[In light of this past weekend being mother's day, this weeks devotional is dedicated to my mother as she beautifully embodies the qualities of the “Proverbs 31 Woman”]
The Bible tells of many women who God has used greatly for His wonderful plans. If you are striving to be a woman after God’s heart, not only can you look to these individuals, but there also is a great passage of scripture found in Proverbs to help guide you. If you are a man reading, single, and searching for a wife, here are some qualities to help guide you in your search. If you find a woman that possesses many of these characteristics, like it says in Prov. 31:10, “She is worth far more than rubies”. If you are already a hubby; cherish, honor, encourage, and pray for these attributes in your wife.
Proverbs 31- A Woman of Valor
1. She is trustworthy and of great integrity
vs. 11-12, ”Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life.”
2. She works hard and does not complain
vs. 13-14, “She selects wool and flax and works with eager hands. She is like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar.”
vs. 18, “She sees that her trading is profitable, and her lamp does not go out at night”.
3. She takes care of her family
vs. 15, “She gets up while it is still dark; she provides food for her family and portions for her servant girls.”
vs. 21, “When it snows, she has no fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet.”
4. She is smart and conducts business
vs. 16, “She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard”.
vs. 24, “She makes linen garments and sells them, and supplies the merchants with sashes.”
5. She is strong and skilled at her tasks
vs. 17, “She sets about her work vigorously; her arms are strong for her task”.
vs. 19, “In her hand she holds the distaff and grasps the spindle with her hands”.
6. She helps the poor and needy
vs. 20, “She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy”.
7. She takes care of herself
vs. 22, “She makes covering for her bed; she is clothed in fine linen and purple”.
8. She causes others to respect her husband because of her behavior
vs. 23, “Her husband is respected at the city gate, where he takes his seat among the elders of the land”.
9. She has a positive outlook on life
vs. 25, “She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come”.
10. She is looked up to and is full of wise counsel
vs. 26, “She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue”.
11. She looks out for her family's good and has good morals
vs. 27, “She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness.”
12. She makes her family proud
vs. 28-29, “Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: ‘Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all’”.
13. She may be beautiful on the outside, but her true beauty radiates from within because of her relationship with God
vs. 30, “Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but the woman who fears the Lord is to be praised”.
Women, if you would like to know more about these characteristics and make them more a part of the woman you are, I would encourage you take more time studying these scriptures and pray that God would help you. Many of us have women that we know or may be a part of our families, that possess these characteristics. Watch what they do, learn from them, maybe even have conversations with them or ask them if they would mentor you. Also, a great study that I am doing is “Becoming the Woman God Wants Me To Be: A 90-Day Guide to Living the Proverbs 31 Life,” by Donna Partow.
