The Rare Woman v.10 - April 1, 2010

Today we are going to talk about the rare woman as described in Proverbs 31:10. Please keep in mind that I am learning this with you! I do not claim to be a perfect, virtuous woman or wife (hey, I don't even dream that I am because I am so far from it!!). This is a learning experience for me as well as it is for you hopefully.
In Proverbs 31, Lemuel writes his mother's words about the "Praise of a virtuous woman". Whether she considered herself to be a virtuous woman or not, it doesn't say. The fact of the matter is that she knew what she was talking about! Since God allowed this chapter to be placed in His Word, I dare say that He fully backs up what makes a virtuous woman. God knew how hard it would be for women to become and stay virtuous. I am finding it harder and harder the faster paced my life becomes to even contemplate striving to be virtuous. I am a SAHM, but I don't think there is even one day when I am able to stay at home all day! You know how it is, between family, church, and sports activities (not to mention the doctor's appointments, etc!). I barely have a chance to really breathe and clear my head for a minute. BUT, God does not call us to be too busy for Him. He calls us to "Be still and know I am GOD!" If we are always busy rushing, rushing, rushing, how are we ever going to be still enough to hear His still, small voice?
The Holy Spirit is living inside of us as long as we have accepted Christ into our hearts and believe that He died for us on Calvary, but if you're too busy, you can't even hear your audible stomach growl telling you that it's hungry until you're almost ready to pass out from hunger. Do y'all know how that is, or is it just me? I have become so busy with getting stuff down that I don't realize I'm hungry until I'm all jittery!
With all that said, I hope that even if you can't slow down enough physically, I hope you can slow down enough mentally to let God speak to you today. Not only through this blog, but through any other means He may try to use. Remember, it's not enough to just read what someone else says about the Bible. You HAVE TO get in there YOURSELF some everyday, and charge your batteries! Let God speak to you through His Holy Word.!
In Proverbs 31, it is said:
"Who can find a virtuous woman? For her price is far above rubies."
One thing definitely hasn't changed: Rubies are still valuable and pretty! :-) Real rubies are also rare. Not the fake stuff you can find in the dollar stores! We can find fake virtuous woman all day long. The ones who act a certain way in front of others, but when they're at home, it is a completely different story! Or, better yet, one who can say and act the right way, but their heart isn't right. Are y'all like that? I'll be honest: I get that way sometimes! I will find myself grumbling in my heart that it's not fair. Why should I have to do it?? Best of all: WHEN CAN I GET A MOMENT TO MYSELF???? Those are all very selfish thoughts that we have to learn to control if we are going to be the kind of virtuous woman that God wants us to be. Correction: we don't have to learn to control them. We have to learn to surrender those thoughts to God in order for Him to deal with them and clean our hearts the right way.
Trying to clean our own hearts is like making a 2 year old clean their own rooms. From the surface it may look clean, but once you start looking under the blankets, under the beds, under the dressers, you begin to find things the toddler hasn't wanted to either deal with or get rid of. That is how we are with God. We are His child. We cannot clean our "rooms" ourselves. We have to let Him come in and get rid of what isn't needed and also shine what needs to stay.
Back to Proverbs 31, when they say that her price is far above rubies, that screams out "RARE!" It is difficult to find one of these women, and even more difficult to become one. But, if you do either, it is so worth it in the end.
My prayer for today is that God would make me a rare woman. Not one who blends in with the crowd, but one who is committed to letting God speak to her during quiet times and letting God clean her heart Himself, holding nothing back!