His Heartbeat, My Own

"Delight thyself in the LORD; and He shall 

give thee the desires of thine heart."

~ Psalm 37:4 ~

     Far beyond our wishes, deeper than our wants, higher than our loftiest dreams, God has a plan for each one of us. For Him to give us the desires of our hearts means much more than merely granting our requests; it implies that He will develop within our hearts the desires that He intends for us to have and which He will fulfill. Ultimately, it is the essence of uniting our hearts to the heart of our Father. It is when we have drawn so close to Him that His heartbeat becomes our own---His will becomes our will, His plans become our plans, His desires become ours. 

     It has been said, "A woman's heart must be so hidden in Christ that a man should have to seek Him first to find her." I have often wondered about the application of such a statement, of how it is actually played out. Through the past months, the Lord has been deepening my understanding in that truth as I have sought a closer relationship with Him. No, it is not some mythical idea that is only good for "wise talk", neither does it require one to live a super-spiritual, isolated-to-God life as a Christian "nun" who can never enjoy the sweet pleasures of life. Instead, it offers that a lady who is truly delighting in the Lord and growing in her walk with her Savior will be a woman who inspires a brother in Christ to find his deepest joy and satisfaction in Christ before seeking to win her affection. 

     Recently, I was encouraged by the testimony of a Godly woman who truly lived out this truth. The story of how God brought Robert Wolgemuth and Nancy Leigh DeMoss together was deeply inspiring. My desire is that you, too, would be encouraged to seek first the kingdom of God, drawing nigh to Him, delighting yourself in Him and letting His desires become your own as you see how God so beautifully orchestrated the lives of two humble, surrendered servants, in His perfect time, to bring glory and honor to Himself. 

  ~Robert & Nancy~ 

Click on the link above to view their story  

The Three Sisters ~ Knowledge

"The heart of the prudent getteth knowledge; and the ear of the wise seeketh knowledge." 

(Proverbs 18:15)

     Here, we have come to the third of the three sisters, knowledge. Reaching beyond mere intellectual "smartness", this knowledge is that which carves our habits, shapes our character, and determines our destiny. Rooted in wisdom and guided by understanding, it is the finishing element by which structures--both physical and relational--are built, established, and enriched. Without it, homes are destroyed, communities are disintegrated, and nations fall; for life becomes bleak, and the future meets us unprepared. 

So...what's knowledge?

 Knowledge ~ An educated perception of truth  

"A clear and certain perception of that which exists or of truth and fact." ~ Webster 1828

"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction." (Proverbs 1:7)

   

    Yes, this definition may seem more brief or concise than those of wisdom and understanding, however, such is knowledge--simply knowing the truth and what to do with it. It goes hand in hand with wisdom; it is the educated perception of the needs around, and is the tool with which one is equipped in order to successfully and adequately meet them. Wisdom is the right execution of knowledge. 

     Notice, the fear of the Lord is the root of knowledge, just as it is with wisdom and understanding. Without the fear of the Lord we will be unable have an accurate knowledge and understanding of what is true. Truth is not just philosophical, intellectual, or theological opinions; truth, in the frank sense of the word, is the reality of the way things are. Perhaps, we may discuss truth in a later post, but search the truth out for yourself--not just opinions, but the real, genuine truth (John 14:6).

~ The Value of Knowledge ~

"There is gold, and a multitude of rubies: but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel." 

(Proverbs 20:15)

     Along with the gems, wisdom and understanding, that exceed the price of rubies, knowledge is as the sparkling jewels that provide added adornment within the crown of a virtuous woman. By knowledge, the virtuous woman could seek wool and flax, bring her food from afar, give good meat to her household, invest in vineyards, gird her loins with strength, have the ability to perceive the status of her merchandise, lay her hand to the spindle, and adequately reach out to the needs of her community. And, because of knowledge, she was not afraid when times got bad or circumstances became difficult; for she had the knowledge of how to make ends meet while still providing a haven for those she loved--even if it took some hard work and creativity. 

     Knowledge is the gate which opens the way for wisdom to work, and understanding is the pavement which makes the path smoother. Knowledge, through wisdom, turns a house into a home; and knowledge, by understanding, takes a surviving relationship and makes it thrive. Surrounding the precious gems of wisdom and understanding, knowledge is the adornment which brings practicality and makes life sparkle.

~ What Does it Take to Get Knowledge? ~

"A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth." (Proverbs 14:6)

    Proverbs 2:1-7 says, "My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God. For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly." 

