Beautiful in God's Eyes: Chapter 1

Beautiful in God's Eyes: Chapter 1 by Elizabeth George

HER CHARACTER

This is a great devotional about Proverbs 31.  If you have never gone through a devotional written by Elizabeth George... make it your next one.  Her insights are great and she explains topics in terms you can really understand.  She writes mainly for woman, all ages.  Her husband writes on many of the same topics, but for men.  Most of her books have a study guide you can buy too, to help you get more out of the information.  Here are some notes and comments about the first chapter of this book

"Who can find a virtuous woman?" Proverbs 31:10 (KJV)

Alphabet of Character
Elizabeth begins the chapter inviting you to journey along with her as we study about the P31 woman. Elizabeth then talks about the background of these verses.  They are instructions from a mother to her son about the type of woman he should look for to be his wife.  Something interesting to know.... this section is called an acrostic... which means each verse starts with a letter (each letter, in order) of the Hebrew alphabet.. in order! "Taught this way, this alphabet of character could be quickly learned, easily memorized, regularly recited and permanently etched into the tablet of his(the son) heart." (pg 12)

Wow, this is serious stuff.  These qualities were meant to be taught and memorized by young son's so they knew what woman to look for.... And have you seen the list of her character?  That seems impossible to meet!  Elizabeth points out to notes of hope.... one it is written by a woman.  These are men being men and dictating a woman about what her character should be.  This is a woman.  This could be me... what kind of wife do I think it's important for my son to have?  What kind of woman do I think is good enough for him!?  Also, this mother expects her son to be able to find this woman.  The mother believes this woman is out there and expects her son to be able to find her.  This gives me hope, because it means becoming this woman isn't impossible.  I CAN become her.

A Picture of Beauty
This woman is God's idea of beauty.  God wants us to become virtuous women.  So what does virtuous mean? "The meaning of the word virtuous can be likened to the two sides of a coin.  Power of mind (moral principles and attitudes) makes up the image on one side, and power of body (potency and effectiveness) makes up the other." (p13).  A powerful mind shows her mental strength.  It's the internal qualities that keep her going in life.  She is pure, honest, industrious, thrifty, strong in character, kind, wise, and holy.  These internal qualities are what help her manager her life, her time, her money, her mouth, her home, her relationships and herself!  And that's only one half of the coin....

A powerful body-  when you read more about her character you can definitely see her he life requires physical energy.  Just look at some of the things she does with her life: she works with her hands, she plants a vineyard, she operates a spindle and a distaff, works from early in the morning to late at night, she nurses the needy, she weaves cloth for her family and for sale, she is never idle.  Just reading this list makes me tired!  "The virtuous and very industrious woman needs physical strength and ability to do the work of her life, the work of love." (P15)  That's right... the work of love. 

An Army of Virtues
 This woman is an army- an army of virtues.  The word virtuous (that describes this woman) is used over 200 times in the Bible to describe an army.  The word is used to describe men of war and men prepared for war... and now we are using it to describe the P31 woman.  "Just as mental toughness and physical energy are the primary traits of an army, they also make God's beautiful woman."(p15). 

When you think of armies... what do you think of?  Yesterday was Veteran's Day.  A day to honor those who have been in the armed services.  I saw this little picture on facebook that talks about what a veteran is....

 Look at that last part... Someone who wrote a blank check.... for an amount that includes their life!  They are someone who willingly will give up their life for another.  As a P31 woman... you are writing a blank check to others for an amount that includes you life.  Or at least your life in the way the world sees it.  The world seems to think you are only living your life if you are doing what you want with no concern to others.  But when you become a P31 woman... your life becomes whatever it needs to be so that you can help others in your life.... you worry more about everyone else around, then you worry about yourself.  You put your husband's and children's needs above your own... their needs are your needs!  As I become a P31 woman... I am becoming a Veteran of the Burke Family.  I am giving my husband and my children a blank check for any amount... They are my life.  Everything I do... I do to help them succeed.  My joy comes from their joy.  My happiness comes from seeing them happy.  Everything I do, I do it because it enables those around me to do what they need to do well... I make sure the bills get paid on time, the cleaning gets done, the cooking gets done so that my husband doesn't have to and can focus on what he needs to do. I take care of the details... so he can focus on the big picture (though the P31 woman is farsighted, so she keeps an eye on the big picture too)

When I think of an army I also think of men and women who have a ton of different skills... they are able to protect those around them, survive on very little, do whatever they have to to get the job done!  That is the same with P31 woman....  She protects those around her: her family as well as those who can't protect themselves, such as the homeless and the orphans.  Verse 20 says" She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy."  She is thrifty and not wasteful.  She doesn't give up and is diligent and discipline and never gives up. 

This woman is definitely an army of virtues.

One of the things I really like about Elizabeth George's devotionals is that she always includes practical ways to apply what you read to your own life... here are the ones she had for chapter 1:

The How-To's of Beauty
1. Cultivate the desire... what do you want to be known for?
2. Give it Time.... Remember becoming a P31 woman won't happen overnight, it will take a lot of time.  It is something you will continually have to work towards throughout your life.  What kind of time will it need?
-Time Reading God's Word...."When you read the Word of the lord, He uses it to scrub and scour away your fears, your laziness, your doubts and your sinful ways.  God uses Hid Word to transform you into a woman of divine power who more brilliantly reflects His beauty."(p 17)
-Time memorizing God's Word.
-Time with other woman.  Find woman who will help and encourage you along your journey to become a P31 woman.
-Time reading biographies of God's saints.  Read about other women on God's army, this will help strengthen and motivate you along your journey.  Examples? Amy Carmichael, Susanna Wesley, Elisabeth Elliott, Edith Schaeffer, and Ruth Graham
-Time Today.... dedicate each day to living out the principles of the P31 woman
-Time over a lifetime- God has given you a lifetime to become this woman... use the time he has given you.


Next chapter: HER VALUE