#BWPC: DAY ELEVEN

Hello beautiful.

Welcome to day eleven.

Usually, I don’t over emphasize the Proverbs 31 woman because in truth, the woman King Solomon described there doesn’t exist. She was a “perfect woman.” And guess what, perfect women do not exist. Only Angels are perfect beings. But we can greatly learn from this rare woman who Solomon so beautifully described.

In most versions available to us, Vs. 10 started as a question, some versions started as a statement.

• Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies. (King James Version)
• “Who can find a wife with a strong character? She is worth far more than jewels. (God’s Word Translation)
• It is hard to [Who can…?] find a good [noble; virtuous] wife, because she is worth more than rubies [or pearls]. (EXpanded Bible)
• How hard it is to find the perfect wife. She is worth far more than jewels. (Easy to Read Version)
• An excellent woman [one who is spiritual, capable, intelligent, and virtuous], who is he who can find her? Her value is more precious than jewels and her worth is far above rubies or pearls. (AMPlified)
• Who can find a capable wife? Her value is far beyond that of pearls. (Complete Jewish Bible)
• If you can find a truly good wife, she is worth more than precious gems! (The Living Bible)

I have shared above from 7 different versions so you can understand how we will be praying. We would be using the New Century Version as we pray tonight. Now, I won’t be telling you, you should become a proverbs 31 woman, but I’ll be asking that you go through those verses and learn what it is you can do to become your own “Proverbs 31 woman” to your husband.

So you will be praying for yourself.

PRAYER POINTS.

Proverbs 31:11-31 (New Century Version)

Vs. 11 – Her husband trusts her completely. With her, he has everything he needs.

When a wife knows what her husband would need and go on to make it available, It’s easy for him to trust her completely.

• Father, help me in my capacity to be able to provide for my husband and home, all that they need. Whatever it is that I need to have, to meet the needs of my husband and home, even if its rare and unique, Lord make available to me by yourself or through people around me. Let my husband be able to go to sleep knowing that I have his back in Jesus name.

Vs. 12 – She does him good and not harm for as long as she lives.

We don’t want our husbands to do us harm, so we must also not do them harm. As a woman, we don’t need to physically hit our husband before we harm them. Our mouths alone can do more damage that any weapon can. So as a christian wife, we must not harm our husbands in any way.

• Father, as long as [husband’s name] and I live, to a ripe gold old age or till you return, I will bring good and do good to my husband only. I will not harm him with my words, my actions and even physically in Jesus name. [Husband’s name], you will look upon me and be rest assured that I seek only your good and no harm will come to you from me in Jesus name.

Vs. 13-15 – She looks for wool and flax and likes to work with her hands. She is like a trader’s ship, bringing food from far away. She gets up while it is still dark and prepares food for her family and feeds her servant girls.

In those day, the kitchen was built away from the main house. Usually the food has to be carried in tray all the way to the main house, that’s why she was likened to a trader’s ship. How many of you still cook for your husband to take lunch from home to work? It will be beautiful for your husband to at least wake up each morning and have breakfast prepared to eat before going out. Aside being a hospitable cook for the family, She enjoyed to work with her hands. It means she was hands on and I believe she learned a hand craft.

• Father, I ask for a disciplined spirit to be able to wake up each morning and give food to my husband and our household in Jesus name. As I sleep, give me healthy meal ideas to prepare and make available to my household. My family will never be hungry or lack food to eat because I will rise early to prepare food for them in Jesus name. Lord help me to also put the talents you have given me to use. Help me be useful with the hands you have blessed me with in Jesus name.

Vs. 16-19 – She inspects a field and buys it. With money she earned, she plants a vineyard. She does her work with energy, and her arms are strong. She knows that what she makes is good. Her lamp burns late into the night. She makes thread with her hands and weaves her own cloth.

Now before you go looking for a land to buy or cotton to make threads or cloth, I need you to understand that the Proverbs 31 woman had a job or a business. She had something doing, from which she earned. When we prayed for jobs for our husband to be able to provide for the family. I intentionally didn’t ask you to pray for yourself. But today you will. Remember, God’s original plan when he made woman – partner, ally, companion and friend. The woman Solomon described was able to buy a land, plant a vineyard because she had something that brought in money. Whether it was, her husband paying her salary or a job outside or a business, she had something that brought money. For some of you, a job, no. A skill to monetize, no. A business, No. While we do not know exactly the kind of Job this woman had, the bible recorded that she worked into the night. She had targets, he had deadline to meet. So if you are here and you don’t do anything that brings in money or contribute to the purse of your family, you need to start now. Its not virtuous to be jobless.

• Father, I pray for strength to be able to carry out my work (employee, employer, business owner, entrepreneur) diligently. I pray for ideas that will bring money. I pray for wisdom to learn and practice and monetize the talents you have blessed me with in Jesus name. I refuse to be a liability to my husband but a contributor, a resourceful wife and a hardworking earning wife in Jesus name.

