Hey y’all,
Welcome to another post here at Roots & Arrows Homestead. I want to talk about a topic I’ve heard floating around a lot lately and that is, what it means to be a faith-filled Christian woman. What are some ways that we can live our day-to-day life and still be fulfilling scripture or bringing glory to God?
I believe that we do not need to look any further than the Bible itself for guidelines on being a faith-filled, Christian woman. Galatians 5:22-26 tells us that we are to walk in step with the Spirit, being full of the fruit of the Spirit and that fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Another section I want to mention is Proverbs 31. I believe this passage also holds many truths that we as women can specifically apply to our lives today in an effort to follow God and walk more closely with him. Let me show you what applying these verses to my life looks like.
Now, many of these verses have to do with being a wife and/or running a household but fear not. If you are not yet a wife or manager of a home, implementing these habits will do nothing but help you prosper in the long run. Before we jump into it, I want you to remember that you are created in the image of God, GOD LOVES YOU, and He wants you to take care of yourself so that you will be ready for what He has planned for you.
Proverbs 31:15 – She rises while it is still night and provides food for her household.
Waking up while it is still night is commonly translated as waking up early. My children have picked 7am as their wake-up time consistently for about a year now. So, I am usually waking up around 5:30 or 6 in the morning so I can get myself ready for the day, have a cup of hot tea or coffee, read my Bible, and study for school before I hear their little voices calling down to me from upstairs. As for providing food for the household, I buy most of our groceries, picking and choosing ingredients and meal ideas. I prepare and/or cook every meal, snack, or dessert in our home (frozen pizza and cereal count some days), and I am always looking to learn new recipes and “kid-friendly” food ideas.
In an effort to be more self-sufficient, I am also starting our garden up this year which will hopefully provide us with some of the produce that we are consistently buying elsewhere. This is the first year since 2016 that I am not pregnant or have a little tiny baby to take care of. My youngest babes (twins) will be 2 years old this summer and I finally feel like getting my hands back in the garden soil again. It is not just a hobby; it is one step closer to the way of life that I want for myself and for my children.
Proverbs 31:20 – Her hands reach out to the poor, and she extends her hands to the needy.
This one is a little bit trickier with 4 kiddos under 5 years old, but do you know those “food drive” or “food bank” signs you see at the front of grocery stores sometimes? They have those here in the UK and any chance I get I will put something in there on my way out. If my children ever ask why I do that, I can tell them that the food placed there will go to help those who need some help feeding their families. It’s not a lot, but I like to think and hope that it makes a difference.
My dream is to help others on a larger scale somehow, maybe through sharing something I grew or starting a home-school co-op one day.
Proverbs 31: 26 – Her mouth speaks wisdom, and loving instruction is on her tongue.
As a Mama, I believe this is one of the most important things we can do. It is also probably the one thing that I end each day wishing I had done better. Speaking to everyone, especially your children, with kindness, love, and respect is the best way to really reach them. Do you like being yelled at or argued with? My guess is no. When we raise our voices at our children, they figuratively (or literally) plug their ears. Our goal should be to instruct them and guide them so that they might make better choices in the future. They won’t get that if we’re constantly losing our patience and raising our voices. Wisdom comes from God, Proverbs 2:6 tells us, “For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding”. Lean into the Lord for everything and trust in Him with all your heart. Do not rely on your own understanding. (Proverbs 3:5).
Proverbs 31:27 – She watches over the activities of her household and is never idle.
Being the runner of the household is no joke, especially with growing children in the house. I am just getting started I feel like, but some of you Mamas out there have children who are much older than mine and y’alls kids are out and about all the time. Currently, I keep up with the household chores as best I can while I’m at home raising 4 young children. This includes laundry, cleaning, dishes, cooking, etc. I do sit and take a break, usually at night, but honestly, there is always something that could be done.
Proverbs 31:30 – Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord will be praised.
You are beautifully and wonderfully made. Praise the one who made you, get to know Him. I wake up and make sure that I can intentionally spend time daily in the Word. I like to have my physical Bible and a pen handy, but even if it’s scrolling my Bible app in the pick-up line later in the day, I try to get to know God a little more each day. Love God and live like you know that Jesus paid it all for you because He did.
Take it a day at a time but know that when you are taking care of your home, you are fulfilling scripture. When you are planting and growing food for your family, you are fulfilling scripture (Jer. 29:5; 2 Kings 19:29), when you are cooking dinner or cleaning up afterward, know that you are serving your family and taking care of your home which is also fulfilling scripture. When you feel like you just can’t take it anymore, you want to scream and show your anger, but then… you don’t. You say a little prayer, you hold your tongue, and you choose your next words towards that little soul looking up at you- wisely – YES, you are fulfilling scripture.
Being a faith-filled Christian woman is not always easy, but join me and together, let’s strive to live a “do as I do” life and not a “do as I say, not as I do” life.
I love you all,
Thank you so much for being here.
Until next time,
~ Tori
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