Proverbs 31 as a professional woman - Part 5
Embodying and manifesting godly wisdom in the workplace
As we continue our series on Proverbs 31 as a professional woman, today we’ll be unpacking principle four: “She is intentionally present in everything that she does."
When I first read Proverbs 31:10-31, I couldn’t relate to or measure up to her. Perfectionism combined with social conditioning made me think that the Proverbs 31 woman was exhaustingly too much and I also suspected that she was probably trying to be everything to everyone.
At the time, I was busy pouring into everyone else’s cup except my own and I felt overwhelmed, insecure and frustrated whenever I read Proverbs 31:10-31.
I needed spiritual healing and a renewal of my mind (Romans 12:2).
During my healing and transformation journey, I learned about the success principles that distinguish the Proverbs 31 woman. Principle four reveals that she firstly chooses to be present in Jehovah Adonai’s presence before being present in other areas of her life.
How does she do this?
By pursuing a relationship with Elohim, who created her to know Him (John 17:20-23), to love Him (Mark 12:30), and to live a life of fellowship with Him (John 17:3, 2 Corinthians 5:18, 1 John 1:3).
How does she remain present in His presence?
She disciplines herself to pursue Him diligently (Hebrews 11:6, James 4:8, 1 Chronicles 28:9, Deuteronomy 4:29) and she silences distractions (2 Timothy 1:7) when she’s studying His Word (Joshua 1:8), praying (Philippians 4:6-7, Mathew 6:6), praising and worshipping Him (John 4:24).
Being present in the presence of the unseen God (John 1:18, 1 John 4:12) equips her to be present in the natural realm through different times and seasons.
Proverbs 31:10-31 reveals that only verses 15 and 21 refer to a specific time and season and this made me realise that although she has various roles and undertakes multiple tasks, she uses wisdom to guide her on how to be present with the Lord, both for herself and for everyone else in different times and seasons.
Meaning: She is not everything to everyone at once, nor does she try to do it all at once or in one day.
I used to have a bad habit of trying to do everything in one day and trying to apply the strength of the Lord Jesus (Philippians 4:13) to my self-created chaos.
How did I overcome this?
I went back to the beginning – Genesis.
The Trinity of God – the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit – all worked together to create the heavens, Earth and everything in it (Genesis 1:1-2, 26; Job 26:13 (KJV, NLT); Proverbs 8:22-31 (the Holy Spirit is also called the Spirit of Wisdom; see Isaiah 11:2); John 1:1-4; Colossians 1:15-17).
Elohim – in all His power, glory, might and splendour – didn’t complete creation in one day. He paced Himself by using six days to magnificently complete creation, congratulated Himself at the end of each task by noting that it was good (Genesis 1:4, 10, 12, 18, 21, 25, 31) and, on the seventh day, He rested (Genesis 2:3).
In Mathew 11:1-6, the Lord Jesus reveals that the kingdom of God is about results and 1 Corinthians 4:20 says: “The kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power."
Meaning: It takes the presence of God and the power of God to produce results and Proverbs 31 as a professional woman relies on both the power of God and the presence of God to excel in every area of her life.
When she struggles to be present, she prays that He works the desire and the power within her to do what pleases Him (Philippians 2:13 NLT).
- 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.
*For more context about me and why I’m writing this column, titled 'Spirit, Soul and Body', I encourage you to search online for my previous articles titled ‘A New Season’, ‘Seeing God’s Glory Through My Tears’ as well as ‘Proverbs 31 as a Professional Woman’ (the introduction as well as parts 1, 2, 3 and 4), all published by Namibian Sun newspaper. I welcome your comments, inputs, queries or concerns. Kindly address them to [email protected]
When I first read Proverbs 31:10-31, I couldn’t relate to or measure up to her. Perfectionism combined with social conditioning made me think that the Proverbs 31 woman was exhaustingly too much and I also suspected that she was probably trying to be everything to everyone.
At the time, I was busy pouring into everyone else’s cup except my own and I felt overwhelmed, insecure and frustrated whenever I read Proverbs 31:10-31.
I needed spiritual healing and a renewal of my mind (Romans 12:2).
During my healing and transformation journey, I learned about the success principles that distinguish the Proverbs 31 woman. Principle four reveals that she firstly chooses to be present in Jehovah Adonai’s presence before being present in other areas of her life.
How does she do this?
By pursuing a relationship with Elohim, who created her to know Him (John 17:20-23), to love Him (Mark 12:30), and to live a life of fellowship with Him (John 17:3, 2 Corinthians 5:18, 1 John 1:3).
How does she remain present in His presence?
She disciplines herself to pursue Him diligently (Hebrews 11:6, James 4:8, 1 Chronicles 28:9, Deuteronomy 4:29) and she silences distractions (2 Timothy 1:7) when she’s studying His Word (Joshua 1:8), praying (Philippians 4:6-7, Mathew 6:6), praising and worshipping Him (John 4:24).
Being present in the presence of the unseen God (John 1:18, 1 John 4:12) equips her to be present in the natural realm through different times and seasons.
Proverbs 31:10-31 reveals that only verses 15 and 21 refer to a specific time and season and this made me realise that although she has various roles and undertakes multiple tasks, she uses wisdom to guide her on how to be present with the Lord, both for herself and for everyone else in different times and seasons.
Meaning: She is not everything to everyone at once, nor does she try to do it all at once or in one day.
I used to have a bad habit of trying to do everything in one day and trying to apply the strength of the Lord Jesus (Philippians 4:13) to my self-created chaos.
How did I overcome this?
I went back to the beginning – Genesis.
The Trinity of God – the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit – all worked together to create the heavens, Earth and everything in it (Genesis 1:1-2, 26; Job 26:13 (KJV, NLT); Proverbs 8:22-31 (the Holy Spirit is also called the Spirit of Wisdom; see Isaiah 11:2); John 1:1-4; Colossians 1:15-17).
Elohim – in all His power, glory, might and splendour – didn’t complete creation in one day. He paced Himself by using six days to magnificently complete creation, congratulated Himself at the end of each task by noting that it was good (Genesis 1:4, 10, 12, 18, 21, 25, 31) and, on the seventh day, He rested (Genesis 2:3).
In Mathew 11:1-6, the Lord Jesus reveals that the kingdom of God is about results and 1 Corinthians 4:20 says: “The kingdom of God is not a matter of talk but of power."
Meaning: It takes the presence of God and the power of God to produce results and Proverbs 31 as a professional woman relies on both the power of God and the presence of God to excel in every area of her life.
When she struggles to be present, she prays that He works the desire and the power within her to do what pleases Him (Philippians 2:13 NLT).
- 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.
*For more context about me and why I’m writing this column, titled 'Spirit, Soul and Body', I encourage you to search online for my previous articles titled ‘A New Season’, ‘Seeing God’s Glory Through My Tears’ as well as ‘Proverbs 31 as a Professional Woman’ (the introduction as well as parts 1, 2, 3 and 4), all published by Namibian Sun newspaper. I welcome your comments, inputs, queries or concerns. Kindly address them to [email protected]
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