A Wife of Noble Character
10 Who can find a virtuous and capable wife?
She is more precious than rubies.
11 Her husband can trust her,
and she will greatly enrich his life.
12 She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
13 She finds wool and flax
and busily spins it.
14 She is like a merchant’s ship,
bringing her food from afar.
15 She gets up before dawn to prepare breakfast for her household
and plan the day’s work for her servant girls.
16 She goes to inspect a field and buys it;
with her earnings she plants a vineyard.
17 She is energetic and strong,
a hard worker.
18 She makes sure her dealings are profitable;
her lamp burns late into the night.
19 Her hands are busy spinning thread,
her fingers twisting fiber.
20 She extends a helping hand to the poor
and opens her arms to the needy.
21 She has no fear of winter for her household,
for everyone has warm[b] clothes.
22 She makes her own bedspreads.
She dresses in fine linen and purple gowns.
23 Her husband is well known at the city gates,
where he sits with the other civic leaders.
24 She makes belted linen garments
and sashes to sell to the merchants.
25 She is clothed with strength and dignity,
and she laughs without fear of the future.
26 When she speaks, her words are wise,
and she gives instructions with kindness.
27 She carefully watches everything in her household
and suffers nothing from laziness.
28 Her children stand and bless her.
Her husband praises her:
29 “There are many virtuous and capable women in the world,
but you surpass them all!”
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty does not last;
but a woman who fears the Lord will be greatly praised.
31 Reward her for all she has done.
Let her deeds publicly declare her praise.
I realize some of you are not married, and some of us are not even women, but I believe this practice personalizes the Bible really well.
Everyone, especially women who read the Bible, knows about the Proverbs 31 woman. She is really difficult to measure up to in most respects, but for today’s practice, let us use this famous set of verses as a tool instead of a measuring stick. In doing so, we can all agree that measuring up to something may introduce an unworthiness that I believe God never intended for us to feel, because with God all things are possible, and we are saved by grace and not by works, so that no one can boast. Therefore, let us not get caught up in performance, but rather use the Bible as a tool for righteous instruction to hone our good works for God.
OK, here it goes. Every time in the set of verses mentioned above where you see the term “wife” or “she,” place your name. Here is an example, and you can do the rest on your own.
“Doug is of noble character… Doug is worth far more than rubies.”
“Her husband/wife has full confidence in Doug and lacks nothing of value.”
“Doug brings him/her good, not harm, all the days of her/his life.”
It sounds kind of silly, but review your own life and see how well this fits. You may have to start working on some areas.
Prayer: Father, I pray that we begin to personalize the Bible in all respects. I pray that we understand that it is a tool for me to use to get close to the Lord and do His work. I pray that I speak it and believe it, in Jesus’ name, amen.
Let It Go 
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