By Gail Rodgers
The Proverbs 31 woman is a woman aware: a woman whose eyes are open not only to the pressing need of the moment, but also to the future. Because she sees today through the lens of eternity, she lives with hope and intentionality.
“She is not afraid of the snow for her household,
For all her household are clothed with scarlet.
She makes coverings for herself;
Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
Her husband is known in the gates,
When he sits among the elders of the land.
She makes linen garments and sells them,
And supplies belts to the tradesmen.
Strength and dignity are her clothing,
And she smiles at the future” (Proverbs 31: 22-25).
~ Father in Heaven,
In the noise and commotion of life it’s easy to miss Your still small voice within me. It’s easy for my awareness of God to diminish in my busy schedule.
I want to be a vigilant woman, Lord. I want to be watchful and alert. Help me to be observant… with an eye to the future and on guard for danger or pitfalls.
Help me to be aware of the little things in my life and in my relationships. Show me how to take the time to mend the small tears in the relationships around me, knowing this will make them stronger in the future.
Lord, I want to be wise in tending my marriage. Wherever I can, help me to sow seeds of approval, appreciation, affection and attention in this most important of human relationships.
As I walk through this day help me to be observant to Your still small voice nudging me.
Help me to be on guard against the slow erosion that can happen in relationships when I become too busy.
Remind me to make the most of the opportunities I have each day. The days are evil, Lord…there is much to pull us away from each other and from You. Help me to be vigilant.
Fill me with Your Spirit that I may be watchful and alert as I guard my heart and my home. In the strong name of Jesus I pray, amen.
“Be very careful, then, how you walk — not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:15-16).
Going Deeper
1. Consider these questions: Define vigilant. When have you become aware of the subtleness and craftiness of the devil’s deception in your own life? How can we develop the habit of vigilance; through what practical, daily means can we cultivate it?
2. Comment on the devotional blog. Interact with others who are reading today’s devotional. Visit http://talk.thelife.com/ and double click on “Comment” (just under the devotional title).
3. Chat: Join us for a 15-minute chat at 10:30 am Eastern, 7:30 am Pacific: http://www.christianwomentoday.com/chat
4. Check out the related article: “Living with an open hand” http://www.christianwomentoday.com/money/giving.html
About the Author
This devotional was written by Gail Rodgers. Read more about Gail: http://www.talk.thelife.com/authors/gail-rodgers/
Copyright
This devotional is protected by copyright laws and may not be reprinted or posted to a site without permission from TruthMedia Internet Group. All readers are welcome to forward the devotional to a friend or link to it. If you would like to seek permission to reprint the devotional in full, please see our guidelines:
http://talk.thelife.com/reprint-permission/
Connecting Through Technology
Do you use technology to stay in touch with family and friends?
>Watch
Dear Father, How often do we as woman focus on the lacks in our life. May we always have gratitude for the many blessings we already possess. Let us be alert and ready to lovingly tend to our husband and family. May your Spirit keep our hearts open to the opportunity to bless others around us. Keep the spiritual vitality that will allow us to tend to the relationships in our lives. Thank you for today’s word that keeps us alert to the importance of diligence in all areas of our lives.
I am a 62 yr. old Katrina evacuee still in Atlanta. My house in Louisiana was not destroyed, although my neighborhood suffered major damage. I am here with my 39 yr. old mentally challenged daughter and her 7 yr. old and 19 month old twins. I am their guardian. We stayed here because of the health care for my daughter and grandchildren.
I look forward to my daily devotional. Thank You!!
Two weeks ago, I fell apart. My August rent was not paid, my food stamps was reduced, the house in NO had not sold, meaning my husband could not retire yet to join me here. I was weary and did not realized how much grief I was carrying. BUT God came through, not only with the rent, but with His love and comfort.
The series on the women of the Bible gave me hope. So many times I have taught others about the Prov. 31 woman, but now that role is so important to me here in Atlanta.
Today’s message about being vigilant is so real. Agencies are amazed at all I do for my family and how tenacious and determined I am to their needs. It is only thru God’s grace that I trek forward.
Please pray for my daughter, Denise, that I can get the benefits she needs and that God will continue to heal her mind. Pray for little Samantha and Christopher who both have severe scoliosis. Pray for my husband, Frank, as he waits for God’s timing on the house, for he is lonely. Pray that I can continue in my role of the Proverbs 31 woman, being always vigilant for my family’s needs. I am also seeking full time employment, that God will place me in a peaceful environment where I can use my talents for His glory.
Lord,
Thank You for the Word today, it breathes life into my soul…It resurrects me on many levels…I surrender to Your Will for my life today…Lord I pray that I stay viligant in the work of the Lord, the purpose You sent me here to fulfill for such a time as this. I pray, Lord that You give us a vision of Your plan for our lives this day. I come against the frustrations and life circumstances that distract us to the point of total involvement and get our attentions off of Your plans and purpose. I pray that the Women that read this word that You have served us today will get refocused on the divine plan You have for our lives…That we will not be defined by what has happened to us but how we have allowed You to manifest Yourself in all of Your Glory in spite of our life situations…in Jesus Precious Name I pray…Thank You for the Breakthroughs all over the country!
