Dear
Virtuous Young Woman
by Danelle Vingtas
Dear
Virtuous Young Woman
Contents Introduction Page 1 The most important decision Page 2 Who is this Proverbs 31 Woman?
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CHRIST-CONFIDENCE Page 5 the love ingredient Page 7 purity Page 8 godliness Page 9 Dating Page 10 modesty Page 13 she is... Page 15 the virtuous young woman Page 16 the values of the modern proverbs 31 woman
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declaration Page 18 background, vision and mission Page 19
Dear
Virtuous Young Woman
Introduction
Introduction Dear Virtuous Young Woman, If you are reading this devotional, it means that you have a heart that thirsts, a heart that longs, a heart that yearns after Jesus - in essence, that is what being a Proverbs 31 Woman is all about. The content on these pages is what has taken me quite some time to realise - it need not be the same for you. As a young woman myself, I have experienced the pull of the world on my soul, my self-image and my beliefs. It was in that time that God not only revealed Himself to me, but also my worth in Him. By the time you finish this devotional, may your heart be changed just as much as mine has changed. Not because of anything that I have imagined or accomplished in my own strength, but because what I am sharing with you is what God has taught me in my pursuit of Him. In my pursuit of becoming a Proverbs 31 Woman. The things highlighted in Dear Virtuous Young Woman are not just one-time things, but rather a lifestyle for us as women after God’s own heart. Young as you are, you have a purpose in life for which you were specially created. Young as you are, you are able to make a change in the lives of everyone you come across daily. You are called to be salt and light (Matthew 5 v 13 - 16), and may this devotional help you discover your destiny in Christ as a godly woman and help you walk in it. The Word of God gives us a clear indication of what He expects from us as women. Many cast it aside and rather perceive it as being “old-fashioned”, but let me just say, congratulations on being one of the few in this generation who choose to take the narrow way and follow Jesus (Matthew 7 v 14). We are feminine, created in the image of God. There is no shame in wanting to serve Jesus with all the femininity in you. The desire in your heart to be a Proverbs 31 Woman, to be a virtuous woman, is indeed a godly one. My prayer is that the words in this devotional will aid you in achieving this. With love,
Danelle Page 1
Dear
THE MOST IMPORTANT DECISION
Virtuous Young Woman
T he Most Important Decision In this life we are faced with many decisions. Life is all about desicisons - in fact, every day starts with a choice. We have a choice to get up in the morning or not. During the day we are faced with constant decisions from what to wear, what to eat, which tasks to carry out, whether or not to have a positive attitude. As life goes on, we start making bigger decisons: which university to attend, where to work, who to marry, etc. Out of all these decisons, there is one that should be at the top of every young woman’s list. And no, it is not deciding who to marry. This one is the ultimate decision: who your God is. You see, who you worship determines how your life will go. Jesus is the one who left His position in the heavenlies and the Son of God who lived on earth as human as you and I. He willingly died a grusome death on the cross, all so that we could be freed from having to face a damned eternity - His love for us being His motivation. However, the choice to accept Him or not still remains up to us. DAILY VIRTUE Before you continue with this devotional, I want to ask you this utterly important question: have you surrendered your life to Jesus Christ? Do you know Him as your personal Lord and Saviour? If yes, that was by far the best decision you have ever made or ever will make! Have you been giving Him your all thus far? If you do not know Him personally, consider ceasing this opportunity right now. If you desire to be in a relationship with Jesus, I invite you to pray this salvation prayer: Jesus, I acknowledge Your existence. I believe in You, I believe that You are the Son of God who came down to earth to die for my sins. I want to know You, I want You to be my Lord and Saviour. I repent of my sins and ask that you renew my heart, so that I might walk with You in righteousness. Deliver me from all pain, hurt, disappointment and fill me with Your love, joy and peace. From this day on, my life is in Your hands. Amen. Meditate on this John 3 v 16 Ezekiel 16 v 60 Romans 13 v 8 Matthew 22 v 37 2 Corinthians 5 v 17 Roman 10 v 9 Galatians 2 v 20 Isaiah 43 v 4
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Dear
WHO IS THIS PROVERBS 31 WOMAN?
