The Virtuous Woman

 There is a saying that behind every good man there is a good woman, and the description of The Virtuous Woman of Proverbs 31 presents the pinnacle of godly womanhood, who not only demonstrates personal wisdom, good home-making skills, significant graces, a striking talent and an industrious provider for her family, but also one who proves herself to be a mother who enables her children to thrive, a wife who encourages her husband to success and a valued neighbor who shows genuine concern and generosity towards others.
 The virtuous woman of Proverbs 31 is a rare breed...as Lemuel concludes his discourse, and brings his observations to a close he makes three important observations. First, that charm is deceitful, second, that beauty is vain, but thirdly that a woman who fears the LORD, is a woman who shall be praised.
 How blessed are those who can say that their lives have been touched by such a woman - or a man, who displays the shining qualities about which Lemuel wrote in the last chapter of the book of Proverbs. 
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

Our United Prayer:
Heavenly Father, just as we read of the beautiful attributes that shine through the life of a virtuous woman or man of integrity, in the last chapter of the book of Proverbs, we pray that our lives would become a reflection of the Lord Jesus. We pray that our lives would remain nailed to the Cross,  Take away all those things in us that are not of you and mold us into the people You would have us to be. Lord, we want to be willing to be conformed into the beautiful likeness of Christ, and although this may at times be painful. Teach us YOUR way until we can say, "it is not we that live but Christ that lives in us." This we ask in Jesus' name, AMEN.