Virtuous Wife Series: Day 4: Woman With A Plan

"She finds wool and flax and busily spins it. She is like a merchant’s ship, bringing her food from afar." (Proverbs 31:13-14 NLT)

Thrifty Woman

This scripture shows us that a virtuous woman is thrifty. She is resourceful. She does what is necessary for her family's well being. A virtuous wife is determined to make sure her family is well taken care of. A merchant ships purpose is to bring goods for OTHERS. Comparing a virtuous woman to a merchant ship signifies that the she is unselfish and sacrificial. She cares for and loves her family and will do what she needs to  to keep her family afloat. Does your families needs come before your own? 

"She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household and plan the day’s work for her servant girls. "(Proverbs 31:15 NLT)

Selfless Woman

The virtuous woman does not sleep all day, when she knows she has business to handle. Even early in the morning, she is selfless enough to prepare breakfast for her family. When she has other things to do or had other things she could do, she is still concerned with her family. This scripture is so interesting to me. My mom told me that my great grandma had 13 kids, but would get up at 4 am in the morning and doc my great grandfather a hot breakfast before he went to work every single day. Now that is love. Lol because our human nature wants to be like oh heck no, I run around after our 13 kids all day and now I have to get up and slave over a stove half sleep to fix you breakfast. I didn't know my great grandma, but I'm convinced she was a virtuous woman. She sacrificed her sleep, and probably her feelings to get up in the morning to please her husband. She was willing to sacrifice something for his happiness. I'm sure her husband loved her and respected her for getting up every morning to do a selfless act. What do you sacrifice for your husband? Is it Sleep like my great grandma, missing your show to watch the game with him, your pride bc you know "winning" this argument may deflate him? 

Personal Message

Marriage is about pleasing the other person and sacrificing for them. You should be more concerned about giving more than you are taking from your marriage. Honestly, if you're not willing to sacrifice anything, then you shouldn't get married. Jesus literally sacrificed his life for his bride (the church). We should always look to Jesus as our perfect example. 

Industrious Woman

This scripture also shows us that a virtuous woman isn't lazy!  She knows that too much sleep leads to poverty. Get up and handle your business. Stop putting it off until tomorrow, because you never know what tomorrow may hold. 

"But you, lazybones, how long will you sleep? When will you wake up? A little extra sleep, a little more slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest— then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit; scarcity will attack you like an armed robber." (Proverbs 6:9-11 NLT)

Before we were Christians, my dad made all my siblings and I wake up at 6am everyday. It didn't matter if it was the summer or a weekend. I didn't appreciate it then lol. But, I literally carried that into my adult years. The bible associates sleeping all day with laziness, just as my dad did. Up until recently, I still did not sleep past 8am. But now I work graveyard so it's different. The bible gives us direction on everything. You can choose to ignore it and sleep all day,everyday. But you can't be surprised if you don't see yourself beginning to progress, or find yourself in poverty.

"Good planning and hard work lead to prosperity, but hasty shortcuts lead to poverty." (Proverbs 21:5 NLT)

Woman with Foresight

She woke up with a plan. She is not just wandering aimlessly through life. She doesn't just lunge into action without thinking and without a plan. She is analytical and weighs her options. The virtuous woman isn't into shortcuts, but instead is into good planning. She knows that all her plans will fail if she doesn't commit them to the Lord. The virtuous woman knows what leads to poverty and avoids those things. She wants what best for her family spiritually, mentally, physically, and even financially. She doesn't just have the desire, she takes the appropriate steps to make her desires a reality. 

Change

If you know you sleep too much, purposely cut your sleep time short and do something that you've been procrastinating on (homework, cleaning, paying bills, whatever). Pray everyday and ask God to direct your day. 

Prayer

God, Please forgive me for being lazy at times. I pray you also forgive me for not including you in my plans at times. God I will trust you to direct my path. Help me to think of my family before myself. Thank you for loving me. 

Amen