"The Most Important Lesson" & "Suit Up"

by Gina L.
from Virtuous Daughters, April 2015~Volume 15, Number 1

Part 1:
"The Most Important Lesson"

Dear daughters who so long
within the depths of their own heart,
to walk His path with virtue,
from the world, set apart.
Listen as I tell you,
for this trail too I have trod,
And through stumbles, slips, and falls
was birthed wisdom from God.
The road you walk is beautiful
and joy must be your song,
Which comes from Christ Who keeps you,
by His power carried on.
Surprised and often caught off guard,
it took me long to see,
His ways are not our ways,
Why did I think they’d be?
They’re higher, working for a good
we cannot understand.
By faith we trust though things seem dim
and cling to His sure hand.
He leads us where we’d never go,
and shows us just enough
of what we need the day we’re on,
the rest is left to trust.
But if He showed the path in full,
with rocks, dips, and steep climbs,
Perhaps we’d just turn back or stop,
or lean upon our minds.
I started on this road years back
so full of zeal and zest,
A virtuous woman I hoped to be
and ready for the test.
I read and read the books to
give me all that I need know,
Parenting, helpmeet, nutrition,
I had prepared to meet any foe.
Yes knowledge and man’s wisdom
were swirling in my head,
And my confidence was based
upon the “right” books I had read.
But soon of course, I found,
as I walked a little on,
that though I tried and facts applied,
All seemed to go quite wrong.
My song of joy went sour
and sweet notes were hard to reach,
And soon I found myself collapsed
with tears at Jesus’ feet.
My hard work and my zeal and my
right ways weren’t enough.
I found I needed daily,
the Master’s tender touch.
For my wisdom was gone out
and my confidence run dry,
and the only song I soon could sing
was a broken, helpless cry.
But in this state, I found a strength
this weakness seemed to give,
for humbly bowing before the Lord
I saw all strength was His.
A paradox so powerful,
but true as true can be.
God’s strength is made perfect in weakness,
His grace sufficient for me!
And so I found each day would
drive me bowing at His throne,
Thanking, praising, asking
for the wisdom to walk on.
And it seemed the many trials,
bruises, bumps, and bust,
fulfilled their very purpose, showing
Whom daily I could trust.
For really it is daily,
and I’m still amazed at that,
for I thought that being a virtuous woman
was a point you arrived at.
But the destinations is the journey
which leads you right to Him,
Asking each single day for the
grace to lead you then.
And tomorrow’s troubles may loom large
if we’ve forgotten faith,
that He works all things perfectly.
and at His perfect pace.
And somewhere all the books seemed
to take a distant place,
to the practice of prayer to a God Who hears
And the joy to know His face.
And the faith to trust when things don’t go
the way we hoped and prayed,
that God in all His wisdom,
still holds the reins.
And why in all the world would I
grab the reins and drive?
Do I dare presume know better than God,
now to steer my life?
This God Who abides everywhere
and knows and sees it all,
Who hung the earth on nothing,
Yes--nothing at all
Who chose you in Christ, before the
foundation of the world,
and keeps you by His power
and feeds you by His Word.
And loves you with an everlasting love,
through no merit of your own
And sent and gave His only Son,
your sins to atone.
He tucks your tears in a bottle
and engraves your name on His hand,
He fulfills every prophecy
Kingdoms, Nations, man.
He sets up whom He will,
and humbles He the proud,
The heavens declare His glory,
the days utter His sound.
He is depicted in His creation
for eyes open to see.
Tree leaves flutter like hands outstretched
as winds drive them to sing.
And so we join Creation,
who glorifies God above,
With our arms raised up,
and our hearts bowed low,
Our worship song of love.
For trusting our Creator
in the days He has allowed.
This God Who brings the sunshine,
the rainbow and the cloud.
Is the most important lesson
of the many I could tell.
From my troubles on the trail
and the places where I fell.
 
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Part 2:
"Suit Up"

Yes, a few pitfalls and lessons,
Right here I will relay
First, never forget you are in a battle
Suit up; Seek wisdom, and Pray!
I must take time to warn
of the foolish woman who
plucks down her house with her own hands,
her tongue is suspect too.
Outward beauty of the world’s kind
is vain and passing soon,
But a woman who fears God
is beautiful through and through.
The God Who clothed the flowers
with beauty to behold
designed you too with perfect care,
Your features He did mold.
To spend your time in idle chat
or silly, trivial gains
is to become that sort of woman,
silly, empty, vain.
To learn to work hard now
will serve you in your call,
And to learn to serve others,
will make you greatest of all.
To speak the truth in love
when lies would soft the blow
will grow you up in Christ
from Whom all blessings flow.
It’s possible to deceive your own heart,
and live for man’s praise.
Seek, instead, to please God.
Drop anchor in His Word and stay.
A keeper “at” and “of the” home,
this calling some may start,
but remember in every stage of life
to be a keeper of the heart.
For many keep their home
with perfect order and with care.
Their things are all in perfect place
A speck of dust nowhere.
But do they understand
a more important cleansing chore?
For God commands us, keep your hearts,
and this takes work--much more.
To keep the heart throughout the day
with all due diligence,
By leading each thought captive
to Christ’s obedience.
One many neglect a soiled dish,
a dusting here and there,
But don’t give roots to bitter thoughts
Sweep each one out with care.
Your mouth will soon betray your heart,
Your veiled facade is through,
For a bitter root grows like a shoot,
and soon will trouble you.
In times of thick and times of thin,
remember God above.
And give Him praise in all your days,
His provision is enough.
Beware of a sinister foe,
who masquerades in being right.
The blame game has no winner,
Love suffers long and is kind.
And be kind to each other
Have tender hearts, forgive
Remembering God through Jesus Christ
forgave you too of sin.
Submission, subjection, obedience,
what do they all require?
Strength in the Lord to walk His way,
and surrender your own desire.
But joy and peace are found there,
blessing and honor too.
It’s not a constraining garment,
but freedom and protection for you.
Embrace for today God’s call on your life,
leaving all of the future to Him.
He is able to bring what He deems best for you.
In His time; In His way; Trust in Him.
Many daughters have done virtuously,
but thou can excel them all.
Rest in His plan; dress in His armor;
Avoid my stumbles, slips, and falls.
In the soil where you’re planted,
in the sun or rain or dry,
Bloom right there; cast Him your care;
Your heart He too will try.