30 Day Proverbs Challenge: Day 23

Welcome to Pray! you whore, a blog, that takes you on my personal journey of repentance, reconciliation, and redemption. We have to determine who we want to be in life. We all may need experiences, time and just failure to determine what and who we are. Making mistakes is perfectly fine in life and it is imperative to grow and learn from your mistakes. How we respond to the hardships and challenges in life is ho we become. So as we mature in Christ and learn how to take our problems to the Lord we must learn how to change. Change is not always easy but it is worth it and a huge part of your testimony. I never wanted to get married until I did. Today we will discuss Proverbs 31 and what it takes to become a virtuous woman. Who do you want to be? Is it aligned with God's will for your life?

Honestly, I never wanted to be married because I didn't see my parents succeed. I also grew up in a time where the independent woman was praised and the "you don't need a man" mentality was praised. Simply put the worlds way will deceive you and the Lord's way is the only way you will succeed. My first relationship where I had a beautiful baby boy came unexpectedly and was never intended for marriage. Personally, I knew we would never work because he wasn't a believer and from a single mother household. From my experience, how we are raised shapes our views on marriage. I was saying I didn't want marriage but that was simply me responding to not healing from my parents divorce. I never acknowledged the pain and shame I felt from my families dysfunction.

The irony that I felt reading Proverbs 31 today was in verses 5-7 where Lemuel states " lest they drink and forget what has been decreed, and deprive all the oppressed of their rights. 6 Let beer be for those who are perishing, wine for those who are in anguish! 7 Let them drink and forget their poverty and remember their misery no more." As an ex bartender, most of my environment including myself was what Lemuel's mother taught him not to do. When you are in an environment of addiction, misery and foolishness cloaked in fun you truly lose yourself. I am not saying that having fun is wrong but if the only way you can have fun is with alcohol, wine and spirits I believe you are opening doors and portals for the enemy to gain access. If only I knew that I was giving legal rights to the devil and working for him by giving out drinks. I truly feel that I would have made different decisions if I understood the spiritual warfare that is going on when you drink.

The truth is... I was surviving and bartending and the night life provides good income and you have fun while your working. However, I realize that it never brought good people around me and it always resulted in pain and destruction. I went to jail, received a DUI and almost died in a few car accidents. I acknowledge today that the devil had rights through my bloodline because I have family members who struggled with drugs and addiction. My parents didn't drink or do drugs around us so I commend them for seeing how these substances hurt their family and making a wise decision. However, we have to instill and teach more about deliverance ministry because that would have explained a lot of situations and experiences in my life. Lets just focus on what we want to become because it is okay to make mistakes do not let the devil send you into shame and self sabotage.

I have decided to not believe the lies of the enemy and the ways of the world. As women we are meant to be a virtuous women and a wife of noble character. The wife, according to the Bible is an independent woman who creates her own wealth, takes care of her family and sets up a reputable reputation for her family. Life is about becoming the best you can be for the glory of God, not yourself. Since I am rebuilding my foundation and choosing to evolve into the woman God intended for me to be.

A wife of Noble Character: My favorite part... Proverbs 31:25

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.

xoxo KISS(Keep it Simple & Sanctified)