Be Virtuous

What Does it Mean to Be Virtuous

Christianity Oasis has provided this Be Virtuous trek for truth sharing how to be a virtuous woman of God. What does it mean to be Virtuous for modern day Christians. Let's find out.


The Virtuous Woman
Step 1

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This excellent quest is our Be Virtuous journey taking an in-depth look into being virtuous. What Does it mean to be Virtuous? This exciting expedition will reveal how to be a virtuous woman of God. The absolutely BE-YOU-tiful message within will truly bring the LIGHT of Truth to your Christian walk path and become your very own candle in the cold, lonely and oft times lonely darkness.

Read the Introduction to This Program:


Welcome back!


Be Virtuous Path
What Does it Mean to Be Virtuous

So exciting to have you here!

Before we get started, I encourage you to ask the Holy Spirit to open your mind and heart to the Truth each time you begin a new step of this program. That's very important as there are a lot of controversial topics in our study, but if you're led by the Holy Spirit, which is the Spirit of Truth, you'll be able to discern things much easier.

Being asked to create a program to help women strive to be virtuous in honor of a mother's letter to her daughter, was an immeasurable challenge. Much of this content is my own opinion of what I believe the Lord expects from women, but never forget that we all fall down and fall short from time to time and getting back up and persevering is most important and honorable to our Father. It is easy for anyone to say or think "nobody's perfect," but to use it as an excuse not to strive for perfection is a disservice to yourself and to your hope for betterment.

To start off, I'd like to ask you to do me a favor. I'd like for you to go through all 28 steps before you make any final judgments about the program. There may be things you'll discover toward the very end that will change your mind about something that you may have had a difficult time accepting or agreeing with in the early steps of the program. Change is a progression, and you owe it to yourself to read the whole thing, or you may be cheating yourself.

What does it mean to be virtuous? I have ... A confession. Does being virtuous, as the Bible teaches, seem like just too much to ask in today's world? As your sibling in Christ and your friend, I tell you with all honesty, I understand what you're feeling, and I myself put virtue on hold for many years because I thought I'd be missing out on something exciting if I was a Little Miss Goody Two Shoes. I have to confess that I purposely avoided seeking and learning what the Bible teaches about being virtuous, because I knew I'd feel guilty for not wanting to actually live it. I knew I'd feel like more of a sinner if I actually saw the words with my own eyes and chose not to adhere to them. I felt like I was protecting myself, because I could plead ignorance! Very clever how the enemy of my soul con-vinced me of that.

Bottom line ... I felt like I just wasn't ready to be virtuous yet. I didn't want to be, I didn't care, in fact, I was so lost that I believed it was cool to be naughty. I wish now that I had made different choices. I wish I had been smart enough to realize what a dangerous place my soul had been in, and how easily I may have been persuaded to do even more extreme things that would have landed my soul in hell if I hadn't been rescued in time. I was very close to the edge of a cliff, so to speak. But enough about me, I'd like to talk about you for a while.

Be Virtuous for God
How to Be a Virtuous Woman Journey

Oh ... To Be Young (at heart) Again

I have a question to ask you. If you could be a little girl again, would you do it? Now, a lot of people might say, "Only if I knew what I know now." And in some respects, that's a very clever answer, but believe me, the last thing any little girl needs is to know what mature women of today know. I have to ask you another question ... Aren't the things that the world taught you when you became "a woman" the exact things that have stolen your virtue? Once you learn something, you are responsible for choosing to entertain it or not. If you were a little girl and you knew what you know now, you'd probably be a very unhappy little soul, because the happiness of youth is the purity in it. Some say knowledge is power, but some knowledge only gives power to the enemy of your soul to tempt you.

Matthew 18:1-4

1 At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?
2 And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,
3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven.
4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.

I'd like to help you find purity and happiness in your life today, and take you on a trip back to being a little girl again. How do you get back to that age of innocence? Well, you have to take the same path that led you to this point in your life, and travel in the opposite direction. You have to replace the untruths that you learned on your way with Truth. Each time you learn the Truth about something, you're one step closer to being the little girl you used to be, because you will begin to make different choices in your life ... Righteous choices ...

