I recently prepared a talk on the above topic and my research was so inspiring.
As I started my research I soon discovered that it was indeed a great topic for the 21st century woman.
We all need to closely look in the lives of the great women of the Bible and see why they were referred to as the Virtuous Women in their days.
My text is largely from Proverbs 31: 1- 31
Who is a virtuous woman? What qualities make her a virtuous woman I ask myself? Are these qualities I can find in myself?
The focus is on the woman.
Please join me to tick the boxes: A woman of extraordinary wisdom? a mother? a professional in her right (Successfully bringing up a child) is a great career remember? A home maker and even sometimes the sole provider for her household? A God fearing person with love for all to share? A lover at night and cleaner in the day, cook at teatime and yet having the strength to do the housework and tell stories at bedtime? hmmmm Yes she is the one human I refer to, A virtuous woman!
So who exactly are we talking about? The virtuous woman.
She fears God alone. Respects man and abhors evil and deceitful dealings. She knows God and hears from Him. She is discerning; firm; quiet yet with strength like a Horse. She is driven with passion, believes in justice and fair play. Eager to listen and often times a silent influencer. That is the woman we are talking about!
She is enterprising and hardworking exhibiting a lifestyle of hardwork in love. She is industrious and engages in financial ventures of her own (Vs 16; 24 and 27). She has her roots in the word of God.
Let us take a perfect example Mary the mother of Jesus (Luke 1: 26-56)
She was a virgin till the time she was to be engaged, even being engaged to be married did not bear any pressure to lower her standards in any way. How excellent to be pure and keep your chastity even at that age!
She was not influenced by peer pressure, that will presuppose that she was a woman with focus and integrity.
A woman of great intuition seeking to understand the meaning behind words because she understood the power and effect of words. She must have been an avid listener, who would ponder on words she heard. How wise indeed?
Even with her great level of wisdom she was humble. Her humility was of great price before God her creator. She surely knew who she was and understood where her identity laid. She was eager to know and please God to the letter irrespective of the opinion of others. She would make a choice to do God’s will even if that would make her ‘different’ in the eyes of the society she was in. Following the direction of God’s plan for her life was of far greater import than self import. What an incredible woman!
Paying attention to every detail God told her by the angel, she made a choice to wilfully obey God. (Remember what Isaiah says in chapter 1:19) Indeed she ate the good of the land. Mary was called ‘blessed and highly favored amongst women’ That is the kind of thing every woman would die for in this day of Media and Celebrity craze.
She effortlessly got this recognition because she continued to serve God faithfully in her little corner. God searches the thoughts and intent of the heart. HE sees the true reasons behind all that we do and He knows those who dilligently seek Him; because He rewards them. Is there a lesson to learn? We need to be true to ourselves and our actions and ensure that we do not deceive ourselves. Mary was a woman of faith (Heb 11:6)
Mary was eager to learn of God without questioning. See Luke 1: 34 She was fearless in her service to God, cared her family and loved God in a way that reached out to her community and even to all generations to come throughout eternity by her obedience and loyalty to God.
That is a perfect example of a virtuous woman of all times to find!
There are lessons to learn and adjustments to make in our lives even if we are not there yet. God can still use you irrespective of your past acts of disobedience.
Be repentant and come to Him as you are and He will receive you.
At this time, I pray that the Holy Spirit will do that which only He can do in your life and make you the virtuous woman HE has made you to be.
God bless!
NJ
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