1 00:00:02,730 --> 00:00:13,170 Speaker 1: Life Audio Thank you for listening to Your Nightly Scripture, 2 00:00:13,790 --> 00:00:19,250 Speaker 1: a calming, scripture-centered devotional podcast designed to help you end 3 00:00:19,489 --> 00:00:23,130 Speaker 1: each day with God's Word in your mind and on 4 00:00:23,150 --> 00:00:26,810 Speaker 1: your heart. Right after this short word from our sponsors, 5 00:00:27,370 --> 00:00:42,650 Speaker 1: we'll reflect on tonight's scripture. Proverbs 31. Tonight's scripture reflection 6 00:00:42,729 --> 00:00:46,910 Speaker 1: is written by Amber Ginter and read by Leah Gerard. 7 00:00:47,870 --> 00:00:56,400 Speaker 1: Proverbs chapter 31. The sayings of King Lemuel, an inspired 8 00:00:56,490 --> 00:01:02,770 Speaker 1: utterance his mother taught him. Listen, my son, listen, son 9 00:01:02,790 --> 00:01:06,510 Speaker 1: of my womb, listen, my son, the answer to my prayers. 10 00:01:07,970 --> 00:01:11,810 Speaker 1: Do not spend your strength on women, your vigor on 11 00:01:11,850 --> 00:01:17,100 Speaker 1: those who ruin kings. It is not for kings, Lemuel, 12 00:01:17,660 --> 00:01:20,800 Speaker 1: it is not for kings to drink wine, not for 13 00:01:20,880 --> 00:01:25,160 Speaker 1: rulers to crave beer, lest they drink and forget what 14 00:01:25,180 --> 00:01:29,720 Speaker 1: has been decreed and deprive all the oppressed of their rights. 15 00:01:31,230 --> 00:01:34,330 Speaker 1: Let beer be for those who are perishing, wine for 16 00:01:34,370 --> 00:01:37,710 Speaker 1: those who are in anguish. Let them drink and forget 17 00:01:37,750 --> 00:01:42,089 Speaker 1: their poverty and remember their misery no more. Speak up 18 00:01:42,670 --> 00:01:45,920 Speaker 1: for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights 19 00:01:45,980 --> 00:01:50,100 Speaker 1: of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly. 20 00:01:50,480 --> 00:01:55,040 Speaker 1: Defend the rights of the poor and needy. A wife 21 00:01:55,620 --> 00:01:59,740 Speaker 1: of noble character, who can find? She is worth nothing. 22 00:02:00,360 --> 00:02:05,340 Speaker 1: far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in 23 00:02:05,420 --> 00:02:09,850 Speaker 1: her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, 24 00:02:10,550 --> 00:02:14,850 Speaker 1: not harm, all the days of her life. She selects 25 00:02:14,950 --> 00:02:20,140 Speaker 1: wool and flax and works with eager hands. She is 26 00:02:20,180 --> 00:02:24,720 Speaker 1: like the merchant ships, bringing her food from afar. She 27 00:02:24,760 --> 00:02:27,790 Speaker 1: gets up while it is still night, She provides food 28 00:02:27,850 --> 00:02:31,950 Speaker 1: for her family and portions for her female servants. She 29 00:02:32,010 --> 00:02:35,209 Speaker 1: considers a field and buys it out of her earnings. 30 00:02:35,750 --> 00:02:40,300 Speaker 1: She plants a vineyard. She sets about her work vigorously. 31 00:02:40,720 --> 00:02:44,840 Speaker 1: Her arms are strong for her tasks. She sees that 32 00:02:44,900 --> 00:02:47,859 Speaker 1: her trading is profitable and her lamp does not go 33 00:02:48,000 --> 00:02:53,270 Speaker 1: out at night. In her hand, she holds the distaff 34 00:02:53,730 --> 00:02:57,620 Speaker 1: and grasps the spindle with her fingers. She opens her 35 00:02:57,810 --> 00:03:01,170 Speaker 1: arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy. 36 00:03:02,550 --> 00:03:06,050 Speaker 1: When it