Be Virtuous With Your Choices
What Does it Mean to Be Virtuous Today

The kind of choices you made as a little girl, who never had to think twice about right and wrong, but just naturally chose the right things out of innocence and a humble heart, that's what you want back. You'll see that the child of God within you isn't really hard to find at all. All you have to do is search for her. Together, we'll overcome the obstacles that inevitably present themselves in today's world and steal away virtue from women, oft times without their even knowing it. How again? By revealing the Truth.

We're going on a treasure hunt ... And the treasure is Truth. Before we begin this adventure, I want you to know that I'm your friend, I'm on your side and I'm not here to deprive you of enjoying life or having fun, I'm not here to condemn or judge, but to help you to understand how much more fulfilling your life can be, if you will open your heart to the Truth.

Just how difficult is it to be a virtuous woman? Well, you can make it difficult, by believing that it is, or you can make it easy, by believing it is. Your attitude directly effects how easy or hard anything in life is. All you have to do, is open your mind and heart, take my hand, and we'll take a look at the world from a different perspective that most women just cannot see ... Until they find their inner child and Believe!

Be Virtuous Reward
What Does it Mean to Be Virtuous Vow

A person's point of view is a powerful thing. A belief in something can and will make things come true for a person, if you believe with your whole heart. Say it out loud ... Belief can make things happen.

Matthew 21:22

And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive.

Let me share a little story with you ... Martha always made roast on special occasions for her family. It was a special "family recipe" handed down from generation to generation. Everyone loved it. Martha, like her mother and her grandmother and her great grandmother before her had done, cut off one end of the roast, put it in a separate pan, seasoned it with your usual herbs and spices and cooked it very slowly. It came out perfect every time. She believed it would.

One day at a family reunion, Martha was talking to her great grandmother, and she asked her, why did they cut off one end of the roast. To Martha's surprise, her great grandmother told her that in the old days, they didn't have a pan big enough to fit the entire roast in, so they cut one end off and used two pans. No way!

Are there things that you do in your life that are similar to this? What I mean is, are there things that you do, things that are traditions of the world, and you really don't understand why you do them, except that you believe you should because everyone else does it? What if those things are really just making it more difficult to accomplish what Jesus wants you to do as a Christian woman? Do you think after that family reunion, Martha ever cut off the end of the roast again?

Be Virtuous Now
How to be a Virtuous Woman of God Trivia

Ahhh, Tradition

I'd like to invite you to have sort of a "reunion" of your own ... A reunion with your femininity. Remember back to when you were a little girl. Boys had cooties. Dressing up fancy was gross. All you really wanted to do was to go and play or color. And anything that you thought was unrighteous, you announced loudly and proudly by saying ... Ewwwwwww!

Where did that little girl go? Why don't we follow those kind of traditions in our lives today? The Truth is, that little girl inside of you, the one that you locked away so many years ago as to pursue the world and it's seemingly desirable offerings ... The one you left behind to chase boys, wear alluring clothes, wear make up and perfume, watch soap operas and keep dirty little secrets ... That little girl you left behind, is the one that Jesus wants back! He wants her to be free!!! Remember, He said, that you must be as a child. He wants you to enjoy the innocence, the wholesomeness, the decency, the zeal, the determination, the purity ... All of it.

A Special Kind of Recipe

Let's talk about another recipe. Let's talk about the recipe for the perfect ... Bride! Now that's a recipe that should be passed down from generation to generation. This recipe isn't just for an appetizer or an entree or a dessert, it's much more than that. Actually it's not only a recipe for preparing the perfect bride ... But for preparing to be the bride of Christ. That's the confection that we all should be striving to perfect. What are we waiting for? A bigger pan? No, what we lack is faith and understanding.

Be Virtuous Quotes
How to Be a Virtuous Woman of God

Way down deep in our hearts, many of us think that we're not worthy enough to earn the wedding cake that our Lord so truly wants us to share with Him. In our eyes, the recipe is too difficult and we don't believe that we have the ingredients necessary to prepare it. And what you believe, you will receive. But if you add a little faith to the recipe what could happen then? That's the only ingredient you need to get started. Have faith in your faith!

