Proverbs 31 as a professional woman - Part 31

Dear loyal readers, I trust that you’re blessed and highly favoured.In my previous two articles, I addressed the need for repentance, its relevance to our spiritual growth and transformation, as well as the scriptural basis for it (see parts 29 and 30 for more context).In part 30, I specifically addressed how we children of God often do things that bring a mockery to God’s name and that we need to repent for it.Why did I specifically address my brothers and sisters in Christ?As believers in Christ, living in a world full of darkness, we are called to reveal His light (Mathew 5:14). But we can only reveal His light if we remain in Him because His light is what gives us light (Psalm 36:9, John 8:12). This allows His light to reach others through us as well.This notion of light is further deepened in John 8:12, where Jesus Christ said:“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”This means that when we’re in His light, our fellowship is with light and not with darkness. His light reveals the hidden sins and things we need to confess, to work on, repent of, let go of, heal from, and areas that need deliverance and transformation. His light provides guidance as we move in righteousness by faith.The above allows believers in Christ to bear witness of Christ, who lives within us for the revelation of His glory (Colossians 1:27).Through His light, the Lord is able to reveal Himself to us, to transform us and to make all things new (2 Corinthians 5:17). Regardless of what you did or what family you were born from – light overcomes darkness (John 1:5, Colossians 1:13).That’s God’s ideal plan, but sometimes we children of God deviate from the light.How?Because even though we’re no longer slaves to sin, we as believers in Christ are living in a fallen world, in a fleshly body that still has sinful desires and appetites that need to be crucified daily (Galatians 5:24).The flesh will fight you on earth because it’s not going with you to heaven. So, if you allow it to overpower you, the flesh’s sinful appetites may book you a ticket to hell – so beware of what you use your earthly freedom for (Galatians 5:1).Last week I mentioned that the body of Christ has started to reveal a worrying trend of some believers adopting a fleshly desire to be seen, validated and elevated at the cost of the next person and outside of the will of God. This compromise results in a move away from the light and opens the door for the enemy’s deceptions to creep in. If left unchecked, this creates the opportunity for the enemy’s deceptions to start thriving through the “lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life” (1 John 2:16). The above desires, according to 1 John 2:16-17 “is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.”What am I building up to?I’m building up to the conversation that we as believers in Christ need to be better watchmen in this season because the craftiness of the enemy knows no bounds as new ways of sinning, traps and snares are constantly being invented.Hence why we need to be mindful of any doors opened and to repent for any sins committed so that the body of Christ can collectively reveal His glory.But some of you reading this are wondering, how does the body of Christ become compromised?Mostly through disobedience to God (in the form of sin, rebellion, iniquity, transgressions and wickedness by whatever form or manner).How?Exhibit A: JonahSome people want God to use them but then they negotiate the ‘terms of engagement’ as if they’re entering into a contract with the Lord.God gave Jonah an assignment for the people of Nineveh, but it wasn’t to Jonah’s liking, so he ran from it. Many in the body of Christ have a Jonah syndrome, wanting to pick and choose which assignments from God suit them, when and how they will obey God. Please repent for your pride and remember that “obedience is better than sacrifice” (1 Samuel 15:22).Exhibit B: SamsonSome people, like Samson, who rely exclusively on their physical strength to get the job done, have fallen in love with the lust of the flesh, have become spiritually dead, no longer hear from God and are deceived by the enemy. Repent for your pride, for stepping outside the will of God and for thinking that you can do things without God.Exhibit C: King SaulOthers, like King Saul, have the title, the crown, the anointing from God and the wealth but still feel jealous of how God has anointed and favoured David. Repent for your jealousy, envy and pride. God doesn’t have favourites and He chooses whom He uses.Exhibit D: DisappointmentSome of you are angry with God because you feel like He has rejected you, doesn’t hear your prayers or that He’s showing up for everyone except for you. Repent for thinking that the God of love is a liar who wants you to suffer. Discern your season – maybe you’re in the wilderness season of your life, but persevere by doing the will of God and you will get your reward in time (Hebrews 10:36).Exhibit E: Transactional mindsetSome of you only want God’s blessings but don’t seek Him with your whole heart first and have no desire for a genuine relationship with Him (Jeremiah 29:11-14). Repent for approaching God with a transactional mindset that wants His hand but rejects His heart.Exhibit F: Disobedience and PrideSome of you need to repent for making stupid decisions that ruin your life and now you’re blaming it on God (Proverbs 19:3).Some of you need to repent for ignoring instructions from God, because for every King Saul that disappoints God, God will raise up a David to advance the Kingdom of God. So, repent for your prideful thinking that you will hold God’s plans hostage through your disobedience.There are some of you who are wise in your own eyes and think you have the strength to fight the enemy in your own flesh – repent for your pride. Let me remind you of two major negotiations in the Bible. The first one was in Genesis 3 (between Eve and the serpent) and in Mathew 4 (between Jesus Christ and the devil). The first negotiation failed because the flesh took over and the second negotiation succeeded because it was rooted in the Word of God. So, repent for thinking you can show God that you can fight the devil in your own strength. There’s a reason why the battle is the Lord’s and not yours (2 Chronicles 20:15 and 17).Exhibit G: EgoSome of you in the body of Christ misunderstand your role, office, position and purpose. We all have different types of gifts, callings, talents and anointings that are given by the Lord for His glory (Romans 11:36).Can a big toe or the elbow argue with the stomach that it has too much food? Can the tongue argue with the ear that it is hearing too much? Can a pinky tell the nose that it is smelling too much? Can the spinal cord argue with the hypothalamus?If you are the mitochondria in the body of Christ, be the best energiser for all the cells in the body – to the glory of God our Father in Heaven.Let us all repent in the body of Christ so that we will be united and harmoniously move as different parts of the same body. This will ensure that no mockery will come to the Lord’s name within the body of Christ or from non-believers as well.Like the five virgins in Matthew 25:1–13, let us be divinely encouraged to keep our lamps full of oil and to be ready for the return of the Bridegroom.Remain blessed and encouraged by God’s love.Shalom.DISCLAIMER: 'Proverbs 31 as a Professional Woman' under the theme 'Embodying and Manifesting Godly Wisdom, Success Principles and Effortless Femininity in the Workplace' is not posited on trying to read the professional woman into Proverbs 31 because this will produce an absurd result. However, I have opted to take a principles-based approach that widens the scope to be applicable to any professional woman – regardless of her age or status.This column has previous articles titled 'A New Season', 'Seeing God’s Glory Through My Tears' and 'Proverbs 31 as a Professional Woman' (the introduction as well as parts 1 to 30) – all published by Namibian Sun newspaper.I welcome your comments, inputs, queries or concerns. Kindly address them to spirit.soul.body24@gmail.com

Proverbs 31 as a professional woman - Part 31

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-04

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Proverbs 31 as a professional woman - Part 31

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Namibian Sun 2025-04-04

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