BE Festooned, Girlfriend … with God’s praises

“Many women have done wonderful things, but you’ve outclassed them all. Charm can be misleading and beauty soon fades. The woman to be admired and praised is the woman who lives in the Fear-of-GOD. Give her everything she deserves! Festoon her life with praises!”

Proverbs 31:29-31 (The Message)

What an awesome thought—do you desire to live in the Fear-of-GOD life, ladies? Do you wish to be adorned with God’s praise? It begins with owning His Word for yourself.   

Let’s gather up the loose ends for the week then. As Shakespeare so famously said, “To be or not to be, that is the question.” To BE fully alive in the God-fearing life, there are lots of things we want to BE when it comes to Bible study:

BE Deliberate: Bible study is not going to happen unless you make it happen.

BE Prepared: Have a place. Better still, fill a basket with your Bible, resources, journal, pen, iPad. Then you can settle into your favorite chair, or retreat with your basket to the porch in nice weather. Be ready ahead of time with your choice of Scripture. 

BE There: Show up! God looks for you every day. Morning, or evening, or all the times between. He’s there. He’s waiting. He’s overjoyed to see you.  

BE Curious: Ask the questions. Billy Grahams’ daughter, Anne Graham Lotz, makes it simple: what does it say? what does it mean? what does it mean to me? Jen Hatmaker’s 6 pages of what to ask in Modern Girls are worth the price of her book.

BE Attentive: Listen. God often whispers. Talk it through with Him in your journal.

BE Authentically God’s: Take in His words. Live them out. Merge your beliefs with your behavior. Point others to Jesus.

BE Accountable: The best, the very best way, is to find some girlfriends to study with. They’ll nudge you along. On your own? Invite the Spirit to test your motives.

BE Praised: God truly wants to adorn you with praises. Bask in them.

God, festoon my girlfriends with praise. Stepping out into the Fear-of GOD life, they have thrown their arms around Your finest sayings and holy rules. May they embrace wisdom in Your Word, and hang garlands of glory around You neck as they do so.

Nancy P