Mark 11:22-24

22 And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.
23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.
24 Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

Did you get that? Not only can you move mountains with faith, but you can even pick those rascals up and throw them into the sea! How much easier would it be to cast un-virtues into the sea compared to a mountain? You can do it!

The Proverb

Within Proverbs, Chapter 31 is the recipe to be virtuous.

I'd like for you to read it in just a moment, because it's exactly what we'll be talking about throughout this program. In the first nine verses of Proverbs, Chapter 31 is the advice that the mother of king Lemuel gave him concerning how to be a good king. In Verse 3, she says:

Proverbs 31:3

Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth kings.

Be Virtuous Verses
What Does it Mean to Be Virtuous Minded

Translation ... Don't spend your energy on women or destroy your life by making foolish choices. Now what do you suppose would cause a mother to say such a thing about women?

In Verse 4 through 9, we learn more about the wise choices a king should make, but then, starting at Verse 10 through the end of the chapter are the qualities that Lemuel's mother told him befit a virtuous woman. This is important information for a man to know, since he becomes one with his soul-mate for the rest of his life, and for a king, as you can imagine, this was very important knowledge, since he is a public and trusted figure.

Let's take a look:

Proverbs 31:10-31

10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.
11 The heart of her husband doth safely trust in her, so that he shall have no need of spoil.
12 She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life.
13 She seeketh wool, and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands.
14 She is like the merchants' ships; she bringeth her food from afar.
15 She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens.
16 She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.
17 She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.
18 She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night.
19 She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
20 She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.
21 She is not afraid of the snow for her household: for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
22 She maketh herself coverings of tapestry; her clothing is silk and purple.
23 Her husband is known in the gates, when he sitteth among the elders of the land.
24 She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.
25 Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.
26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.
27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.
29 Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all.
30 Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised.
31 Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

Be Virtuous Gift
How to Be a Virtuous Woman Concerns

Sound like a tall order? It's really not. The concept is just lost because we live in a generation that has abandoned Godliness.

If you were taught to believe that this is the way a woman should act, and if the majority of women actually did behave in this manner, it would just seem like normal everyday stuff. And once upon a time, it was. When you were a little girl, before the ways of the world infiltrated your tender little brain, you believed in these morals and if you saw anybody that you didn't think was righteous, you probably looked at your mom and said something like, "I'm never gonna be like that, Mama." You probably clutched your favorite little baby doll tightly under your arm with your hand over her eyes so she wouldn't be exposed to such ... Such ... Terrible stuff!

Ah, but alas, little by little, ever so slowly, the enemy of our souls creeps in to peoples' everyday lives and convinces them that worldly ways and ungodly ways are the way to go.

It is a slow fade !!!

It's such a slow poisoning that most women don't know the danger their souls are in, and would even argue tooth and nail that the methods and beliefs of the world are just as they should be. After all, we're living in the 21st century!

All I can say is, sister, those who don't give virtue a chance are in, as Pocahontas would say, "heap big trouble."

Too Soon Forgotten

Since the Bible was written so long ago, many find it easy to disregard some things in scripture, with the conclusion that these teachings have gone out of style since they are no longer the "way" of the world.

I've even been told, "I believe in the Bible, but you're not supposed to actually live by it." My response is, "And when exactly did the Lord say that?" As you venture deeper into this program and become more acquainted with what the Bible deems to be virtuous, ask yourself from time to time if the Lord has changed His standards ... Or is it the world that has changed?

Hebrews 13:8

Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.

Be Virtuous References
What Does it Mean to Be Virtuous Warning Signs

Oft times the enemy will use someone to try and con-vince me that I've made a wrong choice to live a virtuous life.

  • "You're no fun anymore."
  • "That's just unrealistic."
  • "You'll get tired of it."
  • Etc., etc., etc.

At those times, I love to remind myself of something else that Jesus said to a man who asked Him what good thing he could do in order to have eternal life.

Mark 10:21

Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in Heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me.

Sell all and follow me.