Vs. 20 – She welcomes the poor and helps the needy.

Beyond being a wife, a mom, a worker, this woman was a humanitarian. God blesses us to be a blessing. How many people have you seen in need and helped?

• Father, as you bless me everyday, help me to be a blessing to as many as come my way. The wisdom to identify the needy and poor people around me, I receive from you in Jesus name.

Vs. 21,22 – She does not worry about her family when it snows, because they all have fine clothes to keep them warm. She makes coverings for herself; her clothes are made of linen and other expensive material.

This super woman didn’t just stop at preparing food for her family. She went on to cater for the health of her family. She knew that if they didn’t keep warm in the winter, they would be ill, so she was proactive to prepare to protect her family from illness. Also, of note, this woman was wealthy. The bible records that she wore clothes made from expensive materials. These clothes will definitely be beautiful and not shabby. So this woman cared for how she looked. Some of you, the moment you become wives, the need to look good, attractive and presentable disappears. But it shouldn’t be so. Also, the health of our family should be our concern.

• Father, I declare upon this altar that I will pay attention to the health of my family. What we need to do, to eat, to drink to stay healthy, I will be aware and prepared in Jesus name. Help me Lord to pay attention to myself, look good for my husband, stay attractive to my husband in Jesus name.

Vs. 23 – Her husband is known at the city meetings, where he makes decisions as one of the leaders of the land.

This verse brings to mind what my former boss told me, “Every woman is an image of the husband.” I’m sure people must have seen this woman and had to ask, “who is her husband?” And people would say, “it’s such and such who makes decisions for our land.” Now her husband was a public figure, he was well known. She represented the image of her husband well. How well do you represent the image of your husband? Do people know your husband but when they see you, get uncomfortable? Do you think this man would still remain a decision maker if his wife was representing him badly? The moment you become a wife, you begin to represent the image of God first and your husband. So you must behave well, act well and even speak well.

• Father, I pray for myself that I will not be an embarrassment to my husband. I pray my behavior will not make my husband a laughing stock among his colleagues. I pray that who I am and what I become uplifts and showcases my husband to your glory in Jesus name. Let me not be the reason my husband looses a promotion, let me not be the reason my husband looses an opportunity and Lord, let me not be the reason my husband looses his job in Jesus name.

Vs. 24,25 – She makes linen clothes and sells them and provides belts to the merchants. She is strong and is respected by the people. She looks forward to the future with joy.

So here you see it. She was a business woman too. What idea do you have, start working on it. This woman was securing a future of joy for herself. She was working this hard to make sure she has a good retirement. Whats your retirement plan? To be struggling in old age or relaxing?

• Father, I receive insight for my future today. All that I need to do now to secure a joyful future, show me Lord. Give me strength to work hard now towards our future in the name of Jesus. I refuse to struggle in old age. I receive uncommon knowledge at things that will keep paying me in old age when I can no longer work in Jesus name.

Vs. 26 – She speaks wise words and teaches others to be kind.

Can people come to you to share with you? what do you teach those around you?

• Father, I pray that I will be filled with your wisdom to be able to help those around me. When I share with them, let it be wise and kind words. Lord may men/women look at me and learn from me. Let my life be the bible they read and let it guide them even without me saying a word. All to your glory in Jesus Name.

Vs. 27-29 – She watches over her family and never wastes her time. Her children speak well of her. Her husband also praises her, saying, “There are many fine women, but you are better than all of them.”

This is the joy of every wife and mom. To have your family appreciate what you do and speak well of you and praise you and bless you. Its also a joy to know this and see it and experience it.

• Father, as I do everything in my power to be a great wife and mom to my husband and children respectively, I pray they see and acknowledge all that I do. My joy will be full in knowing that I am a blessing in the life of my family in Jesus name.

Vs. 30 – Charm can fool you, and beauty can trick you, but a woman who respects the Lord should be praised.

The beauty of any woman begins from the heart. If your heart is ugly, with time, we would know. Your physical beauty cannot hide the state of beauty of your heart.

• Father, I pray to never stop being beautiful in my heart. I will remain in the beauty of your holiness. I remain at the center of your will. For everyday of my life, Jesus you are in charge of me and everyone who comes around me will see you in and through me.

Vs. 31 – Give her the reward she has earned; she should be praised in public for what she has done.

• Father, I receive my reward for all my hard work. The world will know of me for my contributions. I will be rewarded and awarded by even those who do not know me in Jesus name.

• Finally, Lord, upon this altar, I decree and declare that on the day of my reward, I will be present, alive and well. None shall take my place in Jesus mighty name.

If you prayed this long prayer, I congratulate you. As much as I was tempted to share into two part, I was all the more prompted to share all with you.

Please always come back and pray this prayers from time to time.

Thank you for joining today. See you for the last day of this challenge at 9.00 GMT.

Blessings.