Virtuous Young Woman
W ho Is This P roverbs 31 Woman? The general assumption about the Proverbs 31 Woman is that she’s perfect. I used to think that her perfection was the reason that God decided to mention her in the Bible, but I couldn’t have been more wrong… Like so many women, I had a “Proverbs 31 Phobia”. I dreaded studying the chapter of the Virtuous Wife out of fear. Fear that I would never be able to measure up to her. Fear that my faults would start showing through the cracks, and that God would never see me as a virtuous woman. I thought that I had to be “perfect” – something I knew I could never be. It was one evening during my Bible study time that God spoke to me and said, “Just read it. For real this time”. I had been avoiding that portion of scripture, and God wanted me to study it. Clearly, He had an awesome truth to share with me. Then, for the first time, I started seeing the Proverbs 31 Woman in a different light. What makes this nameless, yet famous woman so significant, is not the fact that she knows how to cook, clean, have babies and stay at home while taking care of her family. It’s not the fact that she has great wisdom and business sense. It’s not because she’s an all-rounder. Of course, that’s great and valuable for any godly woman, but it’s her fear of the Lord that makes her a woman of virtue – that’s it. Her perfection doesn’t stem from her impeccable homemaking skills, but from her heart. Her perfection is not her own, it belongs to the One who owns her soul. The only reason why the Proverbs 31 Woman can be perceived as “perfect” is because she is a product of the God who lives within her. The only thing that’s perfect about her, is Him. She doesn’t place her hope in her husband, her family or her looks, but in God. Because of her fear of the Lord, she is able to be all that she is. You see, the Proverbs 31 Woman is the ideal example of a godly woman, not because she’s perfect, but because all that she does is a result of her relationship with her Saviour. She’s an example to every woman who wishes to please the Lord because she fears Him first and foremost, and every other area of her life flourishes because of it. That is something that doesn’t just apply to married women, but to every woman. Just like us, the Proverbs 31 Woman goes through many seasons in her life that needs His grace and guidance. The Proverbs 31 Woman is no different from the type of woman that is described in 1 Peter 3. In fact, she is just a complete personification of the kind of godly woman described throughout the Bible. Much like a summary. If we read Proverbs 31 v 1-9, we will see that the words mentioned are by king Lemuel; a reiteration of what his mother told him when he was a child. Indeed, his mother understood what God expected from women. She understood what it means to be a woman after God’s own heart. If anything, the Proverbs 31 Woman should be an encouragement to women to pursue a closer, more intimate relationship with Jesus – not pressure us to be “perfect”. Page 3
Dear
WHO IS THIS PROVERBS 31 WOMAN?