How does one apply this to their life today? And what if you haven't much to sell to begin with? Dig deeper into this scripture with me. Could Jesus have meant to give up the ways of the world? Sell out for Jesus? Could He have meant, Let nothing come between you and following me? What do you think He meant by take up the cross? He hadn't been crucified yet, so do you think He meant to actually live like Him? It's not an easy task ... To be virtuous. "Hey, Wait a minute," you may be saying, "didn't you just say a few paragraphs back that it is easy?"

Allow me to me elaborate: Boiling water is easy in your kitchen ... But out in the middle of the tropical rain forest, it's a lot more difficult. I won't lie to you, the world is against you. And you will be tempted daily to rebel, adjust, disregard, ignore, or even abandon your quest to live a virtuous life, but make no mistake, that is exactly what the enemy of your soul is hoping you will do.

Be Virtuous
How to Be a Virtuous Woman of God Forcefield

Jesus knew that temptation would happen daily and that is why He told us:

Luke 9:23

And He said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me.

The more involved in the world you are, the more difficult it will be.

Matthew 6:24

No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other.

That is, if the world is your master. I challenge you to ask yourself ... Is this going a little bit overboard? Can you imagine standing before Jesus, hoping to be His bride and being refused because you were too virtuous?

No way. Personally, I want to be overqualified for that job. I urge you to resist the temptation to reject the ideas that you will be encountering here because they don't fit the image of "today's woman" or the modern lifestyle. That's the whole point! Were you made in the image of "Today's woman" or in the image of God? Beware of those who promote being a "Today's woman." They may even claim that they have Christian motives ... Then why aren't they bragging about being a virtuous woman instead of a "Today's woman?" What's the difference between the two anyway? To be virtuous isn't a popular value of today's world.

Be Virtuous Battle
How to be a Virtuous Woman of God Test

Today ... Anything except being Godly is gaining popularity. I hope you'll pardon my ignorance, but I just can't see how adapting to the times can be considered committing your all to the cause of serving and representing Christ. But that's just me ... When you have a moment to yourself, ask yourself honestly, What does it mean (to you) to be a woman today?

Enemy #1

There's a battle going on for your soul between the devil and God, and that's why we call the devil the enemy of your soul. The battle is known as Spiritual Warfare. If you choose the ways of the world, the devil will win your soul, but if you choose The Way, The Truth, and The Life of the Lord ... God wins, and you win eternal life! Did you know that the devil is the prince of this world? So when you choose the ways of the world, whose ways are you choosing? These are the Words of Jesus:

John 14:30

Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.


John 16:8-11

8 And when He [the Holy Spirit] is come, He will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;
10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;
11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.

It's an alarming thing, I know.

But it's true, the devil (who disregards Jesus as He says in the bold-face portion of the top scripture above), will use every way he can to charm and influence every soul he possibly can to choose his ways, because so deep is his jealousy towards God. I want to gently warn you (and I will, many times) that everyone you know may think you're a freak because of the choices you make when you choose to follow Jesus' plan for how a woman should be, but remember that Jesus did tell us to rejoice when people disapprove of us in His name.

Matthew 5:10-12

10 Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in Heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

Be Virtuous Trials
How to Be a Virtuous Woman Without Care

I like the way Peter describes it, too:

1 Peter 4:12-13

12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when His glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

Another thing to remember is that no human is perfect except Jesus, though we strive to be the best we can be.

As I said, you may find some concepts suggested here very hard to accept or agree with at first, because of what you've been taught by the world. You may get stuck in the middle, you may have a bad day or two, you may be challenged by outside influences, or you may get close to the end and the enemy will turn up the heat on you and put doubt in your mind or some other kind of temptation to thwart your progress because he knows he's losing the battle, but don't forget, this is your personal program, and your determination will determine the outcome.

You will only get out of it, what you put into it. If you are having trouble with a certain aspect of the program, I encourage you to seek more Truth concerning whatever you have questions about by either prayer, communing with one of the female Christian team leaders or by writing an email to Christianity Oasis with your particular question or problem, but I urge you with all my heart, not to give up.

