PG31 Challenge #12 LIGHT UP THE NIGHT

Today's Verse: Proverbs 31:18

 She sees that she is making a good profit. Her lamp burns late at night. GWT

Key Word: BURN

Reflect: As a Woman of Virtue, you carry within you a passion from God. What is stirring in your heart and constantly on your mind? What cause do you find yourself championing? That is where you will find fuel for life's daily grind. For me, education, equipping, and imparting to the next generation of artists is my passion. For you, it may be a different area of need. Whatever God has caused your heart to burn for, feed that flame! Don't let the cares of this life choke out the purpose God has placed in you!

ProACTION: Buy 2 scented candles, write your favorite verses or verses that are tied to your passion on it and present it to someone you know needs the Word of God to light their way. I would love to see your candle online with the Word of God!

PG31 Challenge #11 Confidently FLY

Today's Verse:Proverbs 31:17

 She dresses herself  with strength and makes her arms strong. ESV

Key Phrase: Dressed With Strength

Reflect: It's the event of the year, the event you have been waiting for: a going away party, an engagement party, a promotion party, a retirement party, and Proverbs Woman, you must look fly.So, you splurge: Louboutins? Check. Prada bag? Check. Tiffany& Co? Check. Your favorite scent? Check. Spa day? Check. You're decked out and sure to be the talk of the evening, but how much time did you spend preparing your inner woman? Woman of Virtue, God wants you to deck out your inner woman with the same care and attention to detail, and He wants you to do it daily. The verse tells us, that the Virtuous Woman takes care to dress herself with strength. How can we do that daily? It starts with prayer. Prayer is the undergarment for our spirit man. 1 Peter 5:5 tells us to be clothed with humility. Humility is strength restrained. She makes her arms strong. God wants us to make our arms strong by carrying our burdens to him and laying them at his feet. Where we leave the burden is where we can pick up His yoke, His anointing to handle the situations we face on a daily basis. His strength is made perfect in our weaknesses. When we humble ourselves and admit we cannot fix it, complete it, or handle it without God, He makes a great exchange with us in prayer. We can face the world confidently looking fly on the inside and the outside. To help me remember this, God said FLY stands for Fully Loving You. When you love yourself and see yourself the way God sees you, you spend the time getting dressed for success!

ProACTION: Take a picture of your FLY self today and post online and/or share what God has given you strength to do today! (Testify!)

PG31 Challenge #10 STRONG ENOUGH

Today's Verse:Proverbs 31:17

 She girds her loins with strength, and strengthens her arms. (KJV)

Key Word: GIRDS-

a. To encircle with a belt or band.

b. To fasten or secure with a belt or band.

c. To surround.

2. To equip or endow.

3. To prepare (oneself) for action.

To summon up one's inner resources in preparation for action.

Reflect:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A8JsRxVczmQ

ProACTION: Listen to the reflection. While listening, write a letter of surrender to God.

Here's my letter:

God, I am not strong without you. But with you, I am infused with the strength to do any and everything you have called me to. I surrender to you and ask you to encircle me with your favor, fasten me and secure me in your truth. Surround me with your presence and glory. Surround me with wise counselors. Equip me for the work and endue me with your power and anointing. As I prepare myself for action, I surrender to your inner resource, the Holy Spirit, to be stirred up and active in my daily life decisions. By the authority of Jesus, Amen.

PG31 Challenge #9 INNER-GY

Today's Verse:Proverbs 31:17

 She arms her waist with strength, and makes her arms strong. (World English Bible)

Key Words: Armed & Dangerous

Reflect: She takes care of her own health and strength, not only by means of useful labor, but by healthy exercise. She avoids what might weaken her body, or soften her mind - she is ever active, and  ready for every necessary exercise. Her loins are firm, and her arms strong (Clark's Commentary).

I know I can speak for many women who do not find the gym an appealing option. So, what can you do to get in shape that doesn't involve a gym? You can 1) Walk rather than take the elevator, even parking your car a distance to force the walk works 2) You can spend the next 21 days changing your diet.* 3) You can utilize your office space to do lunging & tightening your stomach muscles for ten seconds at a time is said to be equal to stomach crunching. 4) You can head to the playground and get active with your children. Rather than watching them play, play along. If your husband works out, join him at least one time a month. You get the exercise and the relational benefit too. 5)Take a 3 minute breathing break. Put your timer on (most phones have them now) and close your eyes. Inhale, making your belly appear like a blown up balloon. Then exhale slowly through your mouth, counting to 5. Repeat this for the break.

Will you begin all of this today? Highly unlikely. Can you get started? Most definitely. You, Virtuous Woman are loved by many. It is absolutely imperative that you take care of YOU!