Virtuous Young Woman
In ancient times, Proverbs 31 v 10-31 was a popular rhyme taught to young boys by their mothers to help them find “ideal” wives. In short, their mothers taught them to look for wives who aim to please the Lord, and who don’t live for beauty, charm and vanity which all fade with time. They understood that a woman who “fears the Lord” will live in a way that is more beneficial and that will satisfy God. Much like that which Paul describes as being “pleasing in God’s sight” in 1 Peter 3 v 3-5. He calls it cultivating “inner beauty” – something that we can only receive from the God who IS beauty. So, I have learned that all I need to do in order to be a Proverbs 31 Woman, is put God first and focus on my relationship with Him. He desires to have our complete devotion, He wants to be our first love – and that, dear virtuous young woman, is what He deserves. It’s His blood that was shed for our sins and the high price of His sinless life (1 Cor. 6 v 20) that makes us “worth far more than rubies” (Pro. 31 v 10). It has nothing to do with our deeds or what we do for Him (Eph. 2 v 8). Rest assured, we don’t need to be perfect to please God, we just have to desire to please Him and act on that desire. DAILY VIRTUE Would you like to become a Proverbs 31 Woman? Would you like Jesus to change you from the inside-out? Remember that everything starts with Him! Write down all the things about the Proverbs 31 Woman that you wish to be, read them out loud and pray the following prayer: Jesus, You know my heart, You know my purpose. Help me become a woman of virtue, a woman who fears You, a woman who lives for You. Change me from the inside-out, make me a Proverbs 31 Woman that strives to please You in all areas of life and in every season. Amen. Meditate on this Proverbs 31 v 10 - 31
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Dear
CHRIST-CONFIDENCE
Virtuous Young Woman
Christ -Confidence The world tells us that beauty is wearing tons of make-up and skimpy clothes. You are not “pretty” enough if you do not have the face and body of a supermodel or a famous superstar. Girls feel pressured to wear fake hair, fake eyelashes and fake nails – all for the sake of fitting in. Jesus, however, invites us into a relationship where we can be free to be ourselves. The confidence exuded by a woman who knows who she is in Christ, is unlike any other confidence portrayed by the most renowned superstar. The reason for this is simple: she draws her confidence from a source that never runs out, never gives up and never disappoints – unlike the culture of this world. A woman who knows who she is in Christ has the liberty to be herself completely, knowing that she will always be accepted by her Saviour... even if no-one else does. She believes that she is beautiful – and lives accordingly – because her God said so, and that settles it. She does not need what women in the world need to “feel” beautiful, accepted or that they fit in. Approval from people, make-up, plastic surgery, material wealth, male attention, fake hair, popularity – these are all temporarily satisfying and all depend on how others view you. For a woman of God, for a Proverbs 31 Woman, none of this is needed. She is too determined to please her precious Saviour and has no time to be concerned with the opinions of others about her appearance. She knows that she is loved for who she is, no matter what others may think of her. She knows that she has been fearfully and wonderfully made. A virtuous woman is more concerned with hearing and listening to the silent whisper of her Saviour, than the loud praises of crowds of people. DAILY VIRTUE Do you have the kind of confidence mentioned in this chapter? Do you know that you are accepted just as you are? Do you know that Jesus created you the way you are for a reason? Your uniqueness is like God’s fingerprint – a sign of His beauty, a sign that you are His. Accept now who you are. Make peace with how you look. Know that what you see when you look at yourself in the mirror, is the result of the costly price that was paid for you – the life of Jesus. Know now that you do not need any approval that is not the approval of God. Right now, look in the mirror. Consider what you see. Is there anything that you like about yourself, inside and out? There should be. Is there anything you do not like about yourself, inside or out? Because you are human, there will be. Write down the things that you like about yourself on one piece of paper, what you do not like, on another. Then, say the following prayer. Do it every day if you feel the need to: Jesus, You created me the way I am. I am alive, I am well – thank you. Lord I love ............................. about myself.
