Hi Ladies,
Like the beautiful musical note in this photo, your future marriage is intended by God to be harmonious and a source of pleasure and even inspiration to you and your mate. If our Father’s guidelines are followed and you marry the man He has designed specifically for you, despite occasional sour notes, your marriage will be your greatest blessing.
But first you must have a fully developed relationship with Holy Spirit, and an understanding of your own worth, and how very special you are as a woman of God.
WHO AM I?
Your response to this question reflects your own opinion of your value. Who do you think determines your worth? Do other people decide for you that you are priceless or worthless, and you must live your life to match their valuation? The answer, of course, is No! But many of us act as though others control our worth.
Instead as a Daughter of The King of All Creation you are a treasure, and no other person establishes your value except you. You are free to declare your worth, and the opinions of others are worthless. You can choose to accept their valuation if they treat you with respect, or reject their opinion completely if it denigrates you. The good news is that others, particularly male others, will accept the value that you place upon yourself, whether high, or low, or in-between, and they will respond accordingly. After all, who would know better than you?
Scripture speaks of how precious we ladies are in our Father’s sight. Proverbs 31: 10 observes “Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies.” That is truly a high value because in those days rubies were extremely rare and were the most prized of all gemstones, even above diamonds. A good wife, who is first and foremost a good woman, is essentially priceless. When we understand and embrace our true value, set our worth high and act with godliness, those around us are made aware of that value as well. And if we don’t think we’re worth much, then it’s unlikely that they will either.
The Diamond Decision:
If a man walks into a jewelry store, and a lovely diamond catches his eye, he’d have no real idea of its value until he is informed of its worth by the jeweler. He’ll then know the cost of the gem, and will be able to choose his next move. Only he can decide if the price set for it is affordable, an acceptable value, too expensive for him, or not worth the cost.
The same is true when he evaluates you. He may try to guess at your worth, but he doesn’t really know. And he may guess wrong, because people tend to underestimate the value of others while thinking highly of themselves. When the other person makes us aware of their true merit, we usually revise our original estimation. And occasionally the opposite occurs. Sometimes we focus on a surface attribute such as appearance, height, or expensive clothing, and use them to assign a higher worth than a person actually deserves. This type of misconception is usually corrected by their behavior.
When the jeweler produces a loupe to examine the gemstone’s facets, the man learns that this is a flawless, brilliant cut, clear white diamond. Its’ perfection sets it apart. Now maybe the stone costs a lot more than his budget allows, or perhaps he decides that it is worth whatever sacrifices he must make to obtain it. The decision is his, but the cost of the gem is unchanged. He’s free to accept or reject it, but his opinion doesn’t affect the price because its’ quality determines its’ value.
Okay, you might think, that’s fine for diamonds, but I’m not flawless. Not so! No matter the magnitude of any previous transgressions, you are now a priceless gem. Estimate your worth properly, and let it be known to others. When voices, even your own, whisper negative thoughts and discouragement, remember who and Whose you are!
Until next week…Joy and Shalom!
Jo Lynne Pool, Love in The Book
jo lynne pool - Love in The Book.org 