     Getting knowledge takes earnest effort. It requires applying yourself to learn. No one can force knowledge upon you, though they can impart information; but you must open your heart to learn if knowledge will benefit your life. And the best place to learn it is from those who have it.  

~ Knowledge Applied ~

"I wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions." 

(Proverbs 8:12)

     Speaking practically now, knowledge enables one to find witty alternatives and ways to, not only accomplish difficult tasks, but, also, make simple tasks exciting. With the use of knowledge, a virtuous woman can creatively bring cheer to a dreary abode, make a humble dwelling a palace for the heart, and, by her loving disposition bring health and healing to the worn and weary. 

"Through wisdom is an house builded; and by understanding it is established: And by knowledge shall the chambers be filled with all precious and pleasant riches." 

(Proverbs 24:3-4)

     By knowledge, a virtuous woman will know how to fill her home with that which will beautify the simple, satisfy the hungry, comfort the weary, encourage lonely hearts, and enrich lives. By knowledge, she uses the skills and abilities she has learned and developed for the inspiration and edification of those the Lord brings through the doors of her life.   

"For wisdom is a defence, and money is a defence:but the excellency of knowledge is, that wisdom giveth life to them that have it."
(Ecclesiastes 7:12)

     Many can bring in a living, and many can display their confidence through great wealth and riches, but a woman who has the knowledge of wisdom in how to live will find a life worth far more than the abundance of gold and silver.  

~ The Necessity ~

"And wisdom and knowledge shall be the stability of thy times, 

and strength of salvation: the fear of the Lord is his treasure." 

(Isaiah 33:6)

     In our day in time, virtuous women of wisdom and knowledge are critically needed! Knowledge, as passed down from godly women of the past, is slipping quickly from our hold. At the rate the world is going, we are seeing more and more "silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, ever learning, and never able to come to a knowledge of the truth." (2 Timothy 3:6b-7)  Ladies, sisters, co-laborers, may we encourage you to strive for knowledge--not just any knowledge, but the knowledge of God which will enable us to wisely live the lives God has given to us. May it never be said of us, "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge." (Hosea 4:6)

"And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God."

 (Philippians 1:9-11)

An Excellent Spirit

"He that hath knowledge spareth his words: 
and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit." 
Proverbs 17:27

   Have you ever wondered how Joseph could keep his attitude right all through being hated and completely rejected by his own brothers, sold as a slave because of their pride and greediness; then thrown in prison after being falsely accused and given no fair trial and then forgotten by his only hope of release before he arrived to the position of being second in command over all Egypt? 
 How could Moses lead that whole throng of griping and complaining people through the wilderness for forty years and still have the patience enough to intreat the Lord to spare their lives multiple times when God, Himself, was ready to start over again? 
 What about Daniel? We talk about things getting bad here in America, but Daniel was a captive. None of his family, that we know of, was there with him, probably because they were all killed. He went through four complete government hand-overs and then was thrown in the lion's den because of a rash law that was made... And still, he was known throughout all the kingdom as a man of an excellent spirit!

   We all dream about having that perfect disposition of a big sister who is adored by all who see her, or of that big sister who "never gets in trouble"; the unaffected attitude that can easily roll with the punches, or that we can talk to any time of day about anything and receive encouraging, unassuming guidance and exhortation. And nothing is so inspiring than seeing a person who is of an excellent spirit despite the chaos and troubles around. What exactly is it that makes that so idealistically attracting? And why does it seem forever unattainable?

   The reason is this: satan is the father of lies and he is so cunning in deceiving us into believing that every good and perfect gift is completely out of our reach, and we've already blown it anyways... therefore there's no hope even trying to match up and amount to anything in our own family. True success can only happen "out there". So, may as well send our siblings on their way (because they won't listen to us anyway) and not weary ourselves over trying to meet their criteria of being a big sister to them. 

   But before we get too caught up in that train of thought, let's take a moment to consider a few things: If we are born again into the kingdom of Christ, redeemed by His atoning death on the cross and received into the family of God as heirs of God through Christ, then He has given us "all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these [we] might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust." (1 Peter 1:3b-4). We have been given the grace and strength to soar above the "normal" state of captivity into the marvelous freedom of walking with Christ. As our relationship with Him is strengthened, so will be the other relationships He brings into our lives and He will take us by the hand and teach us to nurture them as He nourishes us.