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Dear
CHRIST-CONFIDENCE
Virtuous Young Woman
I thank you for designing me in such a unique and loving way. Lord, I pray that You will help me accept the things that I dislike about myself and help me realise that this is how you made me. Give me the confidence and surety that no matter what, I am beautiful and loved. Give me Christ-confidence. Help me remember that I do not need the fleeting things of this world, for I am beautiful just as I am, because YOU say so. I am Loved. Chosen. Set apart. A daughter of the Risen King. A virtuous woman, worth far more than rubies. Royalty. Nothing less than what You say I am. I affirm my identity in Christ! Amen. (Tear the piece of paper with the list of things you dislike about yourself and throw it away.) Proverbs 31 v 30 Isaiah 43 v 4 Psalm 139 v 14
Meditate on this
1 Peter 3 v 3-4
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Dear
THE LOVE INGREDIENT
Virtuous Young Woman
T h e L o v e I n gr e d i e n t There truly is no greater example of love than Jesus. He is the key-factor in any relationship – the love ingredient. We might try to define or categorise love, but until we really get to know Jesus, we will never know it. Even more importantly: we will never be able to show it. We might think we know what love is, we might try in our own strength to prove that we know what it is, but have you noticed that human attempts at either showing love or looking for love, somehow always fail? That is because it is based on our understanding rather than God’s definition. God is love. If we know Him, we know love. If we know love, we are able to love others. Anything else besides the Jesus-definition of love is fleeting and false. The first step to loving someone, is salvation. You might be wondering how? Well, it is quite simple. It is only trough salvation that we have access to knowing God (love) on a personal level. It is the only true and lasting way to know love. The only way to love someone is to love them like God, and the only way to know how God loves, is to know Him for yourself. When someone fears the Lord, they will love you right. Not because they are a better person than anyone else, but because they fear the Lord and His commands too much to disobey Him. A person led by the Holy Spirit and the fear of the Lord, is the safest person to be with – in any kind of relationship. In the same way, if you know love, you will be able to show love. This can only be done through having a personal relationship with the God that is love: Jesus Christ. Without love we can accomplish nothing. DAILY VIRTUE Do you know love (God) well enough to be able to show His love to those you encounter? Today, pray that the love you have may be intensified in order that you may be able to love better. God, I pray that in all things, Your love will be displayed in my life. May people see You in me, and may Your love be reflected in my thoughts, words, actions and the way I interact with people. Give me Your heart, make me see what You see. May You open my eyes to Your love in others, and bring people across my path who will love me like You. Amen.
1 John 4:8 1 Peter 1 v 22 1 Corinthians 13 v 4 - 10 Matthew 5 v 43 - 48
Meditate on this
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Dear
PURITY
Virtuous Young Woman
Purity With all the influence from the outside world, we think we are forced to submit to patterns of what is ‘acceptable’ and what is not. We tend to neglect what we truly want, feel and believe, all for the sake of fitting in to some standard. Our morals are cast aside because we are not confident enough to say, “This is what I believe and I am sticking to it”. We are called to be salt and light – in all aspects of our lives. We are ambassadors of Christ, therefore the rest of the world is looking to us as an example of who Jesus is. Are we really representing Jesus if we conform? What exactly makes us different from everybody else if we do what they are doing? Purity is not just about abstaining from sex until you are married, it involves your thoughts, words and actions. In fact, everything we think, say and do is a direct indication of the degree of the purity of our heart. We are called to be different. To go against everything that the secular world stands for. To let the presence of God be evident in our way of living. We should proudly proclaim our beliefs when it comes to purity, especially when it comes to physical boundaries in a dating relationship. There is no shame in wanting to glorify God with your mind, body, spirit and your whole being. On the contrary, that is the way it should be! Never compromise what you believe in to ease someone else’s mind. What is more important is knowing that You are following Jesus and living like Him. We are human – very much so, but we should strive to live a holy life before God. This is very possible through the grace of God and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. But here is a secret: you have to want to live a pure life. It is all about living out JESUS and making the decision to do so. DAILY VIRTUE Things like pre-marital sex, masturbation, abuse, pornography and more are all a reality, even to us Christians. Whether we want to admit that they are real or not, they are matters that affect our youth. The world is filled with impurity, but as Proverbs 31 Women, we are called to resist it and strive to be pure like Jesus. God, this world is full of temptation, therefore I ask You to help me resist it just as You resisted it. Let Your Holy Spirit guide me and let my heart be pure before You. Let my life reflect You. Amen.
