Tag Archives: Proverbs

The Contentious Wife

  By Rachel | April 27, 2012 - 10:34 pm | Thoughts for the Day
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angry_woman

Whenever I am reading Scripture and any verses come up talking about a wife- they tend to stand out to me for several reasons.

First- I want to be a Godly wife and support and love my husband.

Second- I want to be obedient to what God’s Word tells me about being a “good” wife- not the world.

So, as I was reading in Proverbs for the past several weeks, and I noticed contentious wife kept coming up.

I started marking it, each day, and was surprised how many times I found it.  When the same thing is repeated multiple times in Scripture, or even in a certain passage- that draws my attention- I feel that this was something to pay special attention to.

So I looked up contentious, here are some of the definitions:

  • Causing or likely to cause an argument; controversial
  • Involving heated argument.
  • tending to argue or quarrel
  • exhibiting an often perverse and wearisome tendency to quarrels and disputes
  • Synonyms: argumentative, belligerent, combative

Yikes, well I knew that contentious couldn’t be good, but the definition- exhibiting perverse and wearisome tendency to quarrels and disputes- well, that just sounds awful.

Here are the passages in Proverbs that speak about a contentious wife:

Pr. 21:9- It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, Than with a contentious woman in a wide house.

Pr. 21:19- It is better to dwell in a desert land, Than with a contentious and fretful woman.

Pr. 25:24- It is better to dwell in the corner of the housetop, Than with a contentious woman in a wide house.

Pr. 27:15-16- A continual dropping in a very rainy day And a contentious woman are alike: He that would restrain her restraineth the wind; And his right hand encountereth oil.

In our Bible study at BSF (Bible Study Fellowship), we are currently reading 1 Peter 3-5.  This is another challenging Scripture regarding the relationships of wives and husbands, specifically 3:1-7.

Wives, in the same way submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, 2 when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. 3 Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. 4 Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. 5 For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to adorn themselves. They submitted themselves to their own husbands, 6 like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her lord.You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear.

7 Husbands, in the same way be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.

I am challenged when I see purity and reverence, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit-this is of great worth in God’s sight.

I believe we can be passionate and strong women- and still honor what God’s Word is calling us to do in this passage- and in others that call us to submission (Eph. 5:21-33, 1 Tim 2:9-15, Col. 3:18-19)

A peaceful morning ride

Our culture, esp. some of the feminist elements and women’s rights groups- call us to honor ourselves in ways that are selfish and prideful- and end up hurting women more than helping them- by filling them with lies about what they think a woman should be like.

We cannot know God’s Will for us as wives and women if we do not spend time in God’s Word and prayer- seeking His wisdom.  I believe if we humbly submit to the Lord- and seek His guidance- we will indeed be wives and women who honor Him.

Proverbs Passion Prayer

  By Rachel | April 25, 2012 - 12:58 am | Prayers, Thoughts for the Day
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Do Not Worry

I was reading in Proverbs this morning- Proverbs 24 actually- our Bible Study Fellowship lecturer encouraged us to read a Proverbs for each day of the month and it has been a great way to keep track of what chapter I am on…as long as I know what day of the month it is.

Proverbs 24:10-12

10 If you faint in the day of adversity,
    your strength is small.
11 Rescue those who are being taken away to death;
    hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter.
12 If you say, “Behold, we did not know this,”
    does not he who weighs the heart perceive it?
Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it,
    and will he not repay man according to his work?

It brought to mind all the women who are having abortions- all the innocent children whose lives are being lost- and how much this is hurting so many men, women, and children in our country.  My heart breaks and aches.

What are we doing today to be an advocate for life?  To be a loving support to those around us- to reach out to women who are pregnant and alone?

I pray that your heart would soften towards the cries of those who are being hurt by abortion- and that you would become an advocate supporting life in all circumstances.

 

Work with Diligence

  By Rachel | April 21, 2012 - 7:58 pm | Thoughts for the Day
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motivation

I was reading and praying this morning, and wanted to share something God has been convicting me about as a parent.

Diligence- what does it mean?

  • Earnest and persistent application to an undertaking
  • Attentive care, heedfulness
  • Careful and persistent work or effort
  • persevering, painstaking effort

What does the Bible say about diligence?  An author I am reading suggests several verses that speak to this character trait.

Proverbs 15:19

19 The way of the sluggard is blocked with thorns,
but the path of the upright is a highway.

Romans 12:11

11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.

When I work at tasks around the house, sometimes I do not do things with joy.  Sometimes I am tired and don’t want to be on my feet cooking in the kitchen, or doing dishes at the sink.  Sometimes I don’t want to clean the kitchen floor even though it is dirty.

I catch myself grumbling, complaining, feeling sorry for myself.  This morning, when I was reading this book my Mom gave me called “How to Raise Good Kids” (ok, totally lame title but FANTASTIC book!!!) by Barbara Cook- I was very convicted by some things she shared about diligence.

We are to work with a joyful spirit, one that does not complain or mope, but attacks tasks with enthusiasm- why? 
inspiration

Because we are an example to our children.  We are teaching them how to respond to situations in life that call them to work hard, and to work when maybe they would rather play or do something else.

How can they learn and understand the value of hard work and the discipline of following through to the completion of a task, if we don’t teach it to them? And if our words and our example are not consistent…

So it is just as much about our attitude when completing tasks as it is the completion of the task itself.  That was convicting and motivating to me- something I can pray about and be aware of as I work around the house through the day.