snows, she has no fear for her household, 37 00:03:06,510 --> 00:03:10,750 Speaker 1: for all of them are clothed in scarlet. She makes 38 00:03:10,830 --> 00:03:14,329 Speaker 1: coverings for her bed. She is clothed in fine linen 39 00:03:14,470 --> 00:03:19,010 Speaker 1: and purple. Her husband is respected at the city gate, 40 00:03:19,370 --> 00:03:22,090 Speaker 1: where he takes his seat among the elders of the land. 41 00:03:22,889 --> 00:03:26,060 Speaker 1: She makes alms. linen garments and sells them and supplies 42 00:03:26,120 --> 00:03:32,190 Speaker 1: the merchants with sashes. She is clothed with strength and dignity. 43 00:03:33,870 --> 00:03:37,370 Speaker 1: She can laugh at the days to come. She speaks 44 00:03:37,430 --> 00:03:42,210 Speaker 1: with wisdom and faithful instruction is on her tongue. She 45 00:03:42,270 --> 00:03:45,390 Speaker 1: watches over the affairs of her household and does not 46 00:03:45,470 --> 00:03:50,040 Speaker 1: eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call 47 00:03:50,080 --> 00:03:54,860 Speaker 1: her blessed. Her husband also and he praises her. Many 48 00:03:54,940 --> 00:04:00,490 Speaker 1: women do noble things, but you surpass them all. Charm 49 00:04:01,230 --> 00:04:06,190 Speaker 1: is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting. But a woman who 50 00:04:06,290 --> 00:04:10,790 Speaker 1: fears the Lord is to be praised. Honor her for 51 00:04:10,950 --> 00:04:13,490 Speaker 1: all that her hands have done, and let her works 52 00:04:13,950 --> 00:04:21,370 Speaker 1: bring her praise at the city gate. Have you ever 53 00:04:21,430 --> 00:04:25,169 Speaker 1: encountered a season of change and thought, why am I 54 00:04:25,290 --> 00:04:29,680 Speaker 1: not where I want to be? From education to careers 55 00:04:29,800 --> 00:04:34,560 Speaker 1: or callings and relationships, it's easy to compare ourselves to 56 00:04:34,680 --> 00:04:40,260 Speaker 1: others or even former versions of ourselves. Not only that, 57 00:04:40,800 --> 00:04:46,990 Speaker 1: it's as if we expect instant transformation on demand. When 58 00:04:47,029 --> 00:04:51,050 Speaker 1: we operate in this way, we have to admit, It's frustrating. 59 00:04:52,110 --> 00:04:55,650 Speaker 1: No matter how hard we work, it's still never good enough. 60 00:04:57,390 --> 00:05:00,659 Speaker 1: But what if God never asked us to be anyone 61 00:05:00,700 --> 00:05:06,159 Speaker 1: except the person he created us to be? When you 62 00:05:06,200 --> 00:05:10,089 Speaker 1: think about your life, what areas are you still growing in? 63 00:05:10,970 --> 00:05:15,250 Speaker 1: Are there places where you wish growth would happen faster? 64 00:05:16,450 --> 00:05:19,960 Speaker 1: I know there often is for me. But instead of 65 00:05:20,720 --> 00:05:25,219 Speaker 1: putting myself down, I'm learning that growth is a process. 66 00:05:26,540 --> 00:05:30,960 Speaker 1: The person God created me to be has many different seasons, 67 00:05:31,040 --> 00:05:35,839 Speaker 1: but they're all still me. And guess what? They're all 68 00:05:35,960 --> 00:05:41,320 Speaker 1: still you, too. I used to hate when people would 69 00:05:41,360 --> 00:05:46,680 Speaker 1: compare themselves to the Proverbs 31 woman. Not because she 70 00:05:46,740 --> 00:05:52,880 Speaker 1: wasn't admirable. She was, but because becoming her felt impossible. 