Proverbs 31 as a professional woman – Part 9
Embodying and manifesting godly wisdom in the workplace
Dear loyal readers of this column, I thank God for your continued interest, feedback and thoughts on the nine articles and five success principles that we’ve unpacked so far. Stay with me; we still have 15 principles to unpack, and I still need to conclude the series with effortless femininity in the workplace.
Today I’ll be doing a little recap of the previous articles, and I invite you to Google them for further context.
The Proverbs 31 woman is considered to be ‘wisdom in action’ – because of how she relies on, applies and benefits from Godly wisdom – which is needed in every area of her life, especially in the workplace.
Writing on Proverbs 31 as a Professional Woman under the theme 'Embodying and manifesting Godly wisdom in the workplace, Success Principles and Effortless Femininity in the Workplace' has been a remarkable experience because it’s a transformational conversation. It’s not about trying to read the professional woman into Proverbs 31 because this will produce an absurd result. However, I have opted to take a principles-based approach that widens the scope to be applicable to any professional woman – regardless of her age or status.
The introductory article on Proverbs 31 as a Professional Woman was published on 13 March and contained a bold challenge to women to stop waiting for someone to give them permission to be great, to take up space and to align with God’s will to help them fulfil their path, purpose and destiny for the generation that they were born in (Acts 13:36).
I mentioned that I struggled with relating to the Proverbs 31 woman because I felt like she was too much. But through transformation, I realised that I did not need to read myself into her. I don’t want to be her; I amazingly choose to be me, but with a broad understanding and a keen application of the success principles that the Proverbs 31 woman represents.
Have you taken up the challenge to rise into the best version of yourself?
What are some of the changes that you have started making to transform into a higher version of yourself – according to God’s will for your life?
Proverbs 31 as a Professional Woman part 1 dealt with how she seeks to embody and manifest Godly wisdom in the workplace.
She is aware that her success is actually God’s success expressed through her because her job is from God and only He can help her succeed through the application and revelation of His wisdom.
Have you perhaps tried to incorporate the guidance of the Lord in surrendering your work to Him and letting Him lead you to success – for His glory? (1 Corinthians 10:31).
Proverbs 31 as a Professional Woman part 2 focused on principle 1: “A God-Loving and God-Fearing Woman” as well as principle 2: “Healthy self-love”.
Under success principle 1, she acknowledges that through loving God with her all (Mark 12:30), everything else becomes secondary, even the desires of her heart (Psalm 37:4). So, she doesn’t allow her professional accomplishments, rewards, status, job title or anything else in her life to compete with God’s love and His glory (2 Corinthians 10:17-18).
Under success principle 2, she is aware that Mark 12:31 is not an invitation to over-love others, but to express a healthy love in a manner that glorifies God (1 Corinthians 10:31).
Mark 12:31 further teaches her that the quality of love that she shows herself will determine the quality of love that she shows to others as well.
Although she is a professional with a demanding job, she doesn’t over -ove the job. She has developed healthy boundaries, makes time for herself and incorporates a self-care routine that is an investment in herself.
Proverbs 31 as a Professional Woman part 3 continued the theme of self-love from the perspective of Mark 12:31 and was posited on the notion of how she shows love for co-workers or other people in the midst of jealousy, destruction, provocation, envy, backstabbing and mistreatment. It also looked at how she responds to people who still don’t respond lovingly to her – despite her every effort to show love.
Proverbs 31 as a Professional Woman part 4 dealt with how she responds lovingly while having a difficult boss or supervisor. It also touched on how to deal with a boss who’s not a believer or perhaps even a wicked or evil person.
Next week, I will provide a summary of parts 5 to 8.
I invite you to read the full articles summarised above, and I welcome your comments, inputs, queries or concerns. Kindly address them to [email protected]
Today I’ll be doing a little recap of the previous articles, and I invite you to Google them for further context.
The Proverbs 31 woman is considered to be ‘wisdom in action’ – because of how she relies on, applies and benefits from Godly wisdom – which is needed in every area of her life, especially in the workplace.
Writing on Proverbs 31 as a Professional Woman under the theme 'Embodying and manifesting Godly wisdom in the workplace, Success Principles and Effortless Femininity in the Workplace' has been a remarkable experience because it’s a transformational conversation. It’s not about trying to read the professional woman into Proverbs 31 because this will produce an absurd result. However, I have opted to take a principles-based approach that widens the scope to be applicable to any professional woman – regardless of her age or status.
The introductory article on Proverbs 31 as a Professional Woman was published on 13 March and contained a bold challenge to women to stop waiting for someone to give them permission to be great, to take up space and to align with God’s will to help them fulfil their path, purpose and destiny for the generation that they were born in (Acts 13:36).
I mentioned that I struggled with relating to the Proverbs 31 woman because I felt like she was too much. But through transformation, I realised that I did not need to read myself into her. I don’t want to be her; I amazingly choose to be me, but with a broad understanding and a keen application of the success principles that the Proverbs 31 woman represents.
Have you taken up the challenge to rise into the best version of yourself?
What are some of the changes that you have started making to transform into a higher version of yourself – according to God’s will for your life?
Proverbs 31 as a Professional Woman part 1 dealt with how she seeks to embody and manifest Godly wisdom in the workplace.
She is aware that her success is actually God’s success expressed through her because her job is from God and only He can help her succeed through the application and revelation of His wisdom.
Have you perhaps tried to incorporate the guidance of the Lord in surrendering your work to Him and letting Him lead you to success – for His glory? (1 Corinthians 10:31).
Proverbs 31 as a Professional Woman part 2 focused on principle 1: “A God-Loving and God-Fearing Woman” as well as principle 2: “Healthy self-love”.
Under success principle 1, she acknowledges that through loving God with her all (Mark 12:30), everything else becomes secondary, even the desires of her heart (Psalm 37:4). So, she doesn’t allow her professional accomplishments, rewards, status, job title or anything else in her life to compete with God’s love and His glory (2 Corinthians 10:17-18).
Under success principle 2, she is aware that Mark 12:31 is not an invitation to over-love others, but to express a healthy love in a manner that glorifies God (1 Corinthians 10:31).
Mark 12:31 further teaches her that the quality of love that she shows herself will determine the quality of love that she shows to others as well.
Although she is a professional with a demanding job, she doesn’t over -ove the job. She has developed healthy boundaries, makes time for herself and incorporates a self-care routine that is an investment in herself.
Proverbs 31 as a Professional Woman part 3 continued the theme of self-love from the perspective of Mark 12:31 and was posited on the notion of how she shows love for co-workers or other people in the midst of jealousy, destruction, provocation, envy, backstabbing and mistreatment. It also looked at how she responds to people who still don’t respond lovingly to her – despite her every effort to show love.
Proverbs 31 as a Professional Woman part 4 dealt with how she responds lovingly while having a difficult boss or supervisor. It also touched on how to deal with a boss who’s not a believer or perhaps even a wicked or evil person.
Next week, I will provide a summary of parts 5 to 8.
I invite you to read the full articles summarised above, and I welcome your comments, inputs, queries or concerns. Kindly address them to [email protected]
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