Up before the Sun

"She gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for her family and portions for her servant girls." ~ Proverbs 31:15

For the past two years, due to my husband's early work schedule, I have been getting up before the sun. It was very difficult at first but I must admit that I've started to enjoy the early mornings. I've discovered that this is such a peaceful, quiet time, free from all distractions and noisy neighbors. It is a perfect time to sit in quiet meditation, reading and praying.

Getting up early allows me to get a good start on the day as I can accomplish so much before 6am. On days I have slept in, I feel as if I have accomplished very little because part of my day is already gone. I would much rather get up and take care of the tasks which demand my attention and diligence.

In Mark 1:35 we read that Jesus got up early to pray "And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed"

David was also in the habit of early morning prayer: "In the morning shall my prayer come before thee" ~ Psalm 88:13


As we read in Proverbs 31:15, the virtuous woman is diligent and knows the benefit of rising early. She is not idle or lazy and her main priority is to care for everyone in her home. Not only does the Virtuous woman rise early to provide for her family, she also provides for her servants.

Servants? Wouldn't it be nice to have them? What this scripture is trying to emphasize is that she does not lie in bed just waiting for others to serve her. She takes initiative, is dedicated, disciplined, has strong work ethics and is very organized. She is the manager of her home and is in charge of planning and delegating in order for everyone to have an effective, productive day.

Getting up "while it is still dark" is not the easiest thing to do. It is clear that the virtuous woman walks with God and her discipline is a result of her love for God and others.

"We cannot do anything apart from the love of Christ." 1 Cor. 13:1-3





HOW TO GET UP BEFORE THE SUN

* Don’t make any drastic changes. Start slowly, by waking up just 15 minutes earlier than usual. Get used to this for a few days. Then cut back another 15 minutes. Do this gradually until you reach your goal time.

* Perhaps you are used to staying up late watching TV or on Facebook like me; I suggest going to bed earlier and if you are having trouble falling asleep, read while in bed. If you are really tired, you might fall asleep much sooner than you think.

* Place your alarm clock far away from your bed. If it’s next to your bed, you’ll just shut it off or hit snooze button. If the alarm clock is far from your bed, you will have to get up out of bed to shut it off. Just don't go back to bed.


* Reward Yourself. You might be forcing yourself to do something very difficult by getting up so early. So why not make it pleasurable with a cup of coffee or tea while you read or meditate.

* Take advantage of all the extra time. Don’t wake up early to just waste time. Get a jump start on your day! I like to use that time to get a head start on preparing my husband's breakfast and lunch. As soon as he leaves for work, I read my emails, check my Facebook and plan the rest of my day. By the time 6am rolls around, I’ve done more than most people do in one day.



"Go to the ant, consider its ways and be wise!It has no commander,no overseer or ruler,yet it stores its provisions in summer and gathers its food at harvest. How long will you lie there? When will you get up from your sleep?" ~ Proverbs 6:6-9

Got Skills?

"She seeks wool, and flax, and works willingly with her hands"~ Prov. 31:13

There's a woman in the bible mentioned in only a couple of verses in the book of Acts, but what we read about her tells us so much of the type of woman she was.

"One of those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshipper of God" ~ Acts 16:14

Lydia was from the city of Thyatira, a small city known for its commerce in Asia Minor. Also know for it's abundant crops and the manufacture of purple dye. She is described as a dealer of purple cloth. Purple cloth was very expensive and it was a sign of nobility or royalty. It is my guess that Lydia was more than likely, a very wealthy businesswoman.

As we read in Acts, we learn that Lydia was a worshiper of God and a woman whose heart God opened, meaning that she believed and responded by trusting Christ as her Savior when Paul shared the message of the gospel.

She is also described as a willing servant as she invited Paul and his friends to stay at her home. As soon as God opened her heart, she became a willing servant who helped the missionaries. Later we read that Paul returned to Lydia’s home where he met with believers. She opened up her home for fellowship and prayer meetings. Lydia dedicated the rest of her life to being a "faithful servant" She was also a key person in the establishment and development of the church in Philippi. She was probably someone that heard the words that many of us long to hear;
“Well done good and faithful servant. Come and share My happiness” ~ Matthew 25:21

Lydia is a great example of the virtuous woman as she was a godly woman who provided for her family by selling purple fabric, a business which she enjoyed. The virtuous woman described in Proverbs 31 finds great satisfaction in her work because she is wise and knows that it is a gift from God. She enjoys her work and does not see it as a boring chore. Believe it or not, we can find pleasure and satisfaction in our work.

"I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil—this is the gift of God."~Ecclesiastes 3:12-13



In today's computerized and electronic society we no longer have the need to work with our hands. Most of the women I know don't find pleasure in making clothes for their family and they would much rather go to the mall. We all know how expensive that could be. The virtuous woman finds ways to save money by learning how to sew, crochet, knit and mend clothing. She uses her resources in the most cost-effective way she can.



When I was a young girl, I remember watching one of my aunts knit and crochet for countless hours. I was able to learn from her and now I find pleasure in knitting scarves as Christmas gifts or finding new, fun and exciting projects to work on through out the year. Just imagine how much money you could save by "making" Christmas gifts this year instead of buying them. In today's economy, everyone is feeling the pinch. Many people are being a lot more frugal these days and gift buying is creating more stress each year. Making a gift is not only a good way to save money but it is also a great way to give something unique and personalized.

