First of all, thank you to everyone for all the positive feedback you’ve been sharing with me! The comments, e-mails, phone calls and chats have been so encouraging to me. When I started this Proverbs 31 challenge, I just kind of assumed I wouldn’t be getting a lot of responses from people and that my thoughts would just be floating around cyberspace…untouched and unread. So, thank you for connecting with me and taking the time to read what the Lord has laid on my heart to share. Striving to be more Christ-like can be tough some days but knowing I will have to post what I’ve been doing is a huge encouragement and is keeping me accountable. So, again…THANK YOU and keep it coming!
Challenge #2: Proverbs 31:11
“The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.”
Trust – reliance on the integrity, strength and ability of a person; confident expectation of someone.
The scripture clearly defines the Proverbs 31 Woman as a married woman. But the qualities she exudes are ones that all women should strive to have – married or unmarried. So no matter where you are in your life right now, it is never too late or too early to start practicing these important attributes.
The heart is a fragile thing. It is so easily broken. How many times have you been through heartache because a trusted friend has gone behind your back and done something to hurt you? It takes a long time to restore that friendship and gain trust from them again, doesn’t it? Now think of your husband, he is your bestest friend in the entire world isn’t he? Your soulmate. He knows he can share everything with you – his fears, his hopes, his dreams, his desires, his failures and so much more. He trusts you completely.
But what about when the girls all get together, it's so easy to start talking about our husbands and the things they do and don’t do around the house; their latest “great idea”; comparing them to other men; sharing that stupid thing he did last week and flat out mocking them. It's great to vent a little when you're out with friends, but not about your man.
As a wife, your role is to provide a safe place for your spouse. You should be the one person he can trust above all others to have his back. So when you go around sharing the things that are meant to stay just between the two of you, you are negating one of the very strengths that you bring to the relationship.
This also goes for our friendships. We women are great at gossiping, we like to be the first to share the juicy details. While you’re talking with your friend who is confiding in you about something she is going through, we are already thinking about who we can call next to share it with! Next time you are faced with the temptation to “tell all”, STOP and remember that you have been confided in and someone has placed their trust in YOU. If you destroy that trust, it will take a long time – if ever – to restore it again.
Your husband needs to know that he can trust and confide in you in all aspects. He trusts you to be faithful to him, with his children, handling the affairs of the house, and with the things that he only tells you – the things dear to his heart. Because of your fear of and your dedication to the Lord, your house will be prosperous. If you treat your husband with faithfulness, devotion and affection, it will make him view his home as a place of safety that brings value to his identity.
Your husband will be in need of nothing for you will have well satisfied him on all fronts. He thinks himself so happy in you that he envies not those of the world who have the most wealth; he needs it not for he has enough, having such a wife as YOU.
Leave a comment, and let me know what you think of this verse and what it means to you. How do you plan to build, uplift and encourage your husband and friends?
You are so right Julie! I know what you mean about hearing other wives complaining about their husbands and just badmouthing them. Whatever you've experienced with this, there are military wives I've met that are so much worse. They sleep around and don't even want to be around their husbands. Of course, they are not all like this but there are a lot. The military is a true test to a relationship or marriage I'll tell you that. But you are totally right about being a woman of trust. This includes character. Thanks for the reminder of abstaining from gossip and spilling sacred trusted secrets whether of your husband or friend or family member. I always wanted to be someone people could come to with anything.
ReplyDeleteGreat post Julie. It is so important to know your man and what is important to him. He needs to know that while he is away everything is in good hands. Also, if we are always thinking about the most positive aspects of our hubby then that will be what overflows in our speech.
ReplyDeleteWonderful post Julie! I want my husband to trust me with everything (the way I spend my time during the day while I'm at home, how I make wise decisions with money, how I talk about him and lift him up, etc)
ReplyDeleteLoved it! Keep writing. :-)
Great post. Trust is so important in any relationship, but I think it is even more important in a marriage. When we know we can rely on each other, we feel safe enough to share more of ourselves with each other. And so the relationship grows.
ReplyDeleteUltimately, I'm finding that the Proverbs 31 wife reminds us what truly defines LOVE - SELFLESSNESS... and as you go through all of her characteristics, each one seems to show us how to get back to that.
ReplyDeleteEnsuring we are a trustworthy person reflects striving towards selflessness by putting the other's need to know they can have confidence in us above our own desires to vent or find common ground among friends. It also helps us be obedient to God by avoiding gossip and slander. Ultimately, it's a win-win situation!
Julie - You are such a blessing to my heart! I am so happy to see you allowing God to move in your heart and life. That is no small thing, in a day when many want the label, but want nothing to do with the sacrifice of being sold out for Him. God is using you to bless your family and those around you...even in cyberspace!
ReplyDeleteThanks for such a bold post. It is so true and a good reminder even for those of us that have been married a "few" years.
I am thankful for (and a little proud of) you! Love you, Sweetie!!
Paula