Clothed With Strength and Dignity

“She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come.”‭‭ Proverbs‬ ‭31‬:‭25‬ ‭NIV

  • Isn’t this a great way to see ourselves? And, although this verse is directed at women, I think men can do the same! We can all look at ourselves in the mirror and say, “I am clothed with strength and dignity”! Doesn’t that feel powerful?‬‬

  • So what is strength? One dictionary definition says, “the quality or state of being strong : capacity for exertion or endurance; toughness; impregnability”. Don’t you just love the words “endurance”, “toughness”, “impregnability”! Makes it sound like nothing can get us down. Reminds me of Matthew 7:24-25, where Jesus says, “”Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.”(NIV) Jesus is our sure foundation. We do not go in our own power, but in the strength of the Lord. (See Zechariah 4:6) and Philippians 2:13 (amplified version) says, [“Not in your own strength] for it is God Who is all the while effectually at work in you [energizing and creating in you the power and desire], both to will and to work for His good pleasure and satisfaction and delight.” We do not face our challenges or daily trials alone, God is our Strength! Deuteronomy 20:4 reminds us, “for the LORD your God is he who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies, to give you the victory.”
  • ‭‭Our focus verse also says, we are clothed with dignity. A dictionary definition of dignity says, “the quality of being worthy, honored, or esteemed”. But I like this definition I found. Dignity is seen as “flowing from one's relationship with God and is not earned or merited. It is God who gives us our sense of value and worth. For we are created in His image and likeness, (see  Genesis 1:26). Sometimes I struggle with “fitting in”, or “measuring up”, waste my time comparing myself with others. But God wants me to be the best “me” I can be. He wants me to live out the life He calls me to live. And I believe He wants the same for all of us. That’s why I love 1 Corinthians 12:4-31 so much! We ALL bring something to the table, we ALL have something to offer; to give. It also reminds me of some birds I was watching the other day. It was early morning and there were lots of them in the yard, going after worms I assume:) But what struck me is how each bird was only focused on what he or she was doing, they didn’t seem to care what all the other birds were doing or how many worms they were getting. They were just focused on the task at hand. Jesus, in essence, reminded Peter of the same in John 21:22, (Peter had asked Jesus what was going to happen to John),when He said, “…what is that to you? You must follow me.” A gentle way of saying, I suppose, mind your business, stay in your lane, follow me. 
  • ‭And then, “she can laugh at the days to come”. Why is it, do you think, that she can laugh? Perhaps because she knew God was in control. I would like to be able to laugh at the days to come. I’m sure all of us would! But sometimes I find myself worried about different things instead. A lot of “what if’s”. I need to daily remind myself that God is in control. That He has a plan for me(Jeremiah 29:11). And that I am to be anxious for nothing!(Philippians 4:6-7). Perhaps smiling at the days to come is a place to start:)
  • So as you go about your day, no matter what you may face, remind yourself, I am “clothed with strength and dignity”:)

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