YOU GLOW GIRL: PART THREE

Godly Wisdom

I hope you are enjoying this series thus far. We have gained so much insight into the character and mindset of the Proverbs 31 woman. If you haven’t already, please check out the last two blog posts before reading this one. They are titled "You Glow Girl: Godly Character" and "You Glow Girl: Godly Mindset." I don’t want you to miss out on the fullness of this powerful series.

Now, let’s dive deep into what it means to have godly wisdom. To clarify, I am not writing as someone who claims to be wise. I pray daily for wisdom because, as I've shared in previous posts, I have made a lot of unwise decisions in the past. Out of all people, I have to seek God for wisdom, and slowly but surely, I am noticing His faithfulness in providing it.

There are a couple of verses that state the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Proverbs 9:10 (KJV) says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.” Similarly, Psalm 111:10 (KJV) states, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do His commandments: His praise endureth forever.”

After reading those scriptures, my question was, “What does it mean to fear the Lord?” A few months ago, I read "The Awe of God" by John Bevere, who defined this fear as being terrified of being away from God. He pointed out that the fear of the Lord does not mean being afraid of God but, instead, being so in love with Him that you never want to be apart from Him.

Another question I had was which Proverbs 31 woman in the Bible I should learn wisdom from. There are many, but one in particular stood out to me. The Lord led me to reread the book of Ruth from a different perspective this time. Ruth exhibited great wisdom through her loyalty, commitment, humility, and obedience. In the first chapter, we see her loyalty to Naomi and her commitment to Yahweh. In Ruth 1:16 (KJV), we read the most famous verse in the book of Ruth: “And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God: Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the Lord do so to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me.”

Wisdom is choosing to be loyal and committed to God. That’s love! John 14:15 says, “If ye love me, keep my commandments.”

Therefore, I believe that a woman with godly wisdom loves God so deeply that she desires to live as one created in His image. She seeks to understand His mind, heart, and character, and she strives to live her life in obedience to His word.

I love how God reveals His character through the story of Ruth. Many of us read the story at face value, viewing it simply as a love story between Ruth and Boaz. However, when we take the time to slow down, lean in, and listen for God's voice, we gain a deeper understanding. The gospel unfolds before our very eyes—it’s a love story between us and our Father.

Ruth also demonstrates wisdom through her humility and obedience. In chapter 2, verse 10, we see a beautiful display of her humility: “Then she fell on her face, bowed herself to the ground, and said to him, ‘Why have I found grace in your eyes, that you should take knowledge of me, seeing I am a stranger?’”

Let’s pause for a moment and think about the last time we approached the Lord with that heart posture. When was the last time you humbled yourself before Him, recognizing His holiness in comparison to your own? Praising and worshiping Him for His grace and mercy? It’s important to reflect on all that He has done for us because He is truly worthy of praise.

Wisdom is having a heart of gratitude. Despite losing her husband and leaving her family and everything she had known behind, Ruth did not allow her heart to turn bitter. Instead, she was grateful for the opportunity to work and recognized the undeserved favor Boaz had extended to her.

Similarly, we don't deserve God’s grace, yet He offers it to us freely. Wisdom lies in understanding this truth and maintaining humility before the Lord.

In chapter 3, we read how Naomi instructs Ruth on how to approach Boaz. Naomi advises her to anoint herself, dress in her best clothes, and lie down at Boaz’s feet. Essentially, she encourages Ruth to present herself well but, most importantly, to symbolize feminine beauty in submission by lying at his feet.

Ruth's response demonstrates her obedience. In Ruth 3:5 (KJV), it states, “And she said unto her, All that thou sayest unto me I will do.” While I’m not certain about the exact timeframe between when Naomi gave Ruth her instructions and when Ruth followed through, the text implies it was immediate.

I believe that true wisdom is found in our immediate obedience to what God has instructed us to do. It does not question, doubt, waver, or give fear power. Instead, it is quick and trusting, stemming from our knowledge of who He is.

True godly wisdom is intertwined with our faith. I define faith as belief coupled with action. Believing in an invisible God is one thing, but choosing to have faith in Him is where we experience powerful transformation. Why? Because faith requires obedient action.

I encourage you to read the book of Ruth with a fresh perspective and consider the following questions:

1. What is God revealing to me about Himself through this story?

2. What does God desire from me?

3. Does my walk with God honor my loyalty and commitment to Him?

4. Am I walking in humility and truly putting God and others above myself?

5. What was the last instruction God gave me? Did I act in obedience or in fear?

Take a moment to reflect on these questions and ask the Holy Spirit to reveal where you are in your walk with Him.

Recently, I faced a situation where I was tested, and unfortunately, I did not succeed. The Bible tells us in Proverbs 24:16 that a righteous person falls seven times and rises again. Wisdom lies in acknowledging our failures and repenting. I am learning that as long as I have breath in my body, God grants me another opportunity to try again, this time with His guidance.

Sister in Christ, let’s continue to seek God and His righteousness and strive to become the godly women He created us to be. I look forward to wrapping up this series next week, where we will discover our god-given purpose and calling.

Let's Pray

Heavenly Father,  

We ask for your forgiveness for the times we have been disobedient. Please grant us wisdom in all areas of our lives. Teach us your ways, guide our steps, and increase our faith and trust in you. In Jesus' mighty name, Amen.