ProACTION: Write 31 qualities about you that have nothing to do with your outer man in your journal. Be brutally honest. Then, highlight the things you know are not bearing godly fruit. Pray about them and ask God for the strength, the wisdom, and the right Word to help you renew the spirit of your mind so that it is more like His. Remember, we are under construction! Work It, Ladies!

*My consistent diet is soups, salads, chili, lots of fruit, fish, rice, mixed veggies & turkey casseroles and very little bread & pasta. I indulge during holidays but otherwise I am pretty consistent, and I have been the same weight the past four years. I have now added plenty of purified water to that with a daily cup of coffee and applesauce. I am by no means advising this as the perfect diet, but it works for me. Please consult your physician or nutritionist before changing your diet

PG31 Challenge #8 SYNERGY

Today's Verse:Proverbs 31:17

 She puts on strength like a belt and goes to work with energy.

Key Words: Strength & Energy

Reflect: We are going to marinate on this for a few challenges. Today, Virtuous Woman, got wants you to know He is the Heavy Weight in this relationship. He has armed you with the belt of truth. This belt is special to us, as we have an advantage of what is commonly called 'women's intution'. We can read a situation within seconds, working both sides of our brain. Science has proven that when words and body language don't match, it's considered a lie, and women will trust your body language over the words coming out of your mouth. What does this mean for us? It means that often times, we can tell when our sister is down, feeling out of sorts, depressed, much faster than our male counterparts. The nurturer kicks in and we find ourselves mothering, coddling, and at times pacifying what could be toxic behavior and attiudes. We want our sisters to feel better. We want our mothers to not go through yet another divorce. We want our daughters to stay away from negative influences. We want our sisters to get out of that abusive relationship. But if we provide intervention where we need to provide intercession, we are telling God that He is not Big Enough. Today, my Sister, my Friend, Woman of Virtue. Put on the strength of God, and go to work in His energy. In this life, we and the people we love will face trials and trouble, but Let God fix it, as you fix your eyes on Him. He's so much better at it.

ProACTION: Call on three people today that you know are struggling with pressing situations. Use your break time today to pray with them, agree with them for the victory and encourage them to let God be the Heavy Weight today. We want to hear from you! Share your testimony!

PG31 Challenge #7 CHECKPOINT

Today's Verse: Proverbs 31:16

 She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard. NIV

She picks out a field and buys it. She plants a vineyard from the profits she has earned.GWT

Key Words: Consider, Buy, & Plant

Reflect: 31:16 She Considers - Whether it be fit for her use. The fruit - With the effects of her diligence she is able to buy. Planteth - She improves the land to the best advantage (Wesley Notes)

Today, God is asking us to take a moment to Check our lifestyles. Are we considering before we buy into what is presented before us? This virtuous woman was making an investment. She was handling her business as some might say. She was taking the profits from other ventures like trading and making a real estate transaction along with buying the materials to create a crop for ongoing revenue. Today we would call this residual income. According to the history and culture of the time, she was a woman of means as was her husband; they could afford to purchase the land, but did not make the decision frivolously. They counted up the cost. According to the Hebrew language, this was a purchase or transaction that required men to get involved. Many times the mantra, "I'm every woman, it's all in me" is simply not Biblical. God created male and female, not to compete, but to complete His work with the qualities He placed in us that truly compliment each other. When you leave out men, you leave out a perspective that can enhance, reinforce, and strengthen your God-given mandates.

ProACTION: Pray for a Proverbs 20:6  Man in your life. If there are none, pray that God would send those kind of godly men to provide good counsel. In your journal today, write 31 things you want to have accomplished in the next 10 years, and 3 things you can do now to ensure that it happens. Share that plan with a trusted friend to keep you accountable.

PG31 Challenge #6 WISE COUNSEL

Today's Verse: Proverbs 31:15

She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. KJV

She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household and plan the day's work for her servant girls. NLT

Key Word: Rise, Prepare & Plan

Reflect: There is a balance in your life that God wants to achieve. It can only happen with your cooperation. If you are like me, you may just be getting to bed at 2am. On the reverse, you might be the Woman that wakes at 4am to prepare your day. Whether you are a night owl or an early bird, the key here is that while it is yet night, you are planning for NEXT. Notice the time for preparation is made at the time of provision. This woman of virtue balances the need for sustenance with the need for a strategic plan for her household. She leads, but she also delegates. She has a personal touch for her household, but also has the wisdom to focus her attention and energy on her best and highest use of time. As one writer says, "You can't afford to leave prayer out." When you work 18 hour days, when you have children, spouse, 18 credit hours as a college student while working full time, your day can easily get out of balance. Prayer helps you to put it all into perspective (have you prayed 31 minutes today?).

ProACTION: Take at least 15 minutes today to call on someone at least 10 years older than you. Ask them to share (can be in any format) what they wish they knew at your age that they know now. Record it in your journal, and share with us, one piece of advice.