The Proverbs 31 Journey: Triumphal Faith

Meditation/Memory Verse: You will guard him and keep him in perfect and constant peace whose mind [both its inclination and its character] is stayed on You, because he commits himself to You, leans on You, and hopes confidently in You. ~ Isa 26:3 (Amplified)

On this particular morning I am up at 0300 with a storm. For whatever reason, I cannot sleep. My mind has been drawn to a particular passage from Romans that I heard on the radio the other day. Its a familiar passage but hearing it aloud nudge my heart towards this series I am posting. Over the last six months, this series has shown the many virtues and characteristic that make a Proverbs 31 Woman:

She is noble and wears the Armor of God

She reverences her God

She is daily growing her faith

She seeks to radiate the righteousness demonstrated through the life of Christ

She is a women of prayer

She empties herself daily In her marriage and in her relationship to God

She is submissive, trusting, and seeks to honor her husband and her God

She is a sold-out mom, her family is her priority next to her relationship with God

She is disciplined, self-sacrificing, self-controlled

She cares for the health of her body, mind and spirit-healthy cravings

She demonstrates spirit-living

She remains in God

She craves God and she is complete in His love

She builds her house with strength and courage, the aroma of respect and affection fills her rooms

She is "blessed"

....and we are not done listing the virtues and character of this woman. This Proverbs 31 Journey is truly just beginning to take shape. The above list is just a dent in the descriptiveness of this woman. As overwhelming as it may be, God has promised that it is obtainable through Him by just believing and walking in that faith.

When you look in the mirror, do you see her...parts of this Proverbs 31 Woman? Are you, the Proverbs 31 Woman, becoming more like Christ as this passage describes? That is the purpose of this study in this year. Living intentionally a triumphal faith.

Upon hearing the reading of Romans 1:1-5 on the radio, I heard the Spirit of God whisper "this too is the Proverbs 31 Woman". Slowly read through these verses in the NKJV which titles this passage "Faith Triumphs in Trouble". Faith...the foundation of the Proverbs 31 Woman, the backbone of all other virtues and characteristics she might possess. I know you know this passage well...

Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. ~ Romans 5:1-5 (NKJV).

We could break this down and dissect each word or each line but I think the Message version does a fine job of that for us:

By entering through faith into what God has always wanted to do for us—set us right with him, make us fit for him—we have it all together with God because of our Master Jesus. And that's not all: We throw open our doors to God and discover at the same moment that he has already thrown open his door to us. We find ourselves standing where we always hoped we might stand—out in the wide open spaces of God's grace and glory, standing tall and shouting our praise. There's more to come: We continue to shout our praise even when we're hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we're never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary—we can't round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!~ Romans 5:1-5 (Message)

Triumphal faith...a love relationship that makes us complete in God, even if there is chaos surrounding our world, our life, our minutes. Triumphal faith that opens doors when we are call to something greater than us and closes doors when it is not His will.

Joy...peace...praises..though it all...wrap in His generous love and grace. Perseverance...character ...hope...beauty marks from the Holy One. Beauty marks of godliness. A godliness that glorifies God through personal devotion and worship. This week, look a little deeper into this triumphal faith walk by these references for glorifying God from the MacArthur Bible Commentary (2005, pp.1518). Again, meditate on the verses, apply it, pray it. Live out these activities.

Monday: Living with Purpose ~ 1 Cor. 10:31

Tuesday: Confessing sins ~ Joshua 7:19

Wednesday: Praying Expectantly ~ John 14:13

Thursday: Living Purely ~ 1 Cor. 6: 18-20

Friday: Submitting to Christ ~ Phil. 2:9-11

It is though faith that we can get through the best and the worst of days. Grow your faith. Grow your walk of glorifying God. Fall deeper in love with Jesus.

Believing Him~Pamela