Write the Word - Peace

The last few weeks have been hard over here. Between a variety of health issues over the past few months, and my grandma's passing, and a few situations which are full of uncertainty, I was left feeling entirely overwhelmed and nowhere near strong enough to handle it all yesterday. 

As yesterday was my normal Bible-study day, I decided to take a break from the Proverbs 31 study to focus more strongly on what I really needed, and I chose to do that through writing out scripture. I love writing the Word; it helps me to focus on and absorb the truth so much more than simply reading it. I hope that these verses also help you, wherever you're at today. 

Even in the nighttime, when it's dark, and scary, and I have no idea what is going on, the Lord still guides me and instructs me. If the Lord is before me, I can rest in hope, and rejoice.

 This is a long time favorite of mine; I believe that I will see God's goodness in this life, and that keeps me going. I can find strength and courage as I wait on the Lord.

 This is my March theme verse; I don't have to do everything, and I don't have to do it all now. God is working, and I can wait patiently for Him, and find rest as I wait.

No matter what the circumstance, I can trust that God is in control, that He is working, and that He will be with me - as I fix my mind on that truth, He will fill me with His perfect peace. 

 

Whether I walk through the water, or the river, or the fire, I will not be overwhelmed, because the One who created me has called me His own, and is always with me. 

Christ has given His peace to us, but not as the World gives it. The World gives things circumstantially, conditionally, and expecting something in return. Christ has given me His peace fully, unconditionally, as much as I need, and not based on the circumstances. So my heart does not need to be troubled or afraid.

A hand is made for doing things - a hand builds, moves, cleans, holds. Whatever God's hand is doing in my life, I need to humbled myself under it. And as I wait for His work and timing, I can cast all my cares on Him knowing that He does care for me.

Study of Proverbs 31 - Week #16 - Honorable

"She makes herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple." v. 22

"Strength and honor are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come." v. 25

A godly woman is honorable.

Webster's Dictionary - honor: a good name or public esteem; one who's worth brings respect or fame

Webster's Dictionary - honorable: deserving of respect or high regard;
consistent with a reputation that is not tarnished or sullied;
characterized by integrity; guided by a keen sense of duty and ethical conduct 
 
Strong's Concordance - honor: ornament, splendor, glory, majesty

Strong's Concordance - honorable: of good standing, respectable,
bearing one's self becomingly in speech or behavior

The idea of being honorable includes many different facets, in my view. First, from verse 22, we see that her clothing is made of silk and purple, a precious color. No matter how humble she is (remember from last week, she's making her own bed linens), she still clothes herself as befits the wife of an elder. She doesn't dress in rags and act like a beggar; no, she dresses and acts in a way that will bring respect to herself and her husband. 

She also figuratively wears honor. She is known for integrity and is worthy of high regard. Her integrity and good conduct are so much a part of her that they are like the very clothes she puts on day in and day out and are present in every part of her life. 

1. Genesis 39:7-12 - Joseph had integrity in refusing the temptation of his master's wife
2. Psalm 7:8 - God judges our integrity
3. Psalm 25:21 - let integrity preserve you as you wait on the Lord
4. Psalm 41:12 - the Lord will uphold you in integrity
5. Proverbs 11:3 - integrity will guide you
6. Proverbs 11:16 - though violence may gain you riches, graciousness will gain you respect
7. Proverbs 19:1 - it is better to have integrity and be poor, than to be crooked and a fool
8. Proverbs 20:7 - a just man walks in integrity and causes his children to be blessed
9. Matthew 6:1 - do not do good deeds just to be seen by men
10. Matthew 23:27-28 - our integrity needs to come from our heart and not just be on the surface  
11. Ephesians 4:1-3 - walk in a way worthy of the Lord's calling
12. Ephesians 4:21-24 - put off your old mode of conduct and put on the new one which is patterned after God in righteousness and holiness  
13. Philippians 1:9-11 - be sincere and pure, filled with the fruit of righteousness to the glory of God
14. Philippians 1:27 - let you conversation be becoming to the gospel
15. Philippians 4:8 - consider good, honorable, upright things and weigh out how you are practicing them in your own life
16. Colossians 1:9-10 - we can walk worthy of the Lord through a knowledge of His will and spiritual wisdom
17. 1 Thessalonians 2:10-12 - Paul behaved justly in Thessalonica, and wants them to walk worthy of the Lord as well
18. Titus 2:3 - older women should behave in a way becoming to holiness and teach the younger women to do so as well
19. Titus 2:7-8 - show a pattern of good works and sincerity in your life
20. 1 Peter 1:13-16 - be holy in all of your conduct as Jesus Christ is holy 
21. 1 Peter 2:12 - let you conduct be honest so that even those who speak against you may see your good works and glorify God 

As the children of a holy and righteous God, we are called to a high standard of conduct. Jesus Christ is our example and goal of holiness; that is an incredibly high calling, and we need to walk in a way worthy of that. 

