Reflections of Proverbs 31

This week I’ve been looking at Proverbs 31 the Epilogue bit, and really trying to pray into it and reflect on it. So here are a few of my thoughts.

To begin with I had to take away my selfish attitude and realise this isn’t about me or what I can be as a noble wife in the future, but the example Jesus sets here to the church. Remember ALL of the Old Testament points to Jesus and tells us about His character and His mission, so this must also have the focus on Jesus.

Secondly the bible talks about the church being married to God so this could also be a reflection on the behaviour of the church as a whole in it’s service to the Lord. It’s strange picture language for the church as a whole but as you begin to break it down it has similarities to preparations and harvest which is the work Jesus sends us out to do really in the Great Commission.

Finally of course it applies when thinking personally about growth in my own personal character with the help of the Holy Spirit. If I’m striving to be Christ-like and this is pointing to Christ’s character then surely this is something that, with the Grace of God, I should be striving for also. Even in my role in church service and discipleship this is something also I should reflect on.

Now when I read Proverbs 31 I can say:

• Wow, Jesus is amazing 
• Oh man, I’m rubbish!
• Thankfully God is gracious and I can ask Him to help me to grow in this!

25 Things to be thankful for

I've decided to take note of all the great things God provided over summer this year by making a list, I love lists so that's my first thing to be thankful for!

1. My job
2. Keswick Convention
3. New Friends
4. Old Friends
5. Waterfalls
6. Coffee
7. God's Wisdom
8. Laughter
9. Answered Prayer
10. Snap-backs
11. Bullet Journalling
12. Psalm 107
13. Prosecco
14. Lake District
15. Martinis
16. More Coffee
17. New car!
18. Reunions
19. Camp
20. Crutches and Cocodomol
21. Family
22. Photographs
23. Sunshine
24. Washout
25. Talkin Tarn

So many great things happened and on reflection I am able to praise God for His continuous blessings and trust that He knows the plans set before me!

What is the ideal Woman?

What do we think about when we think of image? 

What we should look like?

We’re comparing ourselves to this illusion of the ideal woman aren’t we. 

Well the average woman is 5’4” and weighs 10 stone. The average model is 5’11” and weighs 8 stone. 

That is a truly scary and unhealthy statistic. Only 2% of women are models. And we’re expected to aspire to that?! That’s ridiculous. It's a false standard. 

So here's what I think:

I think we need to forget what the media says to us and focus on the real women around us for a start! That is the reality, not some magazine. We can’t aspire to be like 2% of the population when we have been made to all be beautifully different.

Just pause and think

What are some of the issues that we struggle with when we think about our image?

Most of these things happen because we are comparing ourselves to someone. But why are we comparing ourselves? Well I think there are three underlying reasons which have come from Sophie De Witt's book, Compared to her:

• o Significance: making sure you’re worthwhile
• o    Satisfaction: making sure life is as good as it can be
• o    Security: making sure we have what we need

I’ve been reading this book and Sophie talks about something called Compulsive Comparison Syndrome or CCS for short, and I honestly believe we all suffer from it, I’ve struggled with it all my life I know that. But for me it all came to a head in my first year of university when I tried to change me and having the “ideal” body and being the most like this unrealistic expectation l I could be became the most important thing in the world. 

I found myself hating the body God had given me and trying to achieve the false ideal. Thankfully I kept going along to church and summer camps and God slapped me in the face with Psalm 139 in my face over and over again.

READ PSALM 139

God made us and knows everything about us. The creator of the whole universe made you and me exactly how we are supposed to be. We are made in the image of God, when we look in the mirror we see the image of God!

How does that make us feel?

How does that change how we view ourselves?

He has made us all differently however we look, it’s how he made us.

He has created a temple in us. 

Spiritual Single Service

In an age of feminism we can easily get swept up in power, self love and self service. The HeforShe campaign and I don’t need feminism can distract us from our inner beauty.

The urban dictionary defines new age feminism like this:

 Unlike the old notion of feminism, the new age feminist does not demand to be treated the same way as a man. She demands that the differences between men and women are recognized, understood, and accommodated for.

As Christian women this is not the attractive inner beauty we are taught about through the fruits of the spirit. Galatians 5:20 tells us we should not live by; self-ambition, idolatry, jealousy and hatred. Instead we are told that the fruits of the spirit show; love, joy, peace, self control, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and patience.

When we sort out our inner beauty our willingness to serve should follow, serving and submitting makes us no weaker than anyone else, however it shows a strength and a courage above all. Remember Christ came not to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.

We serve because we are on a passionate pursuit for Christ, not for self ambition.

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So, what task has God given you?

This could be miles away from your comfort zone, it could be away from home, it could be your next door neighbor.

Don’t let stubbornness, anxiety, pride or fear get in the way. We need to prayerfully consider what God has planned for us and go for it! We should enjoy our freedom to serve God whilst we are still single!

The definition of a servant;

One who is doing the will of another with resources of another for the benefit of another.

Cosette Conway