Meditate on this Romans 12 v 2 1 Corinthians 6 v 18 2 Timothy 2 v 22 Colossians 3 v 5 Psalm 51 v 10 Philippians 1 v 9-11 1 Peter 1 v 14 - 16 2 Corinthians 5 v 20
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Dear
GODLINESS
Virtuous Young Woman
Godliness As Christians, we are called to live according the ways of God – in godliness. This is only possible when we pursue God, spend time in His Word and live by it. Godliness is not about how often you attend church, whether or not you sing in the worship team or even how often you read the Bible. Rather, it is about living a lifestyle that is pleasing to God. A lifestyle that reflects His being, His Word. It is not about being perfect, but about pursuing the perfection of Christ. Our goal should not be to become gods, but to become godlike. As humans we will often make mistakes and fail God, but that is why we have to remember that with Him there is always grace. Not for us to take advantage of, but rather for us to know that He is always willing to forgive and help us get back up when we fall. We ought to accept every single verse in the Bible, and not read and apply only those scriptures that we feel comfortable with. Often youngsters profess to be Christian, yet live a lifestyle that is contrary to the life of Jesus. Godliness is only possible when we surrender our lives completely to God, not just certain parts of it. We are called to take up our cross daily, not just on a Sunday or at a prayer meeting during the week. A relationship with Jesus requires full commitment and a fully surrendered heart for Him to be able to change it. We have to realise that if we want to follow Jesus, we will have to turn away from anything that does not represent Him. That includes drunkedness, clubbing or anything else that is distructive to a person’s soul and contrary to the Bible. DAILY VIRTUE Godliness is indeed challenging as it is in our nature to sin, for this exact reason we need Jesus. Without His love and grace, this would not be possible. To the one who does not know Him, godliness is far off. Are there any areas in your life that you feel you need God to change? Anything in your lifestyle that does not represent Jesus? Write it down and bring it before Him. Jesus, you are the personification of love and godliness. I pray that my lifestyle would represent you more. In everything, help me to pursue You more. I want to live a godly life, a life that is pleasing in Your sight. Remove what is sinful and does not please You, and create in me a clean heart. Help me to be godlike. Amen. Meditate on this Matthew 5 v 8 2 Timothy 2 v 22 1 Timothy 1 v 5 Ephesians 5 v 3 Ephesians 4 v 1 1 Timothy 4 v 8
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Dear
Virtuous Young Woman
dating
Dating If there is one thing that really breaks my heart, it is seeing young women broken and torn apart because of failed relationships. I am sure we can all testify to the above statement. We have all had a sister, friend or relative who has gone through it, or we have gone through it ourselves. We so easily quote sayings such as, “You deserve better”, but until we ourselves or the person we are trying to encourage believes those words, there is nothing we can do about it, except pray. We often pour our heart and soul into relationships. We wear our heart on our sleeve, we put our boyfriend ahead of everything and everyone else in our lives, including God. That, dear virtuous woman, is the BIGGEST mistake you can ever make. These days, there is no difference between marriage and relationships – that in itself is enough ammunition to break our society apart. The purpose of dating is for it to ultimately lead to marriage, but these days, dating is taken very casually. It is more of a hobby than anything else. It is a method for the lonely to ease their loneliness. If marriage is not the ultimate goal of a relationship, you should not be in it. If we would only open our eyes, we would see that the world has made a mockery out of marriage, which God so much honours. Unmarried couples nowadays have the same benefits that married couples do. 1) Having sex 2) Having kids 3) Living together, have become a norm for today’s generation. If you are not having sex with your boyfriend, you are considered to be “abnormal”. The sad thing is, when the relationship falls apart, so does the person. Jefferson Bethke states it so perfectly when he says, “You don’t just have sex with the body, you have sex with the soul.” That is so accurate, which is why God created sexual intimacy for marriage - and only marriage. Putting Jesus first in our heart and life shields us from a lot of drama and heartache, and this is what so many girls do not realise. Every waking hour of the day is consumed by their partner. He is everything to them, he becomes an idol, their god. There is a