength and honor
Rejoices in the future
wise
kind
not idle
blessed
fears the Lord
Which is your favorite verse? Why?
Verse 30- I love that this is the greatest attribute of her beauty-that she fears the Lord.
Which verse is most challenging to you? Why?
Verse 26- Sometimes I can be so hasty in my words and thoughtless
3. The word “virtuous” is used only four times in the Bible to describe a woman. Look up the following verses and note why each woman merits this description.
Ruth 3:11 – Her selfless love for those around her, her desire to serve, and her patience in all circumstances, her kindness, purity and humility
Proverbs 12:4 -she causes her husband honor rather than shame
Proverbs 31:10 -she is devoted to her husband and family and takes car of her household
Proverbs 31:29 -She fears the Lord
4. A powerful mind – Think about your life. When do you need power of mind to endure and follow through?
I need power of mind in serving and loving others and looking for how i can contribute, and also knowing when to speak and when to listen. I need to take what I learn and see in my Quiet time and apply it to my life.
What can you do today to strengthen yourself in this area?
I can be more deliberate in my thoughts and words to care for others and exalt God. I also need to not be so apathetic and unthoughtful in what i do and how I spend my time. I can study proverbs more and learn to walk in wisdom (and speak with wisdom).
5. A powerful body – Think about your body. When do you need power of body to endure and follow through?
I really liked what Tanya said about waking up early-I have the exact same problem sometimes and I have a tendency to not do things because I’m comfortable with where I’m at and don’t want to do the work-even when it’s a two minute job!
What can you do today to strengthen yourself in this area?
I need to go to bed earlier and remember to value these things as beautiful-as God values these things. And I need to be motivated that I can do all things to honor Him and with the strength He gives.
6. List four or five desires you would like to realize by the end of your life (you don’t have to share all of them if you choose not to).
*I want to have a servant’s heart-loving others more than myself and being zealous to serve and encourage them
*I want to share God’s grace in my life and exalt Him in everything
*I want to walk in wisdom and speak words that are loving and honest
*I want to be fruitful in my service to God
What can you do in at least one of those areas of desire…
Today?I can be praying and seeking ways to serve and exalt God in the life of others
This week?Continually praying about this and making an active effort and a thoughtful effort to help others
7. What steps can you take today to ensure you time for each of these areas:
Time reading God’s Word -Going to bed earlier so that i can spend quality and alert time absorbed in God’s word.
Time with other godly women -Reach out to the godly women here and pursue friendships with them-and trying to meet with them on a regular basis
Time reading biographies -Set aside time on the weekends to read biographies of godly women and men.
One book-that is very encouraging-though it’s not entirely a biography is Elizabeth Elliot’s Passion and Purity-this is especially encouraging to single women-though I’m sure it would be an encouragement for married women as well.
Tanya said,
February 21, 2007 at 12:22 am
Sammi,
Thanks for your encouragement. I, too, will be praying for you regarding the tongue. I have seen so much lately how I can do NOTHING apart from Christ and must be relying on Him in all things. As soon as I try to do anything without acknowledging Him, my efforts are futile and it shows. This is particularly true regarding my speech and attitude, especially with things aren’t going the way I would like.
Vanessa,
I really liked how you pointed out the encouragement that it is knowing that God has a different standard on beauty than the world. This is ecnouraging as we look around us and see so much importance placed on how a person looks. Funny, looks aren’t really mentioned in Proverbs 31, huh? It’s convicting at the same time, too, as I think about how concerned I can be with how I look and what I wear – am I always as concerned with what my heart looks like? Am I always so concerned with having that gentle and quiet spirit so precious in His sight? Wow – humbled again. Thanks for sharing!
melfindlay said,
February 22, 2007 at 10:32 pm
Tanya,
I apologize for this being so late. It has been crazy with classes and projects and such.
1. Read Chapter 1 – “A Rare Treasure; Her Character”
How did this chapter encourage you? I like how she expresses many times how it is on the inside that women are beautiful and that we will always be so in God’s eyes. Then the author goes on to describe the elements in the picture of beauty, yet at the same time it encouraged me in several areas of my life that I need to work on. Then there is the army of virtues! The word ‘army’ always catches my attention. I was able to look at the section in a couple different ways and see how to apply the topic of discussion as well.
What did you find challenging? I found the ‘strong in character’ to be challenging because I am one who can very easily break down at a moments notice. To me, this ‘strong in character’ means being able to hold one’s ground and that is an area that is in constant need of being worked on.
2. Read through Proverbs 31:10-31.
List the traits mentioned in these verses: trustworthy, good, hard worker, strong, profitable, helpful, unafraid, honorable, wise, knowledgeable, Lord fearing,
Which is your favorite verse? Why? Verse 11: The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will not lack anything good. This verse shows that she is trustworthy and trust is one of the foundations of a relationship.
Which verse is most challenging to you? Why? Verse 21: She is not afraid for her household when it snows, for all in her household are doubly clothed. This is challenging because I happen to be one is very fearful of many things.
3. The word “virtuous” is used only four times in the Bible to describe a woman. Look up the following verses and note why each woman merits this description.
Ruth 3:11 – she was a woman of noble character
Proverbs 12:4 – she was a capable wife
Proverbs 31:10 – also a capable wife
Proverbs 31:29 – capable wife
Bonus: Do a word study on “virtuous” (or worthy, noble, excellent – whatever word your Bible uses in the verses above). Look it up in the dictionary and find other passages in the Scriptures that describe what it means to be virtuous.
4. A powerful mind – Think about your life. When do you need power of mind to endure and follow through? I need it pretty much everyday of my life including the little things (unfortunately).
What can you do today to strengthen yourself in this area? Continue to read and pray. Also, I need to follow the example of the Proverbs 31 woman, along with Ruth, Esther, and other women.
5. A powerful body – Think about your body. When do you need power of body to endure and follow through? When I lack the motivation and ‘feel’ too tired to do anything because really, I am just being lazy.
What can you do today to strengthen yourself in this area? Perhaps I could do accountability in regards to this area of my life.
6. List four or five desires you would like to realize by the end of your life (you don’t have to share all of them if you choose not to).
What can you do in at least one of those areas of desire…
Today?
This week?
7. What steps can you take today to ensure you time for each of these areas:
Time reading God’s Word – I have found that actually scheduling a certain time each day and putting it in my calendar helps.
Time with other godly women – Well, with being in Chicago, I need to meet some first. Then, work from there.
Time reading biographies – I need to have the motivation first and then set a time each in my planner for this.
Tanya said,
February 26, 2007 at 5:06 pm
Thanks for posting, Mel…
I liked how you pointed out that “lack of motivation” really equals “being lazy”. Isn’t it funny how we call things by a different name so that they don’t sound as bad as they really are? Kinda sugar coat them to make us feel better?