Proverbs 31 as a professional woman - Part 32
SPIRIT, SOUL AND BODY
Dear loyal readers, I trust that you’re blessed and highly favoured.
In recent 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 to 31 for more context).
Some of you reading my articles might be wondering why I always quote scriptures. The answer is simple:
“All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realise what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17 NLT).
Relating to correction, in parts 30 and 31, I specifically addressed how we children of God often do things (knowingly or unknowingly) that bring a mockery to God’s name and that we need to repent of it.
It was a bold thing to say publicly, but in this season, children of God need to understand that boldness is what advances the Kingdom of God (Acts 14:3).
Amazingly, the Kingdom of God is not advanced at our convenience. Imagine the negative impact of the ‘Jonah syndrome’, where: “Some 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.” (Part 31)
Although our Lord Jesus Christ gave us the great commission in Matthew 28:16–20, we cannot be effective witnesses for Him if we want to negotiate where, when or how we want to serve the Lord.
Through salvation (Acts 2:38, Acts 4:12, Romans 10:9, Ephesians 1), we are now reconciled to God through Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20) and thereby enlisted to do the work of advancing the Kingdom of God as ambassadors of Christ. So, there’s no room for the Jonah syndrome – let us repent of it.
Moreover, I hope that Jesus’s light will enlighten the eyes of our hearts (Ephesians 1:18) so that it exposes the hidden sins and things we need to confess to, work on, repent of, let go of, and heal from, as well as the areas that need deliverance and transformation.
Some of you need to confess and repent of unforgiveness, anger, bitterness, frustration, offence, unfaithfulness, lack of faith, pride, worry, self-righteousness or any other thing that creates distance between you and God.
Some of you need to confess to God that you are using your blessings to make others feel like they’re ‘less blessed’.
Don’t mock God by using your blessing as a weapon against the next person.
Repent.
Some of you talk about surrendering your problems to God but then quickly take over again and try applying human solutions instead of trusting God (Proverbs 3:5-7).
There’s a reason why God wants us to relate to Him as a Father, because children have an unwavering trust in their parents.
Yet, some of you want to be called children of God while having an executive mindset requiring God to solve your problems in the first quarter of this year because you have KPIs set for Him.
Repent.
Don’t let a controlling, prideful or rebellious spirit be the reason why God steps aside and lets you be the weapon formed against yourself – until you return to Him with regret because you didn’t apply the protocol of John 20:29, 2 Corinthians 5:7, Proverbs 3:5-7 and Matthew 17:20.
This is our opportunity for deep work, to sit and confront the ways that we are disobedient to God, to confess and repent of all sin, rebellion, iniquity, transgressions and wickedness in whatever form or manner.
Although God knows and sees it all, yet, by taking the good, the bad and the ugly to Him in humble submission and repentance, we show Him that we trust in His unfailing love for us despite our shortcomings.
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 31) – all published by Namibian Sun newspaper.
I welcome your comments, inputs, queries or concerns. Kindly address them to [email protected]
In recent 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 to 31 for more context).
Some of you reading my articles might be wondering why I always quote scriptures. The answer is simple:
“All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realise what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work” (2 Timothy 3:16-17 NLT).
Relating to correction, in parts 30 and 31, I specifically addressed how we children of God often do things (knowingly or unknowingly) that bring a mockery to God’s name and that we need to repent of it.
It was a bold thing to say publicly, but in this season, children of God need to understand that boldness is what advances the Kingdom of God (Acts 14:3).
Amazingly, the Kingdom of God is not advanced at our convenience. Imagine the negative impact of the ‘Jonah syndrome’, where: “Some 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.” (Part 31)
Although our Lord Jesus Christ gave us the great commission in Matthew 28:16–20, we cannot be effective witnesses for Him if we want to negotiate where, when or how we want to serve the Lord.
Through salvation (Acts 2:38, Acts 4:12, Romans 10:9, Ephesians 1), we are now reconciled to God through Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:20) and thereby enlisted to do the work of advancing the Kingdom of God as ambassadors of Christ. So, there’s no room for the Jonah syndrome – let us repent of it.
Moreover, I hope that Jesus’s light will enlighten the eyes of our hearts (Ephesians 1:18) so that it exposes the hidden sins and things we need to confess to, work on, repent of, let go of, and heal from, as well as the areas that need deliverance and transformation.
Some of you need to confess and repent of unforgiveness, anger, bitterness, frustration, offence, unfaithfulness, lack of faith, pride, worry, self-righteousness or any other thing that creates distance between you and God.
Some of you need to confess to God that you are using your blessings to make others feel like they’re ‘less blessed’.
Don’t mock God by using your blessing as a weapon against the next person.
Repent.
Some of you talk about surrendering your problems to God but then quickly take over again and try applying human solutions instead of trusting God (Proverbs 3:5-7).
There’s a reason why God wants us to relate to Him as a Father, because children have an unwavering trust in their parents.
Yet, some of you want to be called children of God while having an executive mindset requiring God to solve your problems in the first quarter of this year because you have KPIs set for Him.
Repent.
Don’t let a controlling, prideful or rebellious spirit be the reason why God steps aside and lets you be the weapon formed against yourself – until you return to Him with regret because you didn’t apply the protocol of John 20:29, 2 Corinthians 5:7, Proverbs 3:5-7 and Matthew 17:20.
This is our opportunity for deep work, to sit and confront the ways that we are disobedient to God, to confess and repent of all sin, rebellion, iniquity, transgressions and wickedness in whatever form or manner.
Although God knows and sees it all, yet, by taking the good, the bad and the ugly to Him in humble submission and repentance, we show Him that we trust in His unfailing love for us despite our shortcomings.
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 31) – all published by Namibian Sun newspaper.
I welcome your comments, inputs, queries or concerns. Kindly address them to [email protected]
Comments
Namibian Sun
No comments have been left on this article