Fit For Serving - Traits of the Godly Women - Proverbs 31:17

"She girds herself with strength and makes her arms strong.  Proverbs 31:17

The godly woman is not the quintessential weak or frail woman.  According to God she is strong and does what is necessary to have physical strength in her arms.  Please do not misunderstand me to be saying that a godly woman is a fitness freak.  She isnrather a woman who knows that it is wise to be able to maintain her physical strength for the sake of her family, for the work God would have her do, and for even her own well-being.

As a guy who is getting older I am realizing the wisdom in taking better care of my physical well being.  You are much less effective in life when your health begins to fail.  This is worse when your health fails due to your own lack of wisdom and bad eating and exercise habits.  The wise woman knows this and takes care of herself.

The wise woman makes herself and her arms strong for a good reason.  At this point I am going to meddle a little for the sake of godliness for the ladies who read this.  When you read this passage you see why this godly woman seeks to be physically fit and strong.  She does it to be able to serve her Lord and her family.  She is not getting fit in order to be hot and look good in a bikini.  She is not doing it so that she can dress in tight clothes so she will have men compliment her on her figure and so women can tell her how skinny she is getting.  She does it for the glory of God, not for her own glory.  

Ladies, the Word encourages you to be wise, to remain strong, and to stay healthy.  It does so not so that you can serve the American cult of self-centered "hotness."  he encourages this so that you can be an effective godly woman who loves her husband and who loves her children.  In this way you will receive the only praise God desires for you to pursue - the praise of God Himself and the praise of your husband and children as they see in you that servant heart that brings glory to God and good to your family, church, and friends in Jesus name.