reason why the Bible tells us to “guard our heart”. If we do not, we allow satan to step in, take over and ruin our lives. Us young ladies are so quick to give up our virtue. The best parts of us are scattered everywhere. Every guy we come across has a part of us, a part of our soul, so what is left for Jesus? The broken parts, right? God wants the best of us, our all – and He deserves it! When we rather have pour our heart and soul into a relationship with Jesus, we do not need anyone or anything else to make us feel complete. Which is why if your boyfriend should leave you, it does not make such a great impact as opposed to having your world fall apart because the only thing you had your heart set on, now no longer exists. Keep your virtue until the right time. The right time is not a matter of “what age”, it is a matter of “when”. WHEN you are married to the man that God has put aside for you, you are free to participate in sexual acts – WITH YOUR HUSBAND. There is no safer place to do such. Learn to honour God with your body, it is His temple, after all. Page 10
Dear
Virtuous Young Woman
dating
Guard your heart, leave it hidden in Christ’s possession until He releases you to share it with another. Someone who has a heart like Christ, will love you like Christ. He will respect your boundaries. He will not force his will on you or try to convince you to adjust yours. A man will always be a man, true, but is he a man who is willing to sacrifice his fleshly ways and desires? Not to please you, but out of obedience to God? We should by all means keep away from men who have a problem with our moral and biblical standards. That is a danger zone that one should never dare to entertain. Someone who does not obey God’s commands, will surely not respect or protect your virtue. On the other hand, we must place ourselves in a position to be respected. If you want to be treated like a lady, act like one. We all know the saying, “Respect is earned.” Well, the same principle applies in this case. Are you protecting your virtue as much as you expect someone else to? If you are looking for a gentleman, a godly, virtuous man, remember that he will not be looking for someone whose breasts, thighs and whatever else are exposed to him and everyone else. If you want exclusivity, be exclusive. You get what you give. You attract what you project. We rely on our partner to satisfy all our needs. Indeed, we were created to long for that one thing that will make us complete, but we often look for it in the wrong places. Do not rely on any human to do what only God can do. He is meant to be our source of fulfilment, happiness, complete love and strength. Jesus is meant to be our everything, and our life partner, only an extra. When we have a personal relationship with God, all our needs will already be fulfilled when we meet our soul mate, consequently, we will be complete with or without them. Check yourself. Are you putting pressure on your boyfriend over needs that can only be fulfilled by Jesus? Single ladies, are you content in your relationship with the Lord? Is He your all? Do you feel complete in Him, or are you still longing for something else besides Him to come into your life and magically make you happy? Do not get me wrong – it is perfectly normal to desire having someone special in your life. It is the mentality that you need a man in your life to make you complete that is the problem. Our Lord is a jealous God. He will not give you what He knows will create a distance between you and Him. Check your mind. What is it that consumes your thoughts most of the time? What do you talk about most of the time? What is your greatest desire? Be careful, because that just might be your god. Jesus – 24/7, that is the standard. He completes you like no man can. DAILY VIRTUE Has Jesus been your deepest desire? Deeper than your desire for a husband or for your boyfriend? Have you been spending more time thinking about this desire than spending time with your Saviour? What has been your source of fulfillment? Do you sometimes feel that you need people or things other than Jesus in your life to be complete? Are you dating your desire to be married? Are you dating your education? Make sure you are dating Jesus! Page 11
Dear
Virtuous Young Woman
dating
Have you been keeping your virtue for the right time - which is marriage? Consider your ways in a dating relationship. Are your actions representing Jesus? Remember that any relationship is only an addition to our lives, not the core – that spot is meant for Jesus, and only Jesus. Jesus, I want You to be my number one priority, no matter who is in my life, no matter what else I may desire. Keep me grounded in your love, that I may always put You first. Lord, help me to guard me heart when it comes to dating relationships and my views on it. Let my mindset and actions not be according to the ways of the world, but according to Your Word. Amen. Meditate on this 1 Corinthians 6 v 19-20 Matthew 22 v 37 Ephesians 5 v 28 Song of Songs 2 v 7 Proverbs 4 v 23 Romans 13 v 13-14