Throughout this program, there are scripture passages to support the different viewpoints that we'll be looking at. I urge you to reflect on them, read them slowly and carefully and enjoy the beauty in the Word of God. Pray that the Holy Spirit reveals the message of each scripture to you, and that you understand how it relates to the topic we're discussing at the time.

Another thing to keep in mind is that the Bible oft times refers to "man" in Scripture. God's Word is intended for all of us ... Men and women alike. So it makes sense that women are not exempt from obeying God's Word, and where "man" is referred to, remember that "mankind" is a good way to look at it.

Be Virtuous Excuses
How to Be a Virtuous Woman of God Choices

You may also find yourself thinking that these passages are being taken out of context, so if that crosses your mind, I encourage you to investigate it. Look up the scripture (each of them is linked to the King James Bible online for your convenience), research what the scripture says in its entirety, and then decide for yourself if it is relevant to our discussion.

But a word to those who will only consider things in context, Jesus spoke in parables. Why did he do this? Perhaps, with hopes that people would apply His Word to their own lives in any situation necessary. His analogies have rang true in billions of different circumstances through many generations and still do today. Do you think that He would object to the Word being taken out of context and used as often as possible, as long as it was for a righteous purpose?

Luke 9:49-50

49 And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us.
50 And Jesus said unto him, Forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us.

Incidentally, how many times have people quoted:

Matthew 19:26

... with God all things are possible.


Luke 1:37

For with God nothing shall be impossible.


Genesis 18:14

Is any thing too hard for the LORD?

And when these scriptures were quoted, each time were they speaking in context about how difficult it will be for the rich to enter the Kingdom of Heaven, as was the case in the scripture from Matthew? Or were they referring to how Mary could have possibly conceived Jesus by the Holy Ghost, as was the case in the scripture from Luke? Or were they speaking of Sarah having a child when she was past the age of childbearing, as was the case in the scripture from Genesis? Of course not. But the promise of these scriptures is Truth and can be applied to countless different things "out of context."

Be Virtuous Continually
What Does it Mean to Be Virtuous to Others

Whether you're single or married, young or old, widowed, divorced, rich, poor, healthy, ill, or otherwise ... While reflecting on these scripture passages, remember that it is the Lamb of God to whom you are truly betrothed.

I would just like to stress that point once again. No matter what your personal "status" is, if you are a Christian, your goal is to be the bride of Christ, and your deeds should reflect such. If you are married to an earthly husband, and you are not being a virtuous wife, how do you think the Lord feels about the kind of Bride you will be to Him?

I'm going to help you get ready.

Revelation 19:7-9

7 Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to Him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife hath made herself ready.
8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of Saints.
9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.

How does one prepare for the marriage of the Lamb? It's a lifestyle. It is the way you live. I must use diet as an analogy. You are what you eat. No, you're not a bowl of Froot Loops, but if you eat sugary empty calories, your body will repay you with the kind of health that is the result of poor nutrition. And though God made our bodies very resilient, if we choose to put junk in instead of what was meant to go in, the health and maintenance of our bodies is compromised ... Until we feed it healing foods again. But slip back into eating junk, and you will be rewarded with the same. People backslide on healthy eating all the time, but backsliding on being virtuous is a lot more serious because it compromises the health of your soul. We'll drill down deeper on this subject later in the program.

The recipe is a lifestyle. So, what are the ingredients? The ingredients are fruits, but they're not just any old fruits, they're fruits of the Spirit. And, what are fruits of the Spirit?

Galatians 5:22-23

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Fruits of the Spirit are virtues. And what is a virtue? Webster describes a virtue as: A particular moral excellence. It is a quality. The Apostle Paul describes it this way:

Ephesians 5:9

(For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and Truth;)

Be Virtuous Summary
What Does it Mean to Be Virtuous - God's Way

In short, your virtues, or fruits, make up your character. Prudence, honesty, reverence, generosity, benevolence, humility, compassion, these are all ingredients that are found in the recipe. They are the parts of you that inwardly and outwardly give glory to God. The ingredients cost no money. They cannot be bought at the mall, at the market or even at your Christian store for that matter. In fact, they're already in your cabinet (inside of you). You just have to dig deep to attain them. God put them inside you when He created you in His image. When you were a little girl, you practiced all of these things, but somewhere along the way, they were replaced with other ingredients. They weren't done away with, they have no expiration date, they're still there, they just got pushed to the back of the cabinet. Bring them back out! All you have to do is reach in and dust them off. The reward is watching the Lord work in your life to prepare you for everlasting life as His bride.

