Yay! I’m soooo excited!!! And, I hope that YOU feel that way too about learning about what the Bible says about being an “excellent wife”, a phrase borrowed from Proverbs 31:10.
(And you know what? You do NOT have to be a wife or even a woman to benefit from reading and studying Proverbs 31. Many of these attributes have to do with being Godly in general. It’s the idea behind my studying about what makes for a Godly pastor, or husband: I will never be these things! But because I love God and His Word, my heart’s desire is to have an understanding of what God says about every topic under the sun.)
One fantastic tool for exploring the practical implications of the godly wife mentioned in Proverbs 31 is a book called The Excellent Wife by Martha Peace. (Note: Chapter titles at the end of this post – I know it’s a long post, but please keep reading! :) ) A few years ago, I participated in a group study using this book. Although the principles in the book were familiar, the study motivated me to really examine my heart for areas of weakness, to humbly discipline myself to be more aligned to what God wanted for my life.
And so…. I’m happy to announce that on MomsofGrace DOT net, I will be leading a online group study on this very book! This study will begin July 1st, and we’re doing a chapter a week. I hope you can join us. (Even if your summer reading list is full and you aren’t able to participate, ladies (even if you’re not a mom – there are many members who are not!) please please please check out Moms of Grace, as I know you’ll be blessed by this wonderful and diverse Christian community for women!)
Before I ramble on, I also want to announce that you can WIN a copy of the book by putting a comment on the Excellent Wife post at Trish’s Blog, Ordinary Life Artist.
I know first hand and will be the first to admit that it can be very hard to be this “excellent wife” that scripture talks about, that it is hard work to hold every thought captive.
Never before have tracked my food intake, and I recently signed up for Weight Watchers Online. We currently have more snacks than usual around because we’re doing the Peacemaker Clubs VBS at our house this week – “snacks” including M&Ms. Do you know how hard it is not to have more than one 1/4 serving (which has 9 grams of fat in it)? VERY HARD. Especially when I have to be accountable for everything that I eat.
The SAME THING is true about being an “excellent wife”. Do you know how hard it is NOT to complain and whine when there is THIS much work to do to keep a house running? VERY HARD. How about putting on kindness and gentleness (vs. losing your temper and screaming) while your sick child is ignoring you to RUN TO THE TOILET and just sits there dumbfounded, throwing up on himself, his floor and his bed? VERY HARD (I failed this test big time – poor Aiden!!). How about burning dinner because it sat on “warm” too long while waiting for your husband to come home, late, and trying to resist the temptation to blame and make sarcastic comebacks when he comments that it tastes a little burnt and maybe you could do a little better at keeping an eye on the food next time?? How about making excuses for the way that you respond to all of these situations — doing this is as EASY as dumping a large fistful of M&Ms in your mouth. And, how tough it is to face the reality when we fail – when we have to be accountable for each colorful morsel.
BUT, praise God that He sent His Son Jesus to pay for our sins, that we can seek God’s forgiveness, our husband’s forgiveness, and/or our children’s forgiveness when we do give in to temptation to sin against them. And, praise God for the Bible – He didn’t leave us hanging without instructions to try to guess what He wants our lives and hearts to look like.
Praise God that it’s not on our own strength that we must obey, but that He gave us the Holy Spirit as a Helper!!
Praise God that all is open and laid bare before Him to whom we have to give an account – as seen in Hebrews 4:
Let us therefore strive to enter that rest, so that no one may fall by the same sort of disobedience. For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account. Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Our goal of this study is not to fool people into thinking that we are perfect or that we have it all together. If we think we DO have it all together, we’re guilty of pride!! So, let’s be open and honest with each other so that we may bask in the Lord’s goodness and grow together.
Chapter titles from the book (Which ones would you like to learn more about? Are there any here that cause you to roll your eyes? Do some of the titles mention sensitive issues for you? Let me know so we can explore these areas in more detail. We’re all in this together!)
Part One: A Wife’s Understanding: Foundational Truths for the Excellent Wife
Chapter 1: The Excellent Wife – Who Can Find?Chapter 2: A Wife’s Understanding of God – God’s Protective Authority
Chapter 3: A Wife’s Understanding of Sin – God’s Provision
Chapter 4: A Wife’s Understanding of Relationships
Chapter 5: A Wife’s Understanding of Marriage
Chapter 6: A Wife’s Understanding of Her RolePart Two: A Wife’s Responsibility: Faithful Commitments of the Excellent Wife
Chapter 7: Christ – The Wife’s Heart
Chapter 8: Home – The Wife’s Domain
Chapter 9: Love – The Wife’s Choice
Chapter 10: Respect – The Wife’s Reverence
Chapter 11: Intimacy – The Wife’s Response
Chapter 12: Submission – The Wife’s Joy
Part Three: A Wife’s Submission: Fulfillment of the Excellent WifeChapter 13: Biblical Submission – Basis of the Wife’s Protection
Chapter 14: God’s Protection – Resources for the Wife’s Protection
Chapter 15: Honoring Christ – Key to the Wife’s Motivation
Chapter 16: Communication – Control of the Wife’s Tongue
Chapter 17: Conflict – Quietness of the Wife’s SpiritPart Four: A Wife’s Special Concerns – Sin Problems of the Excellent Wife
Chapter 18: The Wife’s Anger – Overcoming Impatience
Chapter 19: The Wife’s Fear – Overcoming Anxiety
Chapter 20: The Wife’s Loneliness – Overcoming a Lack of Oneness
Chapter 21: The Wife’s Sorrow – Overcoming a Grieving Heart
I look forward to studying at Moms of Grace with you!
