"The heart of her husband trusts in her confidently and relies on and believes in her safely, so that he has no lack of honest gain or need of dishonest spoil. She will comfort, encourage and do him only good as long as there is life within her."
Proverbs 31:11, 12 AMP

We reflect once again on God’s words about that Proverbs 31 Virtuous Woman. How do we see ourselves in comparison to the wife He describes? For those of us not yet married, we can still consider those verses by placing our Lord Jesus Christ as our husband, our bridegroom. One way or another he is speaking to us all.

• Do we instill confidence and trust in our relationship with our husband?

"A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is rottenness in his bones"
Proverbs 12:4 KJV

Lord God, help us to give our husband the assurance he needs to rely on our judgment. Help us build a bond between us that cannot be broken.

• Does our husband believe that we will be honest and sensible in our dealings with the world?

"...a prudent wife is from the Lord."
Proverbs 19:14b KJV

Lord, may we never be reckless in thought and deed. Keep us levelheaded and discerning in all our transactions, whether we be at the market, or while managing the cares and affairs of our home or business.

• Do we bring comfort to our husband who is in need of someone to stand along side, even if he might be wrong? Do we encourage our husband to grow in his faith without badgering or trying to change him?

"Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the Lord."
Proverbs 18:22 KJV

Father, God, it is so important to be there for our Christian husband, to encourage him when he is down, to believe in him when others mock him, and to be patient with him when we know you are in the process of doing a great thing in him for what we may not yet be aware. Help us trust you for the husband you have given us. Help us trust you for the blessing we can be to one another as we do our part.

• Are we doing good for our husband, by honoring him and not speaking out of turn about him behind his back? Are we giving 100%, which means our ALL in the marital relationship?

"Wives, submit yourselves unto your own husbands, as unto the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife even as Christ the head of the church and he is the head of the body. Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; that he might sanctify it and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word."
Ephesians 5:22- KJV

This, dear Lord, is often the most difficult. Submission, in this 21st century seems not of our culture, but God, you would not have spoken it in your word without good cause. We pray you will help us to remain tender towards our husband, who is called to be head of our household, that you would help him love each of us as Christ loves the church, that you would help us to respect and honor our husband, and that we would lift him up to others rather than put him down. Most of all, dear Lord, help us to give 100% of ourselves to the man we prayed for and you provided.