The Bible says that you can be a crown of joy to your husband. A “crown of joy” means that he celebrates you. You may be surprised to know that “strength of character” is what causes him to celebrate you – with joy!
“A virtuous and worthy wife [earnest and strong in character] is a crowning joy to her husband.” Proverbs 12:4 Amplified
Here, we see a woman strong in character is a crowning joy to her husband.
“Strength and dignity are her clothing; and her position is strong and secure; she rejoice over the future [the latter day or time to come]. 28 Her children arise up and call her blessed; (happy, fortunate, and to be envied); and her husband boasts of and praises her, [saying], 29 Many daughters have done virtuously, nobly and well [with strength of character that is steadfast in goodness], but you excel them all. 30 Charm and grace are deceptive, and beauty is vain [because it is not lasting]; but a woman who reverently worships and fears the Lord, she shall be praised.” Proverb 31:25, 28-30 Amplified
Strength of character or inner clothing, is obviously something of great value to God and to your husband. It is key to being a crowning joy to your husband.
The word strong means secure; to fix or establish something so that it cannot be moved. We know that a strong, fixed and secure foundation needs to be laid before you start any building project. So, I want to show you through the Word how to strengthen your foundation as a woman. Remember, strength of character is the strength of womanhood. Then regardless of what goes on around you in life, or what falls down around you, and regardless of what shakes beneath you – you will not be moved or shaken!
I believe without a doubt that as you lay the foundation for strength of character, something will take place on the inside of you – something unexpected, something new! I believe A SENSE OF YOU will come forth. You will no longer need to ask, “Who am I?” You will be saying, “This is who I am!”
THE ELEMENTS OF A STRONG FOUNDATION
- 1. I Am A Woman Of Covenant.
Being a woman of covenant strengthens you from the inside out. One definition of the word covenant is “companionship”. So, in order to remain in right standing with God, you must remain in close fellowship or friendship with God. And you remain in God’s covenant blessings when you live according to His Word.
As a covenant woman, your commitment is to seek Him (first) in all your ways – just like Esther did with everyday life affairs and those life-altering moments.
“And the Lord thy God will circumcise thine heart, and the heart of thy seed, to love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all they soul, that thou mayest live. 9 And then God will make thee plenteous in the power of thine hand… (that is His part of the covenant) 19 …I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing; therefore choose life…” Deuteronomy. 30:6, 9, 19
God always blessed those who kept His ways. Choose to live with God’s hand of blessing on your marriage, your children and every other area of your life. The first marriage covenant agreement included God, Adam, and Eve – that’s a 3-fold cord agreement! Keep God in the center of your life. Let everything else function around this, and God’s blessing can operate, and the marriage will remain strong.
God was meant to be first in your life. Don’t let other things crowd Him out. With God interwoven and intermingled in everything we do, He will make our lives strong.
- 2. I Am A Woman Of Grace.
Grace completes what is lacking. It is strength, power to do, enablement, and the supply of one’s needs.
I was at the beach one day, watching the waves, and there was a man walking along side the shoreline. It looked to me like an ocean size bowl of water with a tiny man walking around the rim of it. The waves were crashing onto the shore at His feet and every step he took there was an unlimited supply of water just pouring over the rim before him. That is what grace looks like. It is an unlimited supply of resources for us to draw upon, because of our covenant with Jesus. He is our unlimited supply. God wants us to daily tap into all that we have need of.
An ocean of grace is awaiting you when you spend time with Jesus. This is where your “unlimited supply” is found.
“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16
- 3. I Am A Woman of Value.
“Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will.” Ephesians 1:5
It is His good pleasure that you belong to Him. He values you. Jesus took your place on the cross. When you gave your life to Jesus, He took you like you were and said, “You belong to Me now.”
YOUR VALUE IS FOUND IN CHRIST
“To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. 7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;” Ephesians 1:6,7
Talk about a price point! You were worth the value of Jesus’ blood and an agonizing death.
So then, you should not base your value on personal accomplishments, your appearance, or your relationships, because all of those things can change.
The last part of the verse in Proverbs 12:4 says, “but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones.”
It is the redeeming power of Jesus blood that we are forgiven and redeemed from shame, suffering, pain and sorrow, and the sin that can destroy us. He shed His blood to buy us back, to redeem us – that is value!
Most women live in such a daily struggle for survival. Or else, they’re so busy pursuing what they think is valuable that they are blinded from God’s perspective and what is valuable in His eyes
But I want you to know that Jesus came to redeem you and give you a life of value – worth living for. If hope has been shattered for you or disappointment looms constantly, you can look to Jesus. (I would like to encourage you to read Psalm 25:1–14).
- 4. I Am A Woman Of Style.
Did you know that God gets excited over inner style and beauty?
Romans 8:29 says that the image of Jesus is what we are to look like – that is God’s style! He predestined you to be conformed to the stunning image of His dear Son. To be conformed means that we will need to develop ourselves in His image.
Also, the fruit of the spirit listed in Galatians 5:22 is impressively beautiful to your Heavenly Father and will be to your husband too!
According to the Bible, grey hair is a crown to a man. At one time grey hair was the sign of a man who lived long, lived strong and lived well. The Bible mentions that another crown to a man is a good wife. It says that a woman who is strong in character is a crowning joy to her husband, and he joyfully celebrates her.
Change your inner desires for outward beauty, and make inner beauty your greater goal and quest. Outer beauty has its place, especially if you are married or want to get married, but inner beauty is much more profitable.
by: Brenda Gatlin
