More Updates and Collaboration
For the past two weeks, no one (self included) has completed the challenge. That is, I think, largely due to the way many of us operate, with the tendency to go hard at something for a short period of time, then quickly lapse back into old habits. I have very legitimate reasons every week for not completing the challenge from school responsibilities to activities that come up just when I'm about to do a "challenge related task."
Another very legitimate reason to leave off from the challenge altogether is that it can be interpreted as legalistic or a source of personal pride. If we start working hard at feminine godliness to gain a better self-opinion, we will of course be disappointed. The challenge is an effort to make room in one's life for serious time with God and obedience to His word in proactive ways.
So this week's challenge will be slightly different, but with more of an emphasis on what was mentioned above: serious time with God and obedience to His word in proactive ways. No prize this week, again it has been given to us.
And without further ado,
For the Week of 1-5 May:
1. Greet the sun 4 times, making sure to use the early morning hours for time with the Lord. (15, 30)
2. Memorize one Scripture verse and share it with another person for encouragement.(12, 26)
3. Consider aspects of your life that would fit into the category of "idleness." Work on elminating one way that you engage in idleness, asking God to replace it with something that glorifies Him (there are lots of suggestions for activities throughout the Proverb). (27)
Please share here or in email (proverbs31challenge@yahoo.com) whether you have completed the challenge and ways that you completed it and I will post your name in the blog with your story as well. May the Lord bless us in this endeavor.
6 Comments:
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I've read some criticism about the Proverbs 31 Challenge in the blogosphere and wonder if people understand what the term 'legalism' means?
Moreover, how can one person judge whether another person is 'a legalist' when legalism is a state of the heart? Who can read the heart but God?
Legalism is essentially a Christ-less religious experience. It is the belief that by 'doing good' apart from Christ, one may win favour with heaven. This is a false experience. Both those who are conservative and liberal in their Christianity are at risk of falling into this snare.
When the attitude of the heart is right, then striving to live according to the high calling God has outlined in the Bible is not legalism. For instance, when a woman endeavors to follow the example given in Proverbs 31 out of love for God and her family with the realization that she is weak, sinful and in need of a Saviour and as she relies on Christ's enabling grace, her efforts are blessed. Her life thus glorifies Christ and not herself.
The promises of the Bible are a healing balm for our human frailties. They are given to us to be appropriated:
“Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature…” 2 Pet 1:4
ABC – Ask, Believe and Claim with thanksgiving.
Too often we begin our day without prayer and then forget to pray when we encounter difficulties throughout the day! In our own strength we will ALWAYS fail of being like the lady of Proverbs 31! However, when we finally realize (through much trial and error) that our personal strivings are futile and learn to lean wholly upon Christ, trusting His promises – it is then that we meet with real success and Christ is glorified instead of ourselves.
"Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power both now and ever. Amen." Jude 24, 25
The Christian way is a humbling way. A truly humble person cannot be a legalist – for they doubt self and it’s abilities relying completely on God for strength. A humble Christian woman’s life can thus become a powerful witness for Christ, drawing others to Him.
Please be encouraged ladies!
Amen, Kelleigh--I'd like to see the criticism and respond to it if that would be possible--or even more, I'd like critics to respond here so we can have a healthy dialogue.
I agree with you that whether or not the challenge will truly benefit one is a matter of the heart and God's wisdom in providing and judging our righteous (or not) motivations.
And God is so incredibly faithful when it comes to our making efforts to spend time with Him that it generally doesn't take take too long for pride to dissipate in His presence. How could it remain?
I shant name any names ;) ....however, on one occasion when I couldn't find your website, I searched for "Proverbs 31 Challenge" using the Blogger search facility on Dashboard. To my surprise I found a critical blog. Did not search for other blogs of a similar nature.
I have been unable to complete the challenges because I cannot greet the sun. While it's a wonderful habit, it's not a one-size-fits-all thing every woman can do. My husband works until midnight 6 days each week. I work outside the home also, and leave before he's awake. When I went to bed early, I literally never saw him. Filling all the necessary requirements is actually worse for my family at this stage in life.
I do not mean to insult your mission. I still strive to accomplish the other goals, but I will not be able to "complete" the challenge unless I stop working or his schedule changes.
Not quite like P. 31 Woman,
Rebecca
Interesting challenge! I must, however, beg to differ concerning the meaning of "legalism" used in the comments. Legalism is is an emphasis more on the evidences of spirituality over the fact of spirituality. It must evident to others, in a legalistic setting, by their expectations and rules that a person is religious. It is what I have called identification from a distance: features are found that seek to identify those in the group (long hair, long dresses, no makeup, etc.; short hair, no ties, etc.; obvious and public symbols of faith as in Jesus' day). Legalism is third party expectations being inflicted on others: it is no longer a person and their God working out their salvation, but it is a third party with a refrigerator list of rules to make sure you meet the requirements.....that can happen in any group and is something Paul preached against in Galatians and elsewhere. Blessings.
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