I hope that these thoughts inspire you to work with diligence today and to be conscious of your attitude and persistence in following through with the tasks set before you.

An inspiration mind...

Stressed?

  By Rachel | April 21, 2012 - 2:31 pm | Thoughts for the Day
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Stress 39/365
One of the most powerful things I ever learned in undergrad came from a most unexpected class.  I was a senior and had somehow overlooked a basic psychology class- can’t even remember the name of the class.  Most of the time I was bored, but there was one day I will never forget- we talked about stress.

Let’s start with some definitions of stress.

Stress:

  • Pressure or tension exerted on a material object,
  • the body’s reaction to a change that requires a physical, mental or emotional adjustment or response.
  • your body’s way of responding to any kind of demand. It can be caused by both good and bad experiences.
  • Give particular emphasis or importance to

When talking about stress, for the first time, it hit me.  Stress is how we respond.  We can only be stressed when we choose to be.  And like the definitions above, it is our response and can be good or bad. 

In other words, when we say “I am really stressed out,” that is a choice we are making.  We see a situation or series of events and our response (our choice of response) is stress.

This empowered me, made me realize- I need to take more responsibility for controlling my reactions to situations.  Even those that we may think are “supposed” to issue a stress response- like driving in bad traffic, or high demands from a boss at work.

We still have a choice.  We can take situations that would normally cause people to unravel- and through the strength of Christ in our life and submission to His Will, we can weather storms without resorting to the “typical” reactions.

Proverbs 3:5-6

5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart
   and lean not on your own understanding;
6 in all your ways submit to him,
   and he will make your paths straight.

(I was used to this saying, in all your ways acknowledge him- seeing submit there changes this passage for me)

Hebrews 12:7-11

7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? 8 If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. 9 Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! 10 They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. 11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
Leonardslee Gardens, Lower Beeding, West Sussex, UK | Tranquil walks through woodlands filled with flowering azaleas and rhododendrons in May (3 of 23)

I chose the above passages because changing our responses to situations requires submission to God- a willingness to trust Him even when we can’t see the outcome of a situation or hardship.

We are called to daily submit to Him, trusting in His goodness and love, His strength and justice, His provision.

I pray that today you would see stress from a different light- not something that happens to you- but something you control, and through self-discipline and willingness to trust in the providence of God- we would find peace in even the most harrowing storm.

 

 

Receiving Correction

  By Rachel | March 26, 2012 - 2:09 pm | Random
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Humility

A memory came to mind while I was driving my daughter to school…

I am driving my grandparents to Culver’s to eat lunch.  They lived in a suburb north of Chicago, so there is a lot of traffic, but I was used to it so I am relaxed and comfortable at the wheel.  We run another errand or two while we are out.  When we get back, my Grandfather starts to talk to me about my driving.  He was critiquing my driving skills and has found some things he thinks I should do differently.

I was hurt and a little offended.  I have always considered myself a safe and cautious driver.  I proceeded to talk to my parents about what my Grandpa said, and then to my aunts, and then to the rest of my family.  I got pretty heated in my defense of myself in some of those conversations.

I look back on that now, and feel rather embarrassed by my behavior.  However, I see clearly a struggle that still plagues me today.  My pride gets in the way of me accepting correction.  My Grandfather was a man of God, he loved me, and most importantly he is my elder.  I should have listened to his counsel and said, “Yes, Sir,” and then just gone on and taken the advice and then kept silent about it.

Why is it so hard to accept correction?  Even from friends or family?  Even when we know that someone is right- why is it so hard to just admit it?

Proverbs 8:12-14

12 “I, wisdom, dwell together with prudence;
   I possess knowledge and discretion.
13 To fear the LORD is to hate evil;
   I hate pride and arrogance,
   evil behavior and perverse speech.
14 Counsel and sound judgment are mine;
   I have insight, I have power.

Proverbs 11:2-3

2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace,
but with humility comes wisdom.

3 The integrity of the upright guides them,
but the unfaithful are destroyed by their duplicity.

Proverbs 13:10

10 Where there is strife, there is pride,
but wisdom is found in those who take advice.

Proverbs 14:2-3

2 Whoever fears the LORD walks uprightly,
but those who despise him are devious in their ways.

3 A fool’s mouth lashes out with pride,
but the lips of the wise protect them.

Bright

I made several prideful mistakes in my conduct.  As the verses above say, I lashed out in pride, I talked to everyone but my Grandpa about the fact that I found his censure of me unfair.

And instead of letting it go, I kept feeding my feelings of pride and hurt by continuing to bring up the issue again and again.

Proverbs 16:16-24

16 How much better to get wisdom than gold,
   to get insight rather than silver!

 17 The highway of the upright avoids evil;
   those who guard their ways preserve their lives.

 18 Pride goes before destruction,
   a haughty spirit before a fall.

 19 Better to be lowly in spirit along with the oppressed
   than to share plunder with the proud.

 20 Whoever gives heed to instruction prospers,
   and blessed is the one who trusts in the LORD.

 21 The wise in heart are called discerning,
   and gracious words promote instruction.

 22 Prudence is a fountain of life to the prudent,
   but folly brings punishment to fools.

 23 The hearts of the wise make their mouths prudent,
   and their lips promote instruction.

 24 Gracious words are a honeycomb,
   sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

I believe there is much that we can learn by examining past mistakes- and humbly seeking the Lord’s help to change those areas where sin has a foothold.

So as I remember this season of my life, I pray that God would continue to mold me into His image- to clothe me with humility and strip away my pride- so that I may be a more effective witness for Him.