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September Devotional
Don't you just hate the Proverbs 31 woman? She seems
to be everything that I am not!! She is Miss America,
Condoleeza Rice, Martha Stewart and
Mother Theresa all rolled into one super piece of
femininity! If she were alive today, I am certain
that she would have won the Nobel Peace Prize, been
the Time Magazine Person of the Year, appeared
on Good Morning, America spouting her parenting
expertise AND invited us all over for dinner - ON
THE SAME DAY!!
Why does she have to be in the Bible? Why is anyone
in the Bible? Maybe it is because God knew that we
would desperately need role models who would teach
us how to live our lives. The Bible demonstrates,
through the lives of ordinary people, that it really
is possible to embrace the characteristics of God
and to reflect His nature in the world!
O.K. ... I have repented from my bad attitudes about
the lady from Proverbs 31. I will not be intimidated
by her ... but I will admire her ... learn from her
... and try to be at least a little bit like her!
"An excellent woman, who can find? For her worth
is far above jewels." (Proverbs 31:10)
I have never met a woman who did not deal with self-esteem
issues at some point in her life. Am I really valuable?
Does anyone appreciate me? Am I important to anyone
at all?
God answers these questions in the very first phrase
that describes His ideal woman. Your worth, in God's
opinion, is inestimable! Your value comes from God
- not from your family pedigree, your income or your
educational dossier. Your value is not based upon
your marital status, how well your children behave,
your dress size or your weight! You are valuable because
of your Creator.
Steinway Pianos are valuable because of their creator
... Tiffany Jewels are more expensive than others
because of the proper adjective "Tiffany"
in front of their name ... and Godiva Chocolate
is outrageously priced because of the factory from
which it originates.
You are a woman of great wealth and value because
you were created by God. One translation of this Scriptures
states, "Her worth is far above rubies ..."
Your blue-book value is off the charts! Your value
is so far away that it cannot be seen! Rubies were
the most expensive stone known at the time that this
verse was written. You are so much more valuable than
the most expensive jewel that it is not possible to
even put a price tag on you! Imagine that!
Why do woman struggle with self-esteem? I believe
that it is due to the sad fact that they are pricing
themselves by the standard of the world. If I make
enough money ... weigh the right weight ... have my
children enrolled in the right activities ... live
at a prestigious address then my life has value. Those
standards are not God's! His standard of measure is
that because you were made in His image you are a
woman of priceless value! The world cannot even afford
you, ladies! You are so out of the world's price range
that they have sticker shock over you!
Because you are valuable - you were created for great
things. Inside of you is the seed of God Himself -
and maybe it's time to tap into it. You were created
to excel - not to be average or mediocre. Do you believe
what God says about you? You are a woman of great
value!
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