71 00:05:54,279 --> 00:05:59,029 Speaker 1: The reality is, the Proverbs 31 woman wasn't born this way, 72 00:05:59,110 --> 00:06:05,530 Speaker 1: but over time, she became her. The next time you're 73 00:06:05,630 --> 00:06:10,620 Speaker 1: tempted to compare yourself to others, or even former or 74 00:06:10,779 --> 00:06:16,620 Speaker 1: future versions of yourself, reflect on these questions. What qualities 75 00:06:16,690 --> 00:06:20,540 Speaker 1: is God developing in me right now? Where have I 76 00:06:20,600 --> 00:06:24,900 Speaker 1: seen growth in my life over the past year? Am 77 00:06:24,980 --> 00:06:31,520 Speaker 1: I focusing more on my shortcomings or God's faithfulness? Though 78 00:06:31,560 --> 00:06:39,020 Speaker 1: a lengthy passage, Proverbs 31 reminds us that God develops strength, wisdom, 79 00:06:39,660 --> 00:06:46,420 Speaker 1: and character over time. Spiritual growth is a process, not 80 00:06:46,460 --> 00:06:51,060 Speaker 1: a destination, and no matter what, our identity is found 81 00:06:51,660 --> 00:06:56,310 Speaker 1: in who God created us to be, not in our achievements. 82 00:06:58,000 --> 00:07:00,730 Speaker 1: God is still working in us, even if we can't 83 00:07:00,870 --> 00:07:05,670 Speaker 1: see immediate results. God is still working in us, even 84 00:07:05,710 --> 00:07:11,850 Speaker 1: if we don't like the versions of ourselves we're presently in. Tonight, 85 00:07:12,490 --> 00:07:16,460 Speaker 1: as you prepare for rest, Don't knock yourself down for 86 00:07:16,520 --> 00:07:22,700 Speaker 1: who you aren't. Remember who you're still becoming. Then ask 87 00:07:22,730 --> 00:07:28,130 Speaker 1: yourself these questions. How have I seen God's hand shaping 88 00:07:28,190 --> 00:07:33,970 Speaker 1: me recently? What expectations do I need to surrender to Him? 89 00:07:35,770 --> 00:07:45,300 Speaker 1: How can I trust God's timing for my growths? Dear Jesus, 90 00:07:46,120 --> 00:07:49,220 Speaker 1: tonight I want to thank you for creating me with purpose. 91 00:07:50,800 --> 00:07:54,600 Speaker 1: Instead of seeing the Proverbs 31 woman as a threat 92 00:07:54,660 --> 00:07:58,020 Speaker 1: or an impossible goal, let me see her as someone 93 00:07:58,080 --> 00:08:02,830 Speaker 1: I can become and grow into over time. I surrender 94 00:08:02,870 --> 00:08:06,650 Speaker 1: my desire to rush the process of growth, and I 95 00:08:06,770 --> 00:08:10,610 Speaker 1: trust the work you are doing in my life. Help 96 00:08:10,650 --> 00:08:13,870 Speaker 1: me to rest today. in your love and grace as 97 00:08:13,890 --> 00:08:19,530 Speaker 1: you continue to shape me. I love you, Lord. Amen. 98 00:08:22,810 --> 00:08:26,850 Speaker 1: How did tonight's scripture speak to you? Share your thoughts 99 00:08:27,330 --> 00:08:30,510 Speaker 1: in the Your Nightly Scripture forum discussion. 100 00:08:39,200 --> 00:08:43,770 Speaker 2: Thank you for listening to Your Nightly Scripture. Tonight's scripture 101 00:08:44,210 --> 00:08:49,030 Speaker 2: was read from the New International Version by Biblica. All 102 00:08:49,090 --> 00:08:54,980 Speaker 2: rights reserved. Be sure to follow our sister show, Your 103 00:08:55,030 --> 00:09:00,300 Speaker 2: Daily Bible Verse, on Apple or Spotify. By following Your 104 00:09:00,400 --> 00:09:04,699 Speaker 2: Daily Bible Verse and Your Nightly Scripture, you can be 105 00:09:04,780 --> 00:09:09,040 Speaker 2: sure that your day begins and ends centered on the 106 00:09:09,090 --> 00:09:09,709 Speaker 2: Word of God. 107 00:09:21,520 --> 00:09:22,250 Speaker 1: Thank you.