woman – sheriyates.com

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I had a God encounter. I spoke with a woman who loves the Lord with all her heart. We shared testimonies while we did some dishes. It was a random meet for only a moment between women a few generations apart.

She had lost her husband of thirty years. I began to weep at the thought of even starting to lose mine. All those little things I am nagging about—like his socks beside the bed and the protein powder he sprinkles but never wipes off the counter—started to grow faint. These are minor issues. They’re immaterial, really. Why does this type of thing bother me? Why does it nag me? Why do I have to open my mouth? Shut up. Shut up. I hear it repeating in my head. I would rather have those socks on the floor, and the protein powder on my counter than not have him there at all. Who cares about the house? It’s about people.

She told me her last words to him were, “Hey, you aren’t supposed to be doing that.” He was on doctor’s orders not to do certain things because his heart was fragile. She said she had to forgive him for doing things outside of what he was supposed to do because that was who he was. He didn’t want to be someone different. He didn’t want to live a different life.

I have been thinking about this nonstop. I thought that if we knew how to war in the name of Jesus Christ, then the dead would be raised up until they had long lives. When we are given a doctor’s report, we don’t have to receive it. We don’t have to receive the doctor’s report. We have to stand up in the name of Jesus Christ and receive the truth for our medicine, not a fact. I thought to myself, “If that happened to me, I would not only have to forgive my husband, but I would also have to forgive myself for not being the warrior that I was supposed to be, for not being someone so firmly established in the truth that facts don’t faze me.”

Truth is my fact. The truth should be my reality above everything else in this world. I do live in this world. I live in a body, but the truth is that I am a spirit. I am a spirit with God living in me. The same power that raised Christ from the dead lives in me. It does no good to have that power inside of me if I can’t use it in this world, if I can’t draw on it to help people. It does no good if I just receive all the dark, sick evil in this world. It does no good whatsoever.

I want to be a woman of God. I want to be a lioness arising, according to Lisa Bevere. I want to be a woman standing at the gate with my sword and refusing to let in any stealing, killing, and destroying. The same power that raised Christ from the dead lives in me, and I have been commissioned and called by God and given authority over darkness in the name of Jesus Christ.

I hope you have a God encounter today and a revelation that changes you forever. Stand up, ladies. Stand up, women of God. Stand firmly in the truth, knowing that this is a spiritual battle. It is not a battle in physical. It is won through the name of Jesus Christ.

Proverbs 31 has always been something I would read and think, “Right. I won’t be sewing my own clothes. I can never meet this standard for a woman.”

Until recently … No, I didn’t become superwoman!

I realized that I had always compared myself to the Proverbs 31 woman, seeing myself as one who could never measure up.

But today I looked at Proverbs 31 in a new way. I viewed it as if I were the Proverbs 31 woman. I rewrote it in my own voice as if I were these things already.

I started speaking to my future self. Even where I don’t measure up to this standard, it is where I am going! Ladies, we may never arrive at perfect performance. What’s important is that we start. Start what? Sewing? No! We simply need to see ourselves through the eyes of who God has made us to be.

We need to speak to our future!

Experts suggest that you will get whatever behavior you expect from your child. Isn’t the same true for us? Low expectations breed low performance.

Scripture says that we will eat the fruit of our lips. What are your lips speaking about you, your family, and your future? Are they filled with life and truth or death and lies?

You try it! Here is what I did:

My husband and sons-in-law love Jesus and do not give their strength to loose women. My daughters and I do not give our hearts or bodies to loose men—only to our husbands. (Proverbs 31:2-3)
Our family is called to influence. Therefore, we will not drink so that our judgment is not impaired. (Proverbs 31:4-7)
I will care for the underdogs. I will teach them to fish, not just feed them. (Proverbs 31:8-9)
I am a capable, intelligent, and virtuous woman. I am more precious than rubies and pearls. (Proverbs 31:10)
My husband confidently trusts, relies on, and believes in me. I have no lack. I comfort and encourage him. I do him only good until I pass from this earth. (Proverbs 31:11-12)
I work hard. I am not lazy when it comes to caring for my family. I prepare their meals. (Proverbs 31:13-14)
I rise early. First thing, I bring my family spiritual nourishment. I assign tasks to each member of my family and each worker. (Proverbs 31:15)
I am a good steward of what God has given me. I have the mind of Christ and wisdom from the Lord, and I use it in every business and financial decision. I don’t ignore my most important responsibilities. (Proverbs 31:16)
I encourage myself in the Lord and in truth so I can be spiritually minded rather than carnally minded. I am physically fit. My arms are strong and firm so that I have the life to carry out what God has called me to do. (Proverbs 31:17)
The work of God in me I acknowledge and remember when hard times press around me. God’s light continues to shine in trials of all kinds. (Proverbs 31:18)
I work hard. I feed others who are poor in spirit. (Proverbs 31:19-20)
I have skills that benefit my family (like sewing, designing, etc.). God will equip me with whatever skills I need. I dress like an ambassador of Jesus Christ. (Proverbs 31:21-22)
My husband is known at the city gates. He consults with the elders of all the lands— pastors, teachers, and business leaders. (Proverbs 31:23)
I write Bible studies, books, and skits and make videos, games, and fun things to help Christ followers know who they are in Christ. I build up leaders in my own and future generations to lead in their own circles. (Proverbs 31:24)
Strength and dignity are my clothing. My position is strong and secure. I rejoice over the future. My family is ready for it! (Proverbs 31:25)
My mouth is filled with godly wisdom, and my tongue is kind. I give counsel and instruction. (Proverbs 31:26)
I refuse to be idle! I am not discontent. I don’t pity myself. I refuse to gossip. I look well to how things go in my home. (Proverbs 31:27)
My children will call me blessed. My daughters’ hearts toward me are always pure.
My husband boasts about and praises me. He thinks I am the cream of the crop. (Proverbs 31:28-29)
I fear the Lord. I worship the Lord. I am in awe of You, Lord! (Proverbs 31:30)
I will reap what I sow. My works will show the fruit of the Spirit. (Proverbs 31:31)