Father God,
How wonderful were the words that were written today. I come to you asking for forgiveness as I have been pulled into the ways of the world by wanting more and not always being satisified with what You have given me. I ask for your help in getting out of debt caused by my own selfish desires and lack of discipline. I am asking that others that read this would pray for me also.
Linda ——–Verna, AMEN,AMEN,AMEN!!!!!!!
My prayer is the same as Kathy’s above. I am in the exact same situation.
to all of you and especially for Karen,,read Psalm 20; and Psalm 147:3; my prayers go out to you all.God Bless
dee
wow it is so amazing what god can do i’m strugglig with a situation and i needed to know that my viligance will pay off. i will remain steadfast in prayers. what a truly awesome god we serve. reverend glennia johnson in az
Vigilant mean to keep watch, stay awake. alertly, watchful. If we are vigilant we can not only discern for others, but avoid danger in our life whether it be danger in lack of prayer, appreciation, compassion, like the devotional said the days are evil and we must be wise and careful and take nothing for granted, we should live each day as if it was our last because we do not know when Jesus is coming back. In the meantime we should pray for one another and lend a helping hand when we can. Karen, my heart goes out to you, and you are in my prayers, you know that God’s very nature is healing and health, I claim healing for your grandchildren, and daughter, I pray your home is sold soon, keeping looking to Jesus who is the author and finisher of our faith.God bless all you ladies, I look forward to reading your hearts everyday, God bless each one of you. Can’t miss a chance to tell Jesus how much I love him and thank him for breathing life into my body and loving me in spite of me and saving me by his amazing grace.
This is a reminder to me that I have to stay vigilant in my prayer life. As my marriage is being restored I need the Lords wisdom daily to continue to be the Loving wife that I want and need to be. It’s not always easy to keep focused on the present when you have been betrayed by your spouse but he’s home now and I am seeing a loving patient husband. The Lord must be doing something. Please pray that I would be a more prayerful wife and mother. Although I have no children home anymore my daughter just had her first child in June and I need to be praying a whole lot more. I’m not as disciplined in the prayer area as I know that I need to be. You know the funny thing about this proverb women is that I had a prophetic word over me once and I was told that I was a proverb 31 woman, mmm, not sure I understand that. Can anyone explain?
To all the women: We are all Proverbs 31 women in so many ways. Karen my heart goes out to you and your family continue to stay steadfast and unmovable in the Lord. For he has a great reward waiting for you. Debbie I’ve been where you are and let me share my experience and maybe this will help you to understand. My husband left me and our four girls 2 years ago. Neither one of us were as strong in God as we should have been. I put my husband first in everything I did to make sure he was happy. One day out of the blue he says to me I’m tired of everything. I thought it was the end of the world when he left us. We had to sell our home, lost our car and truck. We divorced he married the other woman within a years time; it would have been sooner but I refused to give him a divorce. I had a full time job and still stuggled but, God made a way for me and my girls. I read Stormie Ormartian’s book: The Power of the Praying Wife and my eyes, ears, and heart opened to the Lord and what was going on in my life. God showed me that he comes first in all that we do. God allowed my husband to leave us to get me where I needed to be in him and my husband to see the same thing. I continue to pray and seek God more and more as time went by. I had good days and some bad days but, I never gave up on my husband. I continued to love him unconditionally and prayed for him inspite of. I forgave them both. To make a long story short my husband is now saved and he loves the Lord. We were remarried in Oct. 2005. He is the best husband and father any woman could ever ask for. Sometimes we go through to get to where God wants us to be. My mother, aunt, and my three sisters were some praying sisters with me and my children through this ordeal. Prayer is the key and faith unlocks the door. I hope my story helped. I will keep you in prayer and continue to praise God in all that you do.
My prayer this day is that we as women trust God and surrender our lives to Him totally, not half way.We need to be like the Proverbs 31 woman. We must be vigilant because the enemy is out there just waiting to destroy us . We must prayer every moment of the day. My heart goes out to Karen.God is there for you and your family .He will never leave you nor forsake you. I need plenty of prayer because my husband and I are faced with a very difficult situation.
Sometimes I just sit and cry. As I am typing this, the tears are just flowing down. But I have confidence that God will bring us through.
Please pray for us.
I say Amen to all of our prayer requests, so shall it be.
God be with you all.
GOD HAS BEEN SO GOOD TO ME AND LAST WEEK I WAS WORRYING ABOUT BILLS AND MY JOB. THEN I START TALKING TO GOD AND REALIZE THAT HE WILL MAKE A WAY. HE ALWAYS BRING ME THREW. THAT’S HOW MUCH HE LOVES US. I THANK YOU FATHER FOR THESE PEOPLE WHO REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE AND WAKING EACH OF US THIS MORNING. YOU ARE SO WONDERFULLY!!! MAY GOD BLESS EACH OF YOU THIS DAY!