Your fruits are also a sacrifice. Your sacrifice to God is your time, your lifestyle, and any other way that you glorify Him. When you go to the market and you shop through the produce section, you pick out the best fruits you can find. In the same way, the fruit you offer to your Father should be premium quality. He wants your firstfruit. Offer God your best.

Philippians 4:8

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Focus on good in your life. Think good thoughts. Associate with good people. Do good deeds. Radiate goodness. By doing so, you are glorifying God, because God is good!

I asked you earlier, What does it mean to be a woman today? If you asked the average woman who agrees with living according to the world's standards, you'd be disgusted.

Of course they would use glamorous words to describe today's woman but in essence, she is flirtatious, cheap, naughty, loud, persistent, fake, publicly sexual, secretive, unfaithful, agreeable, available, gullible ... Did you see the word virtuous in there anywhere?

Be Virtuous Questions
What Does it Mean to Be Virtuous - You Know Truth

I want to caution you, because if you once fit the world's description of what it means to be womanly, and then you become enlightened, beware of little tricks that the enemy of your soul may try to use to make you stumble into one of his pitfalls. He may whisper that you're unworthy, or that all women are useless, indeed, he may even try and convince you that you wish you were a man, because everything good in life is for men. Don't fall for it. God doesn't make mistakes.

Let me share with you, some marvelous things that are associated with the female gender. Why are these things deemed feminine? Maybe because they're gentle, or beautiful, or strong (spiritually) ... Things that a woman is meant to be. Wisdom is regarded as feminine. Solomon explains wisdom in all her glory, and Jesus referred to wisdom in the feminine form also.

Proverbs 1:20

Wisdom crieth without; she uttereth her voice in the streets:


Proverbs 9:1

Wisdom hath builded her house, she hath hewn out her seven pillars:


Luke 7:35

But wisdom is justified of all her children.

Charity is referred to as feminine. This description by Paul paints a breathtaking picture of the feminine qualities of charity.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8

4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

Be Virtuous Escape
How to Be a Virtuous Woman Safe Passage

Not only wisdom, but understanding is also described in a feminine form:

Proverbs 7:4

Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; and call understanding thy kinswoman:


Proverbs 8:1

Doth not wisdom cry? and understanding put forth her voice?

In the Bible, cities were spoken of as daughters:

Zephaniah 3:14

Sing, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel; be glad and rejoice with all the heart, O daughter of Jerusalem.

The Earth:

Isaiah 61:11

For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.

The moon:

Ezekiel 32:7

And when I shall put thee out, I will cover the Heaven, and make the stars thereof dark; I will cover the sun with a cloud, and the moon shall not give her light.

The sea:

Jonah 1:15

So they took up Jonah, and cast him forth into the sea: and the sea ceased from her raging.

Ships:

Acts 27:15

And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive.

Virtuous Woman Proverbs 31 Gender Gap
What Does it Mean to Be Virtuous - Beware

There are many other things, that aren't in the Bible that are regarded as feminine ... Honorable things ... Righteous things ... Strong things. Countries, flags, hurricanes, automobiles, etc., etc., etc., as you can see, being a woman is something to be proud of, not to be thought of as inferior.

I'd like you to read a quote from a book called Christ Incomparable, written by J. Oswald Sanders. Mr. Sanders explains what the Lord displayed for the world concerning women. Speaking of the life of Jesus, he said, He exalted womanhood, ennobled motherhood, established the need to love and protect children, and yet did not detract from manhood. The character model and teachings of Jesus enrich all mankind.

If you've been convinced that the way of the world is righteous, and you've been trained in the school of thought that women are superior and invincible, you will find as we travel through this program together that these things are simply not true. Superior? Invincible? These are adjectives that describe Jesus ... Not any woman.