   That's a mouthful to read, and a stake to chew on, so let's take a deeper look into how our relationship with Christ affects our relationships with others. We really do desire to have strong, thriving relationships with those He has placed in our lives, and we do long to be the sisters we know we ought to be, but where do we start?       

     If you are familiar with gardening, you would recognize this term as essential to the strength of all plants: The root system. This is what obtains the majority of nutrients and gives the plant stability. In our lives, the tap-root in this root system to spiritual growth is the fear of the Lord:

 "And unto man he said, Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom;

and to depart from evil is understanding." (Job 28:28)

 "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: 

but fools despise wisdom and instruction." (Proverbs 1:7)

   The fear of the Lord is not being scared of God. Imagine that you were suddenly placed on a tight-rope walk 200 feet in the air, with nothing more than a small cord connecting you to the anchor rope that extended above where you stood. Some may identify more than others, but consider that you had a fear of heights. Would it be the high rope you stood upon that made you afraid? No; your fear of heights would not be directed at the place of hight, but at the ground. You would be afraid of even thinking of the possibility of slipping from where you were anchored and crashing in a devastating heap on the hard ground situated quite opposite from your perch. So is one that has the fear of God. She is not scared of God, but rather shudders at even the thought of slipping away from Him, for she knows that her life would surely end in destruction. 

   So, how do I get the fear of God? Take heed to the words of the wisest man on earth, King Solomon: 

 "My [daughter], if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures; Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God."  (Proverbs 2:1-5)

   You must come to the place of knowing that you don't have it all put together, and you must set your heart to seek Him with everything in you. You must purposefully search for God. Then, you must soften your heart to hear what He says. And when you have found Him and have made Him your hearts abode, then He will teach you what it is to walk in a manner that will glorify Him and edify others--He will instruct you in wisdom, understanding, and knowledge. 

   These three sisters -- Wisdom, Understanding, and Knowledge -- are the three keys that open the door to having flourishing relationships with others. And having them will enable us to be people of excellent spirits. In the next three posts, we will be covering each of these three keys individually, and asking God to open our eyes and hearts to see others the way He sees them. He is the giver of life, therefore He holds the secrets of how to live it. 

"The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him;

and he will show them his covenant." (Psalm 25:14)

"For the Lord giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding. He layeth up sound wisdom for the righteous: he is a buckler to them that walk uprightly. He keepeth the paths of judgment, and preserveth the way of his saints. Then shalt thou understand righteousness, and judgment, and equity; yea, every good path." (Proverbs 2:6-9)     

In His Diadem

  In His Diadem is a blog designed specifically for young ladies journeying through life. A diadem is not just any type of crown, but it is one that most ornately adorns the head of a sovereign. Unlike a typical crown, a diadem is set with precious jewels of costly value. 

     Proverbs 31:10 says, "Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies." Rubies are one of the most valuable, most expensive of gems. The writer of this passage likens the value of such gems to the value of a virtuous woman. Not only are they hard to find,  but they are not easy to be, and those who set out to be one must pay a price that requires giving up much that this world has to offer. 

     As virtuous women, like precious gems set within the diadem of our Sovereign and Lord, Jesus Christ, we have the privilege and vital responsibility to be a part of the visible adornment that will proclaim to the world the majesty of our King through the testimony of our lives. Yet, while we are here on earth, the Lord has established pictures through our physical relationships and interactions that are just samples of the heavenly reality. 

     Those pictures are displayed through our relationships with our earthly fathers, our brothers, and, should the Lord will that we marry someday, with our husbands. Just as we adorn the diadem of our Heavenly King, we also hold a priceless responsibility to bring honor and respect to the men God has placed in our lives--whether that be our 5-year old little brother, or our 95-year old grandfather--through our conduct of virtue, grace, and purity. This is not an easy task, but being a woman whose price exceededs that of rubies is not a cheep achievement.

     We are two sisters, Anna and Elisabeth. This journey of virtuous womanhood is a road we are still treading ourselves, and we do not even pretend to claim to have it all figured out. However, as the Lord is teaching us what it is to be in His diadem, we desire to pass on the truths we learn from His Word so that you, too, might grow in the grace of our Savior.   
   
   It is a journey. But, by His grace, we can shine as lights in this dark world, richly sparkling forth the beauty of His holiness through our conduct of purity, faith, and charity. May you, dear sister, be challenged, inspired, and encouraged as you learn, with us, what it is to declare His glory in our everyday lives.

In His Diadem,
Anna & Elisabeth