It is so important for us to walk in a worthy manner, because that is the greatest example of Christ. It also is our greatest witness to others of the gospel; unfortunately, I have heard one too many times of unbelievers being turned off from faith because of the poor way a Christian in their life has behaved. Of course, we all sin and we ought not pretend to be perfect; but we should strive to act in a way becoming to the gospel, so that even those who would wish to slander us will have to acknowledge the good they see, which will bring great glory to God. 

I think a big part of being honorable is having integrity - doing the right thing even when no one is looking, or no one will know the difference. Joseph displayed immense integrity when his master's wife tempted him to join her in sexual sin, but he refused because he could not betray his master's confidence. Even though Joseph did the right thing, the situation was used against him and landed him in prison. Sometimes even in our integrity we will face trials and persecution, but it is that very integrity that will guide and preserve us as we wait for the Lord to act on our behalf. 

God sees all we do and knows our inner intentions, and He will judge our integrity. We should not do the right thing just to get attention or make ourselves look good, all the while being filled with sin and darkness and on the inside. Our integrity needs to come from a renewed heart and mind, one that is patterned after God and filled with the fruit of righteousness. 

I love how Paul talks about this in Philippians 4:8; that phrase "think on these things" is more than just to have good and excellent thoughts. Rather, it means to reckon, calculate, or make an account of. Almost as if you were going over your finances at the end of the month, making an account of everything you spent and earned, seeing what in in your bank account, and balancing your records. Take stock of and weigh out the account of the good, excellent, honorable things in your life, and see how you well you are truly walking in a righteous way. We all fall far short of the goal of Jesus Christ, but by His grace we can walk in a more worthy manner.

Study of Proverbs 31 - Week #15 - Prepared

"She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet." -v.21

A godly woman is prepared.

Webster's Dictionary - Prepared: made at an earlier time for later use; made ready in advance; ready for something; in a suitable condition for some purpose for activity.

1. Genesis 6:1-7:5 - Noah prepared for the flood
2. Genesis 41:25-57 - Joseph prepared Egypt for the famine
3. Exodus 16:14-30 - the Israelites trusted God for their daily provision of manna, but also prepared on the sixth day to be ready for the Sabbath
4. 2 Chronicles 27:6 - Jotham prepared his ways before the Lord
5. Ezra 7:10 - Ezra prepared his heart to seek the Lord
6. Nehemiah 4 - the Israelites did not have to be afraid of enemies, because they were prepared for them
7. Proverbs 21:31 - the Lord is our true safety
8. Proverbs 24:27 - prepare for your work
9. Proverbs 30:25 - ants are wise for getting food in the summer
10. Matthew 25:1-13 - watch, and be prepared for Christ's coming
11. Luke 12:22-31 - do not worry just about earthly things, but prepare for heavenly things
12. Luke 12:35-47 - be prepared for the Lord's coming
13. 2 Timothy 2:19-22 - depart from iniquity to be ready for God's purposes

This idea of being prepared requires a big, well-rounded view to get the whole picture. There is indeed an aspect of preparing for earthly things. From the verse in Proverbs 31, we see that this woman doesn't need to worry about the winter, because she has prepared clothes for her family ahead of time. Noah obeyed God and prepared for the flood by building the ark and getting his family and the animals aboard. God used Joseph to saves thousands of people because he prepared ahead of time for the famine to come. When the Israelites were rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem and there were threats from their enemies, Nehemiah had them prepare by carrying weapons and taking shifts at building and defending. The ants are set up as a wise example to us because they gather food in the summer to prepare for the winter. 

And yet, there is more to being prepared than just our food and clothes and earthly worries, and we should be unafraid of the future not solely because of what WE have done to prepare. An army can prepare their horses for battle, but ultimately their safety comes from the Lord. I find that the story of the manna in Exodus is an excellent example of a very delicate balance between relying on God to work things out and also making preparations for the future. For 5 days, the Israelites were supposed to gather just enough manna for that day, in order that they might learn to rely on God for their basic, daily needs. However, God had also commanded them to observe the Sabbath; they were supposed to gather two days worth of manna on the 6th day so that they were prepared to rest on the 7th. Both sides required faith from the Israelites, though - faith that God would provide food tomorrow, and also faith that the double portion would not spoil. No matter how much we do to prepare, it truly is God that is in control and cares for us. 

Not only that, but we should be concerned with preparing ourselves, too. Jotham, a sixteen-year-old kind of Israel, became mighty because he prepared his ways before the Lord. Ezra, a great priest, prepared his heart to seek the Lord and His law, and was used mightily among the Israelites. We need to prepare our hearts and minds for heavenly things, and be ready for Christ's call. What a shame it would be if Christ called us to some work, and because our heart was unprepared, we missed the opportunity and blessing. As it says in 2 Timothy 2, let us depart from iniquity and cleanse ourselves from dishonorable things so that we can be ready for the Master's use and prepared for every good work.