Selah (pause and think about that)

*I have read this on many occasions, but something about this Amplified version made me really ponder it. Read it. Selah.

 

Proverbs 31

¹THE WORDS of Lemuel king of Massa, which his mother taught him:    ²What, my ^[a]son? What, son of my womb? What [shall I advise you], son of my vows and dedication to God?
    ³Give not your strength to [loose] women, nor your ways to those who and that which ruin and destroy kings.
    ⁴It is not for kings, O Lemuel, it is not for kings to drink wine, or for rulers to desire strong drink,^{(A)
    5}Lest they drink and forget the law and what it decrees, and pervert the justice due any of the afflicted.
    ⁶Give strong drink [as medicine] to him who is ready to pass away, and wine to him in bitter distress of heart.
    ⁷Let him drink and forget his poverty and [seriously] remember his want and misery no more.
    ⁸Open your mouth for the dumb [those unable to speak for themselves], for the rights of all who are left desolate and defenseless;^{(B)
    9}Open your mouth, judge righteously, and administer justice for the poor and needy.^{(C)
    10}A capable, intelligent, and ^[b]virtuous woman--who is he who can find her? She is far more precious than jewels and her value is far above rubies or pearls.^{(D)
    11}The heart of her husband trusts in her confidently and relies on and believes in her securely, so that he has no lack of [honest] gain or need of [dishonest] spoil.
    ¹²She comforts, encourages, and does him only good as long as there is life within her.
    ¹³She seeks out wool and flax and works with willing hands [to develop it].
    ¹⁴She is like the merchant ships loaded with foodstuffs; she brings her household's food from a far [country].
    ¹⁵She rises while it is yet night and gets [spiritual] food for her household and assigns her maids their tasks.^{(E)
    16}She considers a [new] field before she buys or accepts it [expanding prudently and not courting neglect of her present duties by assuming other duties]; with her savings [of time and strength] she plants fruitful vines in her vineyard. [S. of Sol. 8:12.]
    ¹⁷She girds herself with strength [spiritual, mental, and physical fitness for her God-given task] and makes her arms strong and firm.
    ¹⁸She tastes and sees that her gain from work [with and for God] is good; her lamp goes not out, but it burns on continually through the night [of trouble, privation, or sorrow, warning away fear, doubt, and distrust].
    ¹⁹She lays her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
    ²⁰She opens her hand to the poor, yes, she reaches out her filled hands to the needy [whether in body, mind, or spirit].
    ²¹She fears not the snow for her family, for all her household are doubly clothed in scarlet.^{(F)
    22}She makes for herself coverlets, cushions, and rugs of tapestry. Her clothing is of linen, pure and fine, and of purple [such as that of which the clothing of the priests and the hallowed cloths of the temple were made].^{(G)
    23}Her husband is known in the [city's] gates, when he sits among the elders of the land.^{(H)
    24}She makes fine linen garments and leads others to buy them; she delivers to the merchants girdles [or sashes that free one up for service].
    ²⁵Strength and dignity are her clothing and her position is strong and secure; she rejoices over the future [the latter day or time to come, knowing that she and her family are in readiness for it]!
    ²⁶She opens her mouth in skillful and godly Wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness [giving counsel and instruction].
    ²⁷She looks well to how things go in her household, and the bread of idleness (gossip, discontent, and self-pity) she will not eat.^{(I)
    28}Her children rise up and call her blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied); and her husband boasts of and praises her, [saying],
    ^29[c]Many daughters have done virtuously, nobly, and well [with the strength of character that is steadfast in goodness], but you excel them all.
    ³⁰Charm and grace are deceptive, and beauty is vain [because it is not lasting], but a woman who reverently and worshipfully fears the Lord, she shall be praised!
    ³¹Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates [of the city]!^(J)

 

Intentional Intimacy

You already know that this is an extremely busy time of year. I don't have to tell you that, but here is something you might need to hear.

YOU HAVE ALL OF THE TIME YOU NEED TO SPEND TIME WITH GOD (1ST) AND YOUR SPOUSE (2ND). 

That's right. You I do. 

The question is, "Will you I?"

Will you I prioritize your time with Christ above the shopping, cooking, and cleaning?

Will you I choose to bless your spouse before getting caught up with general busyness?

This isn't a challenge to avoid responsibility. It's a call to use time wisely. 

It's a call to keep the main thing, the main thing. 

Here are some practical tips to help us do just that. 

God first.

1. Subscribe to a daily devotional. I subscribe to Calvary Chapel Melbourne and Get Up With God  and both of these devos get sent to my inbox every morning. I wish I could tell you that I wake up every morning and go straight to my Bible, but I don't. As a matter of fact, I tend to go to my e-mail inbox first. See where I am getting at? These help. A lot.

2. Set a reminder on your cell phone. Don't be too prideful to try it. It is better to spend time with Jesus than to not. Agreed? 

Enough said.

3. Fast the news, Facebook, Twitter (GASP!), or some other daily ritual in your life for 14 days. Instead of watching the news, use that time to dig into God's Word and spend time in prayer.

Spouse second.

1. Next time you feel like complaining or nagging to your spouse, text them a message just because instead. Don't ask them for anything. Don't complain. Just appreciate, love, and compliment them. Let it be honest and sincere. Let it be intentional. 

2. Decide to discover what your spouse needs from you today. This is an active and continual process. It may be affection, attention, time, encouragement, accountability, time alone...It can be just about anything. Be observant. Discover what would serve your spouse today, and seek to do just that. 

3.  Serve your spouse in bed. Sex is good VERY good. (Yea, I know. I am such a newly wed lol) The fact remains that it's so good that sometimes it's difficult to remember that it's not about how good it makes us feel. It is about serving our spouse, so do it. That may mean being intentional about carving the time out for it. It may mean trying a new position that your spouse has expressed interest in. It may mean slowing it down a bit. You know what it means in your marriage. If you don't, it's time to open up the communication with your spouse on the subject.