[Day 16]

RADIANT | Day 16…

Being a Radiant women of God…

Each of us in some way or another crave to be more… Never satisfied, always looking to the next to see how we can improve or change to really just feel better about ourselves. For far too long we have looked in the wrong direction. Instead of looking to the word of God for the latest styles and trends, we look to the sassy lady strolling confidently down the mall or the totally together mom on the quilt teaching her kids at the park… Regretfully we put too much emphasis on the outside when we in Christ know that true beauty, real RADIANCE comes from within.

We couldn’t have a more perfect example than the Proverbial Woman described to us in Proverbs 31:10-31… Some may feel that she sets a standard far too high to ever reach. That she was given to us as an unapproachable woman or an unreachable goal. She has for too long been looked at as the woman who made things tough for us women today. To look at the Proverbial Woman, to just lightly read it is to be daunted.

I hope over these 31 days of Radiant you will see one underlying truth… When we truly seek the face of God, reflecting His radiance will just be an unknowing result of our obedience and our faith. Being the Radiant proverbial woman shining our light will just be an unexpected consequence of surrendering to Christ.

Epilogue: The Wife of Noble Character

10 [a]A wife of noble character who can find?
    She is worth far more than rubies.
11 Her husband has full confidence in her
    and lacks nothing of value.
12 She brings him good, not harm,
    all the days of her life.
13 She selects wool and flax
    and works with eager hands.
14 She is like the merchant ships,
    bringing her food from afar.
15 She gets up while it is still night;
    she provides food for her family
    and portions for her female servants.
16 She considers a field and buys it;
    out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She sets about her work vigorously;
    her arms are strong for her tasks.
18 She sees that her trading is profitable,
    and her lamp does not go out at night.
19 In her hand she holds the distaff
    and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
20 She opens her arms to the poor
    and extends her hands to the needy.
21 When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
    for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
22 She makes coverings for her bed;
    she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
23 Her husband is respected at the city gate,
    where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
24 She makes linen garments and sells them,
    and supplies the merchants with sashes.
25 She is clothed with strength and dignity;
    she can laugh at the days to come.
26 She speaks with wisdom,
    and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
27 She watches over the affairs of her household
    and does not eat the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise and call her blessed;
    her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many women do noble things,
    but you surpass them all.”
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
    but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
31 Honor her for all that her hands have done,
    and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

If you haven’t taken the time to get to know the Proverbial Woman I encourage you to do so… Do not be intimidated by her accomplishments and her standard but rejoice in her desire to be Radiant. Let her be an encouragement to God’s unwavering radiance He desperately desires to reflect in our lives.

Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, 4 not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. Philippians 2:1-4

be radiant!