Reflecting on Proverbs 31:17
“She is energetic and strong, a hard worker.” – Proverbs 31:17
I had every intention of choosing a different verse this morning, but when I read verse 17 I knew the Lord had meant for me to read it … at the crack of dawn on a Saturday morning. Don’t you love it when that happens? No, not the crack of dawn part. I love being reminded that I am always on His mind and that He has prepared a way for me … even if that path seems a bit inconvenient.
As I write, we are coming off a week of everyone in our household being sick, including myself. Followed by a teething 15 month old. On my way up the stairs to go get him from his crib, I found myself praying … okay, pleading, for another hour of sleep. Please tell me I’m not the only one who does this! It usually goes a little like this, “Please, Lord, one more hour of sleep. Well, unless there’s something you needed to tell me this morning. But really, one more hour of sleep would be so awesome.” You see, I felt a little guilty about asking for one more hour of sleep, because I KNEW He had me up for a reason.
As I opened my Bible, I landed on the next Proverbs 31 verse, verse 17. It had never stood out to me before, but there it was sticking out like a sore thumb. Perfect timing. As always, perfect timing. I moved from being irritated at my early morning wake-up call, to being thankful for getting to spend some early morning one-on-one time with my beautiful baby. Instead of feeling the need to plead for more sleep, I felt thankful that the Lord was ready to speak to me this morning. What a great turnaround! It definitely wasn’t me, it was Him.
The Proverbs 31 woman is a lot of things … and not necessarily all of those things at one time. It’s not possible! Unless of course you have maidservants (see verse 15), and even then I think it would be tough. But the good news is this, WE are incapable of being that Proverbs 31 woman when left to our own accord, it takes the mighty hand of God!
In order to be that strong, energetic, hard working woman of God, you have to take care of yourself. When your tank is empty, you’re not working at full capacity! Rest, nutrition, exercise, spending time with the Lord … when I’m feeling out of sorts, I’m usually off balance in one of these areas. I want to wake up every morning with the strength and energy to be everything He has designed me to be. My family deserves it. My job deserves it. Mostly, my Savior deserves my best. But, we all know that doesn’t happen every morning, because sometimes we’re off balance, sometimes we just don’t feel good, sometimes we are CRANKY … my sometime was this morning! He created the earth, the moon, the stars, me and you …. was he exhausted? Or grumpy? Not at all! Ask Him to fill your tank, it makes ALL the difference!
XO – Amber
“But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Isaiah 40:31
“For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.” Colossians 1:29