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Dear
Virtuous Young Woman
modesty
Modesty The way we as women represent ourselves as individuals, plays a crucial part in how women are viewed in general. Modesty is seen by the majority as being “old-fashioned” or archaic, but as Proverbs 31 Women, we are not called to be a part of the vast majority. We are called to be a part of that minority who dare to be different – in a godly way. When people see us, they need to wonder what exactly it is about us that makes us stand out from the rest of the crowd. Do not be fooled by the flashy image of women portrayed to us by celebrities and movie stars – that is not who we are. Modesty is defined by the Oxford dictionary as, “behaviour, manner, or appearance intended to avoid impropriety or indecency”. That, dear virtuous young woman, is how we ought to present ourselves. Not to make us look good, but to properly represent our Lord in our words, actions and even our way of dress. It may be generally accepted for a woman to wear extremely tight jeans, short skirts and have an enormous cleavage, but for us, modesty should be our objective when deciding what to wear. What motivates you when you get dressed in the morning? Is your goal to look “hot”, “sexy” and “hard-to-miss”, or is it to represent Jesus? As women of God and of worth, we must dress the part. The world is looking at you and your motives tell an open story about your heart. Is what you wear an accurate expression of who Jesus is to you? A woman of God is clothed in strength and dignity. She wears unfading beauty in the form of a gentle and quiet spirit. The only trend she follows, is the Word of God. The only style she is into, is love. Her main accessory is the Holy Spirit. Her designer...Jesus. What is external is temporary and lasts only for a short while. What is internal lasts forever. Focus on growing your spirit and allowing Jesus to change your heart and mind. A relationship with Jesus is everything. Indecency might seem “cool” in the moment, but what we do not realise is that it shatters our reputation. These days it is a trend for young women to upload inapropriate photos of themselves on the internet and social networks - this is the most outrageous form of lack of self-respect. As modest women, we do not degrade ourselves, but carry ourselves in a godly way. DAILY VIRTUE If you had to be honest with yourself, would you say that how you dress and how you present yourself is a proper depiction of Jesus? If not, now is the time to ask God to change your exterior Page 13
Dear
Virtuous Young Woman
modesty
and have people turn their heads when you walk past – for the right reasons. That reason being because they see Jesus in you and cannot figure out what it is about you that draws them in. Despite popular belief, modesty does that even more than flamboyance - believe me. Or rather, try it for yourself! Talk to Jesus about it. Tell Him... Jesus, I want to be a woman that represents you in the way that You desire. I want people to see You when they look at me. I want to be modest and humble – just like you. Change me, mould me, shape me into the godly woman that You wish for me to be. Change my thoughts, actions, words and exterior to be modest as a godly woman should be. Amen. Study the verses below and intentionally change your way of dressing and/or actions that you think are not pleasing to God accordingly. Remember, you are not doing this by yourself, but by the power of the Holy Spirit. It is a process. Meditate on this 1 Timothy 2 v 9 Proverbs 31 v 30 1 Peter 3 v 3-4 Proverbs 11 v 22 Ephesians 4 v 17 - 24 Proverbs 22 v 1
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Dear
Virtuous Young Woman
she is...
She is...
Based on Proverbs 31
v
10 - 31
God-fearing Verse 30 Virtuous Verse 10 Diligent Verse 13 , 14 Excellent Verse 27, 31 Blessed Verse 28 Wise Verse 26 Kind Verse 26 Business-minded Verse 16, 17, 18, 24 Strong Verse 17, 21, 25 Concerned for the poor Verse 20 Skilled Verse 22 Honourable Verse 25 Concerned for the wellbeing of her family
Verse 15, 21, 27
Willing Verse 13, 19 A safety net for her husband
Verse 11, 12
A leader (she is the wife of a well-known husband)
Verse 23
Respected Verse 26, 28, 29, 31 Worth more than rubies Verse 10
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Dear
Virtuous Young Woman
the virtuous young woman
The Virtuous Young Woman She knows her worth – Therefore she does not allow any man to treat her any less than she deserves. Therefore she respects her body, and does not degrade herself. Therefore she acts accordingly and behaves in a godly manner.
