Proverbs 31 Kickoff

Intro to Proverbs:
Who are we supposed to be a Christian wives in 2018? Can we all realistically be smooshed and crammed in the same box since we're all in different marriages? Is Proverbs 31 speaking to specifically women, or is it for men and the church too? These are all questions the Holy Spirit has answered for you and me in preparation of these devotions.

I have been so excited to start posting these I can hardly contain myself. My hope, in terms of formatting, is to write shorter posts with a devotion-like emphasis. God has shown me some amazing truths about the 31 verses in this 31st chapter of the Old Testament book of Proverbs. My prayer is that you will get as much out of them as I have in my quest to hear from the Lord on what in the world this chapter is about.

Several women have asked me when I'm going to start this series of blogs because they are really struggling with how to be a Proverbs 31 wife in 2018. There are so many kinds of Christian wives out there today, and many struggle to see themselves in the light of this chapter. It's my greatest desire that as we journey through these devotions day by day that you and I will find being a Proverbs 31 wife is a lot like eating an elephant, you must do it one bite at a time. God is patient with us, ladies. We don't have to have it all figured out. We don't have to be the perfect woman, the perfect wife, or the perfect mother. We need only ask Holy Spirit to help us right where we are as he conforms us day by day and moment by moment into the likeness of Jesus Christ. If we can self reflect and self examine ourselves with grace asking Holy Spirit to gently point out areas where we need to improve, He will be faithful to help us along. We are not alone, and this wife journey is NOT about works or perfection; it's about our dependence on Him.

So Many Types of Wives:
With that in mind, I'd like to end this introduction by sharing with you the 31 types of Christian wives grinding it out day by day with Jesus in 2018. I hope you can find yourself in one or more of these. If you've been married for any length of time I'm sure you were able to identify with many of these wife titles at one time or another in your marriage. Of course I realize there are many more "types," but I thought it fitting to create 31 wives to complement the 31 verses that go into the 31st chapter of Proverbs:

1. the wife of a believing husband
2. the wife of an unbelieving husband
3. a wife with children
4. a wife without children
5. a working wife
6. the wife who doesn't work outside the home
7. the wife who deeply respects her husband
8. the wife who's committed to sticking it out in her commitment to her husband and God
9. the grieving wife
10. the abused wife
11. a well-loved wife
12. the wife who's husband travels for work or is gone because of the military
13. the forgotten wife
14. the lonely wife
15. the overbearing an/or controlling wife
16. a wife with wrong priorities
17. a wife with forgotten plans and dreams
18. the wife with unmet expectations
19. the wife who finds her fulfillment in Christ
20. the wife who's become a wife through adultry
21. the not yet a wife, wife
22. a hurting wife
23. a divorced wife
24. the widowed wife
25. wives who live with chronic health conditions
26. a wife with adult children
27. the wife with disabled children
28. a wife struggling with addiction
29. a wife whose husband or family is struggling with addiction
30. the retired wife
and
31. the wife who carries with her baggage from the past

No matter what number(s) you are on this list, be encouraged that you are not alone. Just because we are Christians does not make us perfect. In fact the Word says, "...we are being saved and being renewed day by day." These devotions will be a good jumping off point. From there you can curtail them to the season you are currently in and invite the Lord to make Himself at home as "perfects the good work He started in you."

Enjoy!