It Becomes Our "Why"

Remember that long list of things that characterized the Proverbs 31 Woman?  You know, the one that used to make my blood boil?   Yeah, that list....

Thinking of all I would need to accomplish to even begin to resemble her is overwhelming, to say the least.  If we focus on her list of accomplishments too long, we could easily become discouraged and give up, thinking it's hopeless to even begin to attempt to be like the Proverbs 31 woman. 

She appears to be a domestic goddess.

And a domestic goddess I. AM. NOT.

Can I let you in on a little secret?

This list is more than a list of domestic qualities, the list is about who she is on the inside.  There must be something that drives her to be this person. 

And drive she has.  What is the key to this drive?

It's in the list.

Do you see it?

In case you didn't find it in the list, we can also find it at the end of the description of her in Proverbs 31:30.

But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.
Proverbs 31:30

She fears the Lord.  She has the utmost respect for the One who breathed breath into her lungs.  It's not about a list at all.  It's about an overflow of something greater.

There are people in my life that I respect because of who they are, and I am likely to follow their advice because of the respect I have for them.  But I don't respect them by accident.  I develop respect for them by coming to know who they are or their authority over me. 

And how do I come to know who they are?

By spending time around them or by learning about them. 

No, she's not doing all of this because she is scared to death of God and feels she has to earn His approval.  She does all of this because she fears God.  There is a difference.  She is in awe of Him.  She has reverence and respect for her Creator and she serves because she has been around Him and she knows Who He Is.  The Consuming Fire is consuming her. She sees something greater. 

He has become her "why".

Could it be that her fear of the Lord drives her? Could it be that this fear fuels her for a life of service and impact upon others.  She is wise to follow His lead.  She shares His heart. 

This is a powerful, mighty, jealous, consuming God, and He's not a bad guy. 

She gets it. 

She gets that this consuming God who is capable of creating or destroying the earth with a mere utterance is for her.

Not against her.

And she wants to impact others because of Him.

I know this is possible for you, my sister.  You can be a Proverbs 31 woman.    Are you seeing a glimpse of her in you yet? 

It begins with our fear of the Lord. 

Question:  What needs to change in my life in order to become a woman who fears the Lord?

And they shall be My people, and I will be their God; and I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear Me always, for their own good, and for the good of their children after them.
Jeremiah 32:38-39

This fear, my friend, it's a good thing. It consumes us, it becomes our "why" and impacts those around us.

The prayer tool this month is about fearing the Lord.  Feel free to visit the Prayer Closet to download a copy.

XOXO,
Amy