In Pursuit of Proverbs 31

Well, we have all read it. We have all aspired to be as it says. We have all fallen short. Why then is the Proverbs 31 woman even mentioned in the bible? If we can't accomplish what she did then why would God put her characteristics out there for us to become frustrated over because we don't even compare to her? What does she have that we don't have?

How about wisdom, the wisdom to know that she alone can accomplish nothing? She puts God first in everything. She works with Him. Philippians 4:13 says I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. It does not say "I can do all things (period)." It does not say "I will let God do all things (period)." The key words are through Christ who strengthens me.
Some of the problem is that we can receive knowledge from the bible, from books, seminars, conferences, church, home groups, etc. and the first thing we try to do is devise and revise plans in our minds as to how we can accomplish all the great things we want to be for God. We want to be good servants, wives, mothers, friends, cooks, housekeepers, writers, teachers, speakers, business women, frugal and savvy. We try to increase our spiritual life, rearrange our home planners, our schedules, and our check book to meet a goal that we have yet to take to God in prayer or ask for His help with. Or if we do ask for His help then we still try to accomplish it ourselves.

You begin to think:
Well, if I add this or delete this...
Maybe if we talk this out or give more love in this area then...

And yet the end result is always the same: you do everything you possibly can to accomplish your objective, the harder you try, the more you fail at it; The more you fail the guiltier you feel; The more guilty you feel the harder you try. Round and round and round you go trapped in frustration. Does this sound familiar?

Where is God?

Let's look at Philippians 4:13 again. "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

Some of us think that if we only trust God then He will take care of all it and do all of the work for us. If I just believe more, if I just press in more, if I just continue to hope then God will take away all my faults and I will become the Proverbs 31 woman. So we stand on every scripture we can find, pray every prayer, seek Godly counsel, have every answer we need and yet.... we are miserable. It is funny that as much as we talk about God doing things through us that He really doesn't seem to be doing too much. God isn't cleaning our house, taking care of the kids, caring for the husband, cooking dinner, volunteering in the community, God doesn't even wake us up to read His word. I mean, argh!
The end result of this is the same as the "Superwoman" mentality. We are now frustrated and guilt ridden because we don't see the results we wanted.

Why? The answer is as evident as the juice on the floor... we didn't do it God's way. We are to be in partnership with Him. We do our part and He does His. We must always put Him first. We must start walking but let Him direct our steps.

Matthew 6:33 "But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."

Philippians 2:12-13 "Dearest friends, you were always so careful to follow my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away you must be even more careful to put into action God's saving work in your lives, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire to obey him and the power to do what pleases him."

Five Ways to Put Him First