Happy Mother’s Day Beautiful Momma! I pray you are enjoying a relaxing day of worship & rest today!

I recently completed a plan on the Bible App called “Planting Seeds of Faith,” which inspired me, to not only aim to be a Proverbs 31 woman, but to remember that, as a parent, the goal is also to be a Proverbs 22 momma.

To be a Proverbs 31 woman is wonderful- She is a spiritual, capable, intelligent, virtuous, valuable, & trustworthy woman. She encompasses all of the characteristics of a graceful & godly woman, an example to our daughters of what to become, & to our sons of what to look for in a future wife. Many of the characteristics of a Proverbs 22 momma overlap with those of the Proverbs 31 woman, & all encompass our role as parents to these children God has entrusted us with, to shape & mold them into adults who will fulfill His purpose for their creation.

It is our goal to “raise our children up,” to teach them to seek God’s wisdom & will for their lives. And we are promised that, even if they don’t seem to be getting it in the moment, when they grow up they will not forget what we have taught them. So, what is the best way to teach them? We walk with them, leading by example.

We set an example for our children of how to be a person who seeks to live with the goal of fulfilling God’s purpose for us, demonstrating trust, reliance, & confidence in Him. We allow them to see us walking in humility, staying prudent to avoid sin, living a lifestyle of worship to the Lord, & guarding ourselves with godly wisdom.

Not only should we guard ourselves with godly wisdom, we should value it, along with moral courage & integrity. Our example should show our children that these things are more valuable than any earthly material possessions. We should let them see us being generous- out of a pure heart, not seeking recognition for our giving & helping, but giving & sharing our possessions, time, & selves with joy. (I’m not saying always say yes to people- Know your limits mommas!)

We teach our children what kind of friends to have, by the people they see us associating with. The old adage “beware the company you keep” fits here quite well. Just as smiles, laughter, & joy are contagious, so are laziness, immorality, & anger. We often think we are strong enough to withstand the influence of such people, or that by carrying on these friendships our lifestyle example will win them over to Christ, & we are setting an example of walking in love towards those who need Him – & maybe that is all true. But what our children see, is us saying that these behaviors are tolerable & acceptable in the people we surround ourselves with – & they are not yet built up in strength of faith to withstand the influence of such people in their lives.

As mommas, we are to keep knowledge in our minds & on our lips, as guidance & strength for ourselves & others, especially our children. Most importantly, to teach them to seek God’s wisdom & will for their abilities & talents, while administering discipline with godly wisdom & loving kindness; because no one is born wise & full of knowledge- these things are acquired with time & experience. Children have foolish hearts, & this is not their fault- that is the nature we are all born with. It is our job, to drive out foolishness by being Proverbs 22 mommas.

Prayer

Lord, thank You for every momma reading this. Fill them each with your wisdom- the ability to see all things from Your eternal perspective, to understand the cause & effect of every decision, & to constantly be learning from every situation. May these women be strengthened by Your Holy Spirit, always trusting & relying on You, staying confident in Your promises. Give them gracious hearts, lips that speak truth & knowledge with grace. Lord, be their Supernatural Source of strength & energy, so they will always be able to fulfill their duties, not falling into laziness. Help them to always be humble & pure of heart, living a lifestyle of worship to You, always generous & willing to help others when able. May they walk uprightly with moral courage & integrity, lifting their children up to you, trusting Your guidance in teaching & disciplining them in all circumstances, so that they may grow into adults who live to glorify You. And especially the single mommas, Lord- let them know that they are loved & they are not alone. May they stand strong in faith, refusing to grow weary & give up in the struggles, knowing that their breakthrough is just around the corner.

In Jesus’ Mighty Name

Amen!

A good name [earned by honorable behavior, godly wisdom, moral courage, and personal integrity] is more desirable than great riches; And favor is better than silver and gold.

The rich and poor have a common bond; The Lord is the Maker of them all.

A prudent and far-sighted person sees the evil [of sin] and hides himself [from it], But the naive continue on and are punished [by suffering the consequences of sin].

The reward of humility [that is, having a realistic view of one’s importance] and the [reverent, worshipful] fear of the Lord Is riches, honor, and life.

Thorns and snares are in the way of the obstinate [for their lack of honor and their wrong-doing traps them]; He who guards himself [with godly wisdom] will be far from them and avoid the consequences they suffer.

Train up a child in the way he should go [teaching him to seek God’s wisdom and will for his abilities and talents], Even when he is old he will not depart from it.

The rich rules over the poor, And the borrower is servant to the lender.

He who sows injustice will reap [a harvest of] trouble, And the rod of his wrath [with which he oppresses others] will fail.

He who is generous will be blessed, For he gives some of his food to the poor.

Drive out the scoffer, and contention will go away; Even strife and dishonor will cease.

He who loves purity of heart And whose speech is gracious will have the king as his friend.

The eyes of the Lord keep guard over knowledge and the one who has it, But He overthrows the words of the treacherous.

 

The lazy one [manufactures excuses and] says, “There is a lion outside! I will be killed in the streets [if I go out to work]!”

The mouth of an immoral woman is a deep pit [deep and inescapable]; He who is cursed by the Lord [because of his adulterous sin] will fall into it.

Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child; The rod of discipline [correction administered with godly wisdom and lovingkindness] will remove it far from him.

He who oppresses or exploits the poor to get more for himself Or who gives to the rich [to gain influence and favor], will only come to poverty.

Listen carefully and hear the words of the wise, And apply your mind to my knowledge;

For it will be pleasant if you keep them in mind [incorporating them as guiding principles]; Let them be ready on your lips [to guide and strengthen yourself and others].

So that your trust and reliance and confidence may be in the Lord , I have taught these things to you today, even to you.

Have I not written to you excellent things In counsels and knowledge,

To let you know the certainty of the words of truth, That you may give a correct answer to him who sent you?

Do not rob the poor because he is poor [and defenseless], Nor crush the afflicted [by legal proceedings] at the gate [where the city court is held],

For the Lord will plead their case And take the life of those who rob them.

Do not even associate with a man given to angry outbursts; Or go [along] with a hot-tempered man,

Or you will learn his [undisciplined] ways And get yourself trapped [in a situation from which it is hard to escape].

Do not be among those who give pledges [involving themselves in others’ finances], Or among those who become guarantors for others’ debts.

If you have nothing with which to pay [another’s debt when he defaults], Why should his creditor take your bed from under you?

Do not move the ancient landmark [at the boundary of the property] Which your fathers have set.

Do you see a man skillful and experienced in his work? He will stand [in honor] before kings; He will not stand before obscure men.

-PROVERBS 22 (AMP)