God Knows Where We Are To Fix Our Gaze
To live the Christian life, a follower must allow Jesus to live through his words, his thoughts, his actions, and his reactions. The Word of God must be the lamp upon the follower’s feet, guiding his steps. The believer needs to (at times) place blinders on his person so that he will not become distracted by the evil opportunities found in this world. King Solomon knew this, and while he did not live without sin, his wise proverbs provide so much guidance to our daily steps.
“Let your eyes look directly ahead
(Proverbs 4: 25-27 NASB)
And let your gaze be fixed
straight in front of you.
Watch the path of your feet,
And all your ways will be established.
Do not turn to the right or to the left,
Turn your foot from evil.”
Today, falls within the days leading up to Mother’s Day, and as I sit in my daughter’s living room, I am reminded of the depth of my anguish when I was childless.
“Please, God, let me be pregnant—this month!”
That became my prayer, month-after-month & year-after-year.
“Wait & Be Patient.” seemed to be what God replied.
So, I waited (not so patiently) and waited and waited and pondered what my life would be like without children. I would continue playing softball; I would remain a farmer’s wife; and I would avoid attending church on Mother’s Day when (in an act of love) the mothers were asked to stand while the rest of us—sat. Yes, God knew I could survive without a child, but seriously, I struggled with that decision. Let me pause right here in this story.
Today, let us pause to recall some of the names of godly women, some who became mothers and some have not become mothers in the traditional way. Clearly, it is a fact that motherhood is not what Solomon spoke of as he wrote about the qualities found in a godly woman. He was speaking of ALL WOMEN. Therefore, as we look closely at these qualities, characteristics we cherish and ones we desire to grow within us, let us remember this most wonderful God we worship and praise.
Laura Ellen, Charlotte Mae, Dorothy Jean, Mischele Elaine, Jill Lynn, Naomi Helen, Dorothy Verne, Julie, Jill, Hannah, Julena, Sue, Sydney, Toni Kaitlyn, Gail, Judy, Sarah, Jennifer, Edwina, Fonnie, Shirley, Taylor, Karen, Bekah, Angie, Mel, Donna, Anna Lou, Beth, Michelle, Carley, Auburn, Alex, Jalyn, Frankia, Kristi, Shandi, Tanya, Katherine, Pam, Wendy, Esther, Heidi, Nicole, Sheila, Alice, Earlene, Betty, Brenda, Frances, Lou, Tammy, Jackie, & on & on & on. ALL the names within the world cannot ever be recorded of the Women—Worthy Women—Godly Women—Mothers of Children, and—even of those Who Are Not Mothers to Their Own Children.
Truly, I could have typed many more names, but hopefully, the idea resonates: the world is blessed with God-fearing, worthy women; nevertheless, it is not motherhood that makes one worthy but the presence of God within her whole being that makes a woman worthy.
At the end of Proverbs, we find details, a sort of list, one recorded for someone searching for an excellent wife. In reading this time-honored list of qualities, I find that we can hold up the list beside each godly woman we know, and we can exclaim, “Yes, she has this quality, and that one, and even that quality too.”
Let us pause and read together this list of characteristics &
Let us pause to remember all the beautiful women we know who contain these qualities.
Let us also pause to recall the names of all the strong, godly men who we are so thankful we know.
“An excellent wife, who can find her?
(Proverbs 31: 10-31 NASB)
For her worth is far above jewels.
The heart of her husband trusts in her,
And he will have no lack of gain.
She does him good and not evil
All the days of her life.
She looks for wool and linen,
And works with her hands in delight.
She is like merchant ships;
She brings her food from afar.
And she rises while it is still night
And gives food to her household,
And portions to her attendants.
She considers a field and buys it;
From her earnings she
plants a vineyard.
She surrounds her waist
with strength
And makes her arms strong.
She senses that her profit is good;
Her lamp does not go out at night.
She stretches out her
hands to the distaff,
And her hands grasp the spindle.
She extends her hand to the poor,
And she stretches out her
hands to the needy.
She is not afraid of the snow
for her household,
For all her household are
clothed with scarlet.
She makes coverings for herself;
Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
Her husband is known in the gates,
When he sits among the
elders of the land.
She makes linen garments
and sells them,
And supplies belts to the tradesmen.
Strength and dignity are
her clothing,
And she smiles at the future.
She opens her mouth in wisdom,
And the teaching of kindness
is on her tongue.
She watches over the activities
of her household,
And does not eat the
bread of idleness.
Her children rise up and bless her,
Her husband also, and he
praises her, saying:
“Many daughters have done nobly,
But you excel them all.”
Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain,
But a woman who fears the
LORD, she shall be praised.
Give her the product of her hands,
And let her works praise
her in the gates.”
Yes, God knew I could survive without a child, but seriously, I struggled with that decision. I am most thankful that God heard my prayer, that He granted me the opportunity to become Sydney’s mom. As our time passes, as she is taken far from me at times, I am reminded over and over of the vow I made to God. Thankfully, it is God who gives me the strength to carry on, even when the distance between Sydney and me seems so far.
As Mother’s Day approaches, and as so many women seriously ponder attending church this week, let us remember that a “child from the womb” is not what makes a woman worthy. Yes, that it correct. The Bible tells us exactly what it is that makes a woman worthy:
“Charm is deceitful and beauty is vain,
(Proverbs 31: 30-31 NASB)
But a woman who fears the
LORD, she shall be praised.
Give her the product of her hands,
And let her works praise
her in the gates.”
So, today, let us, all mankind (both male and female) be reminded—WHERE WE ARE TO FIX OUR GAZE!
“Let your eyes look directly ahead
(Proverbs 4: 25-27 NASB)
And let your gaze be fixed
straight in front of you.
[May we keep our eyes, our gaze fixed upon Jesus.]
Watch the path of your feet,
And all your ways will be established.
Do not turn to the right or to the left,
Turn your foot from evil.”
Happy Mother’s Day.
Happy Father’s Day.
Happy All Believers’ Day.
May We Walk On In The Strength of Our LORD!