Proverbs 31

You have permission to be you

Rock the world!

Proverbs 31 is Your Permission Slip

If you are a woman “that fears the Lord” then you are, or are beginning to, be as the woman described in Proverbs 31.

First, some background on this passage. It is written by a mother to her son to describe a true woman of God that perhaps her son could one day deserve and certainly should seek out.

It is not a mandate to women but God’s description of a woman “far above rubies.” It is not some Hallmark, mushy story. She does not marry her sweetheart to stay home and bake cookies with her children. This woman has true value and power to be successful in her world.

...She is a woman who is independent, powerful, and resourceful. This woman is strong, smart, enterprising, and to be respected.

Here are a few things God shows us about her and every woman that loves Him:

Care for others, but not at your own expense for you are valuable to God.
Care well for yourself by not taking the leftovers, for you are a daughter of the King of all kings. Treat yourself that way.
You are the CEO of your family, caring for your household and those you employ to help you. Lead.
You are a partner with your husband. He has his work and you have yours. Together you create a successful household. You make the decisions on your business out of your wisdom and skills.
Never ask permission to be yourself. You are God-designed and, therefore, you have all the permission you need.
Operate your business as God has gifted and equipped you. Here is your joy and how He is glorified through you.
You can hire others to care for your children and household so that you are free to serve your family with your work if that is your calling.
Live and work in a way that is prosperous and mindful of long-term goals so you will have no fear of the future. That is called, “wisdom.”
You don't rely upon what the world sees as a woman’s only value - her looks. Instead, you center yourself in your true value - being the Lord’s and living for Him with all that He designed you to be.
You are a blessing to all because of your business and the work of your hands. It is your praise, not your shame.
You operate inside your giftedness and impact the world as your business grows and that enables you to help prosper others.
You being yourself is called being a “woman that fears the Lord.” Let this describe and guide you.

...She is who you are when you realize that this is how God wants to describe you.

...She is who you are when you step into your true identity, regardless of what anyone else thinks.

You don’t need to ask for permission to bring yourself and your calling to the world. You have permission already - from the Lord.

As a woman of God, you only have to fully live out your design unapologetically and for all to see. This is how your life will glorify God.

You, like your sister in Proverbs 31, are also made to be an independent, powerful woman of God. In this way, you bring Him glory and those around you praise you and Him for it.

If you are to live out your life as she, you would stop apologizing for being smart and powerful.

...You would no longer ask permission to be your full design.

...You would run your life and your business to honor God with the gifts, talents, and vision He has given you regardless of what others think a Christian woman should be and do.

...You would live to please Him and do His will alone.

The small life others have for you does not fit you and never will. Reject it and embrace the big life God shows you in this passage.

Send them to the passage to read what God says a woman should be.

“Honor her for all that her hands have done,

and let her works bring her praise at the city gate”

Because you are holding nothing back, you prosper. And, because you prosper you have to give to those in need.

Because you plan, you have long term goals and you work smarter. All that effort produces a lot of fruit on many levels. Your results are your praise as others observe your successes.

Because you have the big picture and work the details, you have become wise and one who can lead.

Because you see needs and work to fill them, you have learned kindness and can teach it.

Godly husbands are honored because they have a powerful wife, and her accomplishments are spoken of with respect from others who fear the Lord and don’t live to people please. He feels no need to control her. Why would he? She is living out her design and he benefits from this too.

Others sit up and take notice when a real woman of God is in their presence.

Yes, others help her to care for her children and they and her husband praise her for it. Don't let anyone try to shame you. Take them to this passage and then tell them to take their issue with what it says to the author, God.

You are a woman of God. Proverbs 31 describes you. Own it. Be it. Live it out.

We fear God and we honor Him by being all that He designed us to be and living out lives less than what He called us to be is not an option.

He has designed us to be powerful, smart, and independent women. To live less than that dishonors Him.

The only way we can be held back is by letting others decide who we are, what we do, and how we act instead of God. Read this passage and see that it gives you not only permission to go and be and do in the Lord, but it is a description of what it looks like to bring honor and glory to God before others.

Let us live out this description together, supporting, upholding, and encouraging one another. I'm carrying my permission slip with me, and I see one in your heart too.

“Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.”

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