Did you realize that Proverbs 31 is written by a mother-in-law? In a way, this is wishful thinking. Maybe that’s why so many of us feel inadequate when we read it. But as a mother of five boys, I find myself praying things from here more and more. I pray them for myself as well. Actually, every Friday evening my family has a blessing service. One of the things we do is have the children stand and my husband reads a portion of Proverbs 31 to bless me.

Here are things I pray for myself from Proverbs 31.

I pray that my husband (and Jesus in the Body of Christ) would be able to safely trust in me and that I would do them only good and not harm all the days of my life.

I pray that I would be generous and unafraid, diligent and not lazy.

I pray that I would speak with wisdom and kindness.

All the buying and selling and earning isn’t what gains praise for the Proverbs 31 woman. What makes her praiseworthy? It’s fearing the Lord. The woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.

The Proverbs 31 woman is one you can look up to in some ways. But more than anything, we need to fear the Lord. Let that be your praise, man, woman, or child. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, knowledge, understanding. It’s the beginning. You don’t have anything if you don’t have the fear of the Lord.

It’s for all of us. This section of the proverb starts with, “Who can find an excellent wife?” But, it ends with “Many women have done excellently.” This isn’t just a unique person. There are many who can achieve a life of fear and excellence. The fear is your choice. The excellence comes from Christ.