Whether you are a business owner like Lydia, work full time, part-time or are stay at home mom, it is important to love what you do. Have you found a skill that you are good at and enjoy?

"Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will serve before kings" ~ Prov. 22:29

A Trustworthy Woman

"Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value." ~Prov. 31:11


What is one of the main qualities a man looks for in a woman? The answer may surprise you. At first a man might be attracted to a woman's appearance or personality. However, when thinking about making a life-long commitment, men want a woman they can TRUST.

Let's take a look at the story of Mary. She was chosen by God to give birth to "His only begotten Son" ~ John 3:16. When you read about Mary, the bible does not say anything about her appearance, her attractiveness or even her personality. The only thing we know about her is that she was "highly favored and blessed among women" ~Luke 1:28
When Mary gave birth to Jesus she took her newborn child and was able to hide him for two years. God knew that He could trust Mary to keep this secret to herself and she did.

Can you be trusted to keep a secret?

If a woman cannot be trusted by her own husband there can be no relationship. Marriage is made to be a partnership and both the husband and wife must show compassion and consideration for one another. They can learn about each others interests, try to work together as a team and provide encouragement to one another instead of putting each other down, fussing or constantly arguing.
"It is better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and angry woman." ~Proverbs 21:19

A man with a virtuous wife is confident. He knows that he can always trust her. When a wife shows respect and does not demean her husband he will be eager to listen to her opinion and trust her with his deepest secrets.




A virtuous woman is an asset to her husband.
She uses all of her creative talents and any abilities God has blessed her with. She always wants the best for him and "brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life" ~Prov. 31:12

God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him."~ Gen 2:18
God created Eve to be Adam's companion, to be his helper, to provide support and to be his encourager.

"A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband." Proverbs 12:4

Strong & More Precious than Rubies

"Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies." ~ Proverbs 31:10



This is a new blog series on the Proverbs 31 Woman. Each week I will be reviewing the characteristics of the virtuous woman listed in this Proverb.
In verse 10 it asks; "Who can find a virtuous wife?" It almost sounds like a challenge. Well, in fact it is challenging for women to strive hard for the qualities of a virtuous woman.


So let's start by defining the term "Virtuous Woman".

The expression "virtuous woman" is from the Hebrew "ishshah chayil" and literally means "Power of Mind and Body" The word "chayil" is what God uses to describe His idea of a "Real" woman. The Hebrew Dictionary explains that the term "chayil" was used to describe great forces and armies. A woman said to be "chayil" would possess a certain strength, might, and power. A strong, capable woman with strong convictions.

A virtuous woman is different from all other women in this world. She has been set apart and recognizes her calling. We all have a unique calling. Throughout our life our calling may have surfaced a few times in different ways that we might have ignored. When we discover our calling we will experience a deep sense of peace.

To be "set apart" means that God has a specific purpose for our life. "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope." ~Jeremiah 29:11


The first characteristic of a virtuous in this proverb describes her value; "For her worth is far above rubies."


Yes, a virtuous woman has more value than rubies because rubies are rare and hard to find. Rubies also have more value than diamonds. According to gem expert, Chris Ralph, "The very finest, top quality ruby is so rare that it has been the world's most valued gemstone for thousands of years. In fact, even today, flawless top quality rubies are more valuable and rare than top quality colorless diamonds. A 16 carat ruby sold at auction for US$227,301 per carat at Sothebys in 1988."

"She is more precious than rubies, And all the things you may desire cannot compare with her. Length of days is in her right hand, In her left hand riches and honor. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, And all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, And happy are all who retain her."~ Proverbs 3:15-18

Self Control in God's Strength

"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-control." 2 Timothy 1:7


Self-Control is the last Fruit mentioned in Galatians 5:22 but it does not mean that it is the least important of all. Self Control happens to be what holds all of the other Fruit together.
“A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls”
~ Proverbs 25:28

Self-control usually involves putting others before ourselves, behaving in an appropriate manner, speaking when we need to speak, controlling our tempers and not having an outburst every time things do not go our way. It means ignoring minor mistakes and not trying to prove that we are always right.



It can be very frustrating to want to overcome temptations, and then fail over and over again. This can be especially hard if you are a Christian and feel discouraged in your desire to grow in the Lord and overcome sin. Without Self control, how can we fight off temptations that come our way?
“For whatever a person is controlled by, to that he is enslaved” ~2 Pet. 2:19.

How can we have more Self Control?
It will not happen overnight, but there are some key things we can do to obtain the kind of control God wants us to have.

First, we must guard our thoughts and desires. Change cannot only be outward or it may only be short-lived. We see this through "yo-yo dieting," or those who repeatedly quit drinking, or smoking.

Jesus told His disciples that "Those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: These are the things which defile a man" ~ Matthew 15:18-20

Therefore, we must guard our hearts and minds from meditating on sinful things. "Brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things." ~Phil. 4:8



This may require turning off the TV from time to time, it may require getting rid of some magazines in our home or even canceling the subscription. There may be some songs on the radio that we need to stop singing, or places that we can no longer frequent if we are going to have the self-control God wants us to have.

What are we putting "in our heart"? Are we "keeping" or "guarding" it as we should?
"Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks" ~Matthew 12:34.