Welcome back to Girls to Grow! My sweet husband has been traveling to some colder places – Denver last week and Minneapolis this week – and it’s making me appreciate the warmer days we’re having here in South Carolina in late February. It’s exciting to realize that spring is only a few weeks away!
There’s a neat feature on the backend of the blog where I can see what search terms people use to find my blog posts. Very frequently, one of those terms has to do with being a wise woman.
I’ve written a few posts on that topic before, and I’ll link them in the “Related Posts” section below. However, today I thought we’d dig into ten essential things that wise women do. I hope we’ll recognize some on the list that already characterize our lives, and maybe find a few that we can work on!
1. Think before they speak.
Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: ~James 1:19
Isn’t this an appropriate place to start? Controlling our tongue is probably a lifelong struggle for all of us! But taking a quick second to think before we make a comment or respond to someone can save us from a lot of heartache or misunderstanding.
Also, do you remember Proverbs 17:28? “Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.” Sometimes the best course of action is to just say nothing at all!
2. Study God’s Word.
The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple. ~Psalm 119:130
It only makes sense that if we want to be wise we’ll read God’s Word, study it, and meditate on it. We can think of practical ways to do this like writing a verse on a 3×5 card and looking at it throughout the day. Set a timer on your phone and read a particular verse whenever it goes off. Getting into the true source of all wisdom can only lead to us getting wiser.
3. Manage their money well and are generous.
She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy. She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet. ~Proverbs 31:20-21
The virtuous woman of Proverbs 31 wants to help those who are in need. Maybe she gives money – or it could be a warm meal or clean clothes.
At the same time, she makes sure the people in her own house have what they need. Proverbs 31:11 tells us that her husband trusts her and will have no lack of gain. She’s a prudent and faithful manager of the household and finances.
4. Are content with what they have.
But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. ~1 Timothy 6:6-7
Whether it’s from looking at social media or just comparing what we have with our friends or neighbors, we can easily get dissatisfied. Instead of comparing, cultivate a grateful heart. Actually count your blessings. Rest in the truth that what you have is enough and be satisfied.
5. Serve others.
Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. ~ Galatians 6:2
It’s so easy to get caught up in our own struggles and trials. That pity-party for one can last a long time if we let it! But a wise woman’s focus is not on herself. She makes a point of noticing others’ needs and looks for ways that she can help. Besides obeying the verse above, don’t we just feel so much better ourselves when we reach out and help someone else?
6. Use their time well.
So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. ~Psalm 90:12
Ephesians 5:16 calls it redeeming our time. We want to buy it back. Time is going by no matter what we do. It’s our responsibility to take control of it and use it wisely. There’s certainly a place for rest and relaxation. But God has given each of us a certain number of days, and we want to make sure we’re not just wasting time, but purposely spending it on things that matter.
7. Control their anger.
He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly. ~Proverbs 14:29
I used to think I wasn’t an angry person, but I feel like that’s changed as I’ve gotten older. It seems that it doesn’t take much for me to feel annoyed or frustrated.
If I want to be wise, I’ll have to pray for the Holy Spirit’s help to be slow to anger. Memorizing verses like the one above – and others, like Proverbs 16:32, which says that those who are slow to anger are better than the mighty – can help me when I’m tempted to be quick-tempered.
8. Ask God for wisdom.
If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. ~James 1:5
This one makes sense, doesn’t it? A wise woman recognizes that she doesn’t have all the answers. So she prays and asks an all-wise God to give her the wisdom she needs. And He promises to do it!
9. Live their lives with a humble spirit.
When pride cometh, then cometh shame: but with the lowly is wisdom. ~Proverbs 11:2
To reference another Bible verse, a wise woman doesn’t think of herself more highly than she should. [Romans 12:3] She recognizes that all that she is and has are the result of the blessings of a gracious God.
10. Have eternal – not earthly – values.
If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. ~Colossians 3:1-2
Our busy day-to-day lives demand our attention. It’s easy to forget that there’s so much more to live for than what’s in the here and now. Spending time in God’s Word and prayer and investing in people are actual things we can do that will impact our lives today and forever.
So are there one or two of these that you can work on this week that will help you be a wise woman? I’d say for me, numbers 5 and 6 can definitely use some work. Let’s ask God to help us to be wise women, not for our own glory, but for His!
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