The One Year Wisdom for Women Devotional: 365 Devotions through the Proverbs (95 page)

December 28

The Dangers of Drink

Today’s Wisdom for Women is a statement by a king. He tells how his mother brought him up. He had a mother who wasn’t afraid to tell him the cold, hard facts about the dangers of drinking.

So this is a message to moms. This world needs godly moms, moms who are loving, firm, consistent; moms who teach their sons and daughters that messing around with the party life will mess up their life.

     
O my son . . .

     
do not spend your strength on women,

          
your vigor on those who ruin kings.

     
It is not for kings . . . to drink wine,

          
not for rulers to crave beer,

     
lest they drink and forget what the law decrees,

          
and deprive all the oppressed of their rights.

Sometimes we think we live in the only generation that is so immoral that we don’t have a chance at protecting our kids from the temptations all around them. As I listen to the words of this mother, I can tell she was desperately worried, as every mother of a teenager would be.

And so what can we do? Like this mother, stay informed, stay involved, and stay in relationship. Some of the wisest parents I know make sure their kids’ friends come to their house to hang out. They make sure they know them, they’re welcome, there’s lots of food, and there’s love. But the most powerful thing we could ever do is to fight this battle for our teens on our knees. Moms, be praying moms. Never underestimate the power of a praying mom.

Make It Personal . . . Live It Out!

There is a dangerous new trend among Christian young people. Drinking is viewed as cool and harmless. They like how it makes them feel. They like that it lowers inhibitions. A few beers with pizza could never hurt anyone, right? For some this is true. But for others, one drink leads to another until they lose their bearings. One too many clouds judgment. Clouded judgment opens the door to danger. If this is a liberty you have allowed in your life, is it worth taking the risk? Is it worth causing a weaker sister or brother or son or daughter to stumble?

One Year Bible Reading

Zechariah 12:1–13:9; Revelation 19:1-21; Psalm 147:1-20; Proverbs 31:1-7

December 29

Be a Voice

     
Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves;

          
ensure justice for those being crushed.

Speak up. God himself is calling us to speak for those who can’t. Although there’s many applications, those who are most unable to speak for themselves are the unborn.

In the womb each baby is “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14,
NKJV
).The heartbeat starts at twenty-two days from conception. Eight weeks from conception the baby has every organ in place. It can hear. It has fingerprints.

But did you know that the most dangerous place for a child to live in the United States right now is in the womb? Since 1973 over fifty million babies have died from abortion. Of this number, 93 percent of abortions were not performed because of health risks or rape. Thirty-six hundred babies die every day. That’s one every twenty-four seconds.

When a baby dies in this way, there are at least two victims: the baby and the mother. I have talked to women who thirty years later have not allowed themselves to grieve. They have buried this wound. If this is you, please know that God loves you, forgives you, and has that baby safe with him in eternity.

On my website I have resources especially for you. You can go to BibleBusStop.com. It is time for you to be helped and healed. And now may I urge you to use what Satan meant for evil, for good? Will you accept God’s forgiveness, and then will you accept the challenge to speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves?

Make It Personal . . . Live It Out!

Why do women chose abortion? There are many reasons. The mere fact that abortion is legal creates a false belief that it isn’t wrong. Often, women see no alternative. They don’t realize there are families longing for children who would gladly adopt. They think abortion is less emotionally painful than adoption. Nothing could be further from the truth. There is good news! There are crisis pregnancy centers across the nation staffed by dedicated men and women willing to stand in the gap. They provide counseling and tangible assistance to women in crisis. Will you pray? Will you help?

One Year Bible Reading

Zechariah 14:1-21; Revelation 20:1-15; Psalm 148:1-14; Proverbs 31:8-9

December 30

A True Gem

For today’s Wisdom for Women we are going to read about the Proverbs 31 woman. She is my personal hero. There are so many practical lessons. Read carefully. If you learn even just one thing from her life, it’s a good thing.

     
A wife of noble character who can find?

          
She is worth far more than rubies.

     
Her husband has full confidence in her

          
and lacks nothing of value.

     
She brings him good, not harm,

          
all the days of her life.

     
She selects wool and flax

          
and works with eager hands.

     
She is like the merchant ships,

          
bringing her food from afar.

     
She gets up while it is still dark;

          
she provides food for her family

          
and portions for her servant girls.

     
She considers a field and buys it;

          
out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.

     
She sets about her work vigorously;

          
her arms are strong for her tasks.

     
She sees that her trading is profitable,

          
and her lamp does not go out at night.

     
In her hand she holds the distaff

          
and grasps the spindle with her fingers.

     
She opens her arms to the poor

          
and extends her hands to the needy.

     
When it snows, she has no fear for her household;

          
for all of them are clothed in scarlet.

     
She makes coverings for her bed;

          
she is clothed in fine linen and purple.

     
Her husband is respected at the city gate,

          
where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.

     
She makes linen garments and sells them,

          
and supplies the merchants with sashes.

I just love this woman. She is worth more than rubies.

Make It Personal . . . Live It Out!

King Solomon married many princesses who were high maintenance—“poodles on pillows.” In contrast, a loyal, creative, industrious woman was one in a million. Must we sew, buy fields, and grow grapes to fit the Proverbs 31 mold? That’s not the point. The point is, do the best with what you have. I learned to be a morning person from this portrait. As a young single woman I read that the godly wife “brings [her husband] good, not harm, all the days of her life.” It rang true and right. Will you read the description again? If it stirs in your heart a noble purpose, pray about it and put it to practice.

One Year Bible Reading

Malachi 1:1–2:17; Revelation 21:1-27; Psalm 149:1-9; Proverbs 31:10-24

December 31

True Beauty

Today’s Wisdom for Women is the second part of the description of the godly woman. As you read this, you might feel intimidated, but please know that is not the point. She is not superwoman. As a young woman, I didn’t have anyone to mentor me. I had no idea how to be a wife or how to live a life of discipline and purpose, but then I found her, the Proverbs 31 woman. She gave me a picture and a pattern, someone to learn from, and she gave me hope.

     
Strength and honor are her clothing;

     
She shall rejoice in time to come.

     
She opens her mouth with wisdom,

     
And on her tongue is the law of kindness.

     
She watches over the ways of her household,

     
And does not eat the bread of idleness.

     
Her children rise up and call her blessed;

     
Her husband also, and he praises her:

     
“Many daughters have done well,

     
But you excel them all.”

     
Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing,

     
But a woman who fears the L
ORD
, she shall be praised.

     
Give her of the fruit of her hands,

     
And let her own works praise her in the gates.

In closing, I must end with a final word for some brokenhearted mother reading right now. Although you’ve done your best, your child is a prodigal, and you feel like a failure. Let’s look at the phrase “Her children rise up”—it’s then that they call her blessed. If your child has fallen, is far from God and maybe far from you, God does hear your prayers, because remember, God the Father has a few prodigals himself.

Make It Personal . . . Live It Out!

As we finish our journey through the book of Proverbs, it is noteworthy that the last chapter concludes with a stunning picture of the godly woman. She is far from a stereotypical, straight-laced, religious stoic. A woman who personally knows, passionately reveres, and wholeheartedly trusts God has a dignity that only authentic faith and integrity can bestow. Her beauty is more than skin deep. Strength, honor, kindness, and diligence are the fabric of who she is. She is a lighthouse, shining over the troubled waters of our generation. God is wooing you, inviting you to join her ranks. Will you rise up, take your place, and take your stand for wisdom?

One Year Bible Reading

Malachi 3:1–4:6; Revelation 22:1-21; Psalm 150:1-6; Proverbs 31:25-31