She is wise – Therefore she knows that the things of this world are fleeting, they quickly fade. Therefore she puts her trust in nothing but God. Therefore she understands that seeking His Kingdom first reaps great eternal rewards.
She is beautiful – Therefore love, kindness and humility are her coverings. Therefore splendour goes before her. Therefore goodness and mercy follow her.
She is excellent – Therefore she does each task as if it is being done unto God. Therefore she gives nothing less than her best. Therefore whatever she touches prospers.
She is content – Therefore she knows that she is a new woman in Christ. Therefore she knows that she is accepted and loved by her Creator. Therefore she knows that she is safe in the will of God.
. . . S H E I S Y O U.
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Dear
Virtuous Young Woman The Values of the modern
Proverbs 31
Woman
• Dignity • Humility • Purity • Self-respect • Godliness • Modesty
Virtue
• Loyalty
1. “A positive trait or quality deemed to be morally good and thus is valued as a foundation of principle and good moral being.” 2. “Behaviour showing high moral standards.” 3. “Virginity or chastity, especially of a woman.”
I will... I will arise and shine, for the glory of the Lord is upon me. [Isaiah 60 v 1] I will believe every promise from God’s Word and from His mouth. [Luke 1 v 45] I am an oak of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendour, therefore I will proclaim His good news. [Isaiah 61 v 1] I will make Jesus my all. [Matthew 22 v 37] I will not keep silent, I will proclaim the goodness of the Lord. [Isaiah 62] I will remember that I am fearfully and wonderfully made and that I lack nothing. [Psalm 139 v 14] I will set my mind on things above, and not on earthly things. As a chosen child of God, I will clothe myself with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. I will put on the virtue of love. [Colossians 3 v 2; 12; 14] I will act according to my worth. [Proverbs 31 v 10] I will let my faith make me whole. [Matthew 9 v 22] I will be a woman of excellence. [Ruth 3 v 11] I will be loyal. [Proverbs 17 v 17] Page 17
Dear
Virtuous Young Woman
declaration
Declaration Pray the following prayer, print it out and put it up somewhere where you will be able to see it every day to remind you of your oath to Jesus of becoming a Proverbs 31 Woman. I, ...................................., declare that from today, I will strive to be a woman after God’s own heart. A woman of virtue, a woman of worth...a Proverbs 31 Woman. God, be with me every step of the way, shape me into the woman You created me to be, help me walk in my destiny. I promise to live my life for You, thus, being a reflection of You to the world. I will reach out to those in need, just like You have reached out to me. Date: .......................
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Thank you for taking part in the vision of Proverbs 31 Sisterhood. May you go from strength to strength in your relationship with Jesus and in your pursuit of becoming a Proverbs 31 Woman.
Background Proverbs 31 Sisterhood was founded in 2012 by Danelle Vingtas. She is determined to show the love of Jesus to the young women of this generation and to help them realise that they are loved unconditionally, no matter what. As a young woman herself, she has experienced the internal struggle that is faced by today’s youth. The influence of the media drives many young women to believe that they are not good enough, pretty enough or skinny enough. Before finding Jesus in 2010, Danelle was one of the young girls that she now hopes to reach out to. This was mainly caused by the fact that she did not know that there is a God who created her fearfully, wonderfully, purposefully and beautifully. After accepting Jesus as her Lord and Saviour, she began to realise how precious she actually is - despite the constant contradicting message from the media and the world. It is this precise message that she wants to spread. She believes that knowing your worth in Christ is not only the door to a better self-image and future, but more importantly...a better eternity. Through Proverbs 31 Sisterhood, she hopes to re-establish the standard on which this exact scripture is based and to influence young women to be virtuous and live for Christ.
Vision and Mission • Mission: To love Jesus above all else, and to serve Him by inspiring young women to be virtuous. • Vision: To see all young women seek God’s Kingdom first, and by so doing, becoming women of virtue.
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