What do you think about what you do?

In Proverbs 31, the chapter about "The Woman Who Fears the Lord," verse 18 says, "She perceives that her merchandise is profitable..."

I love that. Perceiving and believing that the work of your hands is valuable isn't just a nice thing to do, it's a critical part of what God wants us to do in order to be set apart as women who fear Him.

This is something I have struggled with, and I know I'm not the only one. I actively, enthusiastically engage in the things I know I'm good at. I put in lots of time and effort to do them well. But when it's all said and done, I look at the end product as though it's less-than-"profitable". I tell myself I didn't try hard enough. I tell myself I'm just not good enough at what I try to do. My perception of the work I have done is distorted through the lense of comparison to other women's work, or of what I think others will think of it.

All of that is a lie! God has blessed my hands. God has called me to be a woman who fears Him, and has equipped me to be one. Just think about how silly the lies of the devil are! He says, "Her work is profitable, so that means yours isn't." That logic doesn't make sense at all! Or, "Your work would have been profitable if only you had spent a little more time on this one part." He tries to devalue your whole product by making you feel bad about one little detail. (See Psalm 37:12-13 about laughing at the lies of the enemy.) Our God has given us all capable hands, hearts, and minds. Your work is profitable! And so is hers, and so is mine!

Think about how beautiful we would be if we all did what we loved AND believed that what we produced was valuable.

When you are ashamed of the work of your hands, you selfishly withhold it and yourself from the world. But when you believe that what you have made is valuable, you allow the world and the community around you to share in the joy of the true beauty of who you are.

Perceive that your merchandise is profitable today, and thank God for blessing the work of your hands!

Love,
Kristian