The characteristics of a virtuous woman are influenced and modeled after the Word of God. She is a woman who places God above everything and everyone by making His Word the final authority in her life.
She has the mind of Christ and reflects His image. She has learned, through submission to God and to His Word, how to live free from stress and walk in His perfect will.
In essence, she pleases God.
God wants us to live in the power and anointing of His strength rather than our own. The virtue found in Him provides us with everything we need - righteousness, strength, ability and anointing. These attributes instill in us a strong sense of value and spiritual excellence.
Becoming a virtuous woman requires a commitment to becoming whole through His Word. Wholeness is a state of being complete - nothing lacking, missing or broken. It cannot be accomplished overnight.
Learning to think and act like Christ is an ongoing process that involves getting in God's presence and seeking Him for direction at every turn.
The Mirror Image
The virtuous woman in Proverbs 31 represents the image God wants us to have. She is our example of excellence - the ideal model after whom we should pattern our lives. In fact, Proverbs 31:10 asks, "Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies."
After reading Proverbs 31, some women may wonder if becoming virtuous is an attainable goal. I know I did. I wondered how, with all of my responsibilities, I could follow this woman's lead. For a long time, I heard and read this scripture without under-standing it fully.
This story was good reading but the subject's character seemed unrealistic. With God's help, however, I have learned that becoming a virtuous woman is not an impossible goal to attain.
A virtuous woman is a woman after God's own heart. She is honorable, truthful, intelligent, confident, capable and supportive. She is also mentally, spiritually and physically fit. Her primary focus is the well-being of her household, and she doesn't overextend herself by getting involved in ventures that may cause her family to suffer.
Life for many of us is a balancing act.
We juggle our schedules daily to include work, family, chores, exercise, errands and more. We are mothers, wives, daughters, entrepreneurs and homeowners. In short, we are busy people. And when God created us, He knew that we would need help.
For that reason, He created a standard plan of operation. The plan is that we seek His kingdom first and He will provide all the things we need (Matt. 6:33). God's kingdom is "His way of doing things." Before we begin our day, tackle new projects or make ecisions, we must spend time with the CEO of our lives - God.
A virtuous woman is an astute business woman and a good steward of her resources. She does not spend money unwisely and carefully evaluates items before purchasing them. She is not swayed by sleek advertising and avoids a lifestyle of impulse shopping.
This does not mean we should be stingy, however. Under the leading of the Holy Spirit, giving of our time, talents and finances should be a part of our lifestyle. We should demonstrate the love of God to others with our deeds.
A virtuous woman is a classy lady who dresses with style and flair. I had challenges in this area when Creflo and I were dating. My philosophy was, "if you've got it, flaunt it" and "the tighter, the better!"
My husband helped me to realize that my dress did not reflect God's ideal representation. When he first brought up the subject of appropriate dress, I was offended. I thought, "Who does he think he is?" As I began to seek God's Word for wisdom, I realized that Creflo was right.
Deep inside I wanted to please God more than anything. I also wanted to please Creflo and make him proud. As a woman of God, you can dress fashionably and sensibly without conforming to society's standard. Just keep in mind that you represent the King and His kingdom.
God is creative and so are you. Create your own style and be as sharp as you'd like. Although one's physical appearance is important, God is far more concerned with what's inside. No amount of beauty will cover up a personality that needs work. For example, a loud woman is not representative of a virtuous woman. This type of woman is foolish and simple (Prov. 9:13).
If you're loud, tone down a bit. Make God proud by conducting yourself in a way that glorifies Him. Remember, true beauty comes from within. You are far more attractive when you choose gentle words and demonstrate kind behavior.
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Taffi Dollar is a celebrated author, teacher, and well-known conference speaker. Together with her husband, Creflo Dollar, she pastors more than 30,000 active members at World Changers Church International, World Changers Church-New York, as well as a host of fellowship churches throughout the U.S. and internationally.