A Friendly Reminder

Proverbs 27:6

Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful.

Truth is our Virtuous Vitamin today and I'll be honest with you, Truth is your best friend. The Spirit of Truth, which is the Holy Spirit, will assist you in becoming the virtuous woman that you long to be. Now, referring to the scripture above, I'll probably be faithfully wounding you with Truth numerous times throughout our journey together, but it's because I'm looking out for your own good and I am on your side. The Truth may do two things ... It may hurt (at first), but eventually it will set you free. When something hurts, it's because there's something wrong, and as your friend, I want you to be free of any hurt. I promise you, nobody who follows the ways of the world are in the slightest bit concerned about the welfare of your soul, they just want you to have a good time right now. To heck with the eternal future of your soul.

Well, I'm the other girl ... But I wasn't always. At one time I believed in the worldly point of view. I knew way down deep in my heart that my lifestyle was wrong, so I kept my distance from God, keeping Him at arms length. It was the perfect distance you see, so that I could feel like I could still reach Him, you know, if I needed Him in an emergency, but far enough away that I felt like He couldn't see what I was doing, and pretending that I didn't know it was wrong. Of course I knew that He could see, and that I was doing wrong, but I wouldn't let my mind ponder on such things for too long, or else guilt would set in, and I knew I'd convict myself. Even worse ... I was proud to persuade other women to live the same sinful way.

Have you been there? Are you there now? Are you afraid to read any further because you may realize that the things the world has taught you to accept and even like, are really sinful? That's kind of a tough word to accept, isn't it ... Sinful? Dear friend, that's all the more reason to keep reading this study.

You will hear me accuse the world of evil countless, countless, countless times throughout this program. You may even roll your eyes, because I'm pretty insistent about it's bad influence, but I know how stubborn women can be, and how they like to defend the worldly ways that they've come to know and love and be comfortable with, but those ways are deceptive and are really leading them to destruction.

I encourage you to welcome the 'friendly wounds' that you will incur throughout our study with gratitude to the Holy Spirit for loving you so much that He gently guided you to seek the Lord, while He may be found. Invite your sister and kinswoman (wisdom and understanding) into your heart and receive the words that we share together with as much consideration as you have given to the worldly ideas that you've accepted up until now.

Isaiah 55:6-7

6 Seek ye the Lord while He may be found, call ye upon him while He is near:
7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.

Now tell me, doesn't that Scripture just make your heart feel great?! If you once thought women's lib was the hip thing to believe in, I have to tell you, there's no comparison to the liberation of God's mercy. The two things aren't even remotely comparable. Just imagine if you as a Christian woman, had one day left on Earth, and you got to choose between having all the worldly influence and power a woman could have for one day, or, the Grace of God and an abundance of pardon for everything you've ever done wrong your whole life, and eternal life ... Which would you choose? What was that? I thought I just heard the little girl inside of you say something.

Another Quality of a Virtuous Woman is Persistence
Keep Reaching For Your Goal

Without question, being virtuous is a responsibility, and our pride and selfishness and fear hold us back from taking the challenge. It's a commitment, and whether we like to admit it or not, we don't want to commit ourselves to being good all the time. Let me ask you then, is it okay to drink only a little bit of poison? Friend, it's the little things that grow into big things. Do you think for one moment that those women who committed the 'crimes of passion' that you read about on the Forum page of this program just woke up one day and said to themselves, "I think I'll do something evil today," or do you suppose they committed smaller sins that led up to their larger crime?

To become a virtuous woman, pray daily to be protected from temptation and avoid the snares that the enemy lays for our souls. Try and avoid vices or habits too, and things that people view as pleasant sins or guilty pleasures. They are very dangerous because they easily gain the heart and close it against repentance. Don't do anything until you have well considered the end result of it. If a person were to live a thousand years in the most fleshly delight that sin can offer, one moment of the anguish and tribulation that you will pay would far surpass it.

I urge you, no matter how much it seems to 'cramp your style,' persist at your new goal. You'll find that your 'style' was really created by a wicked designer, keeping you from reaching within yourself and finding your true femininity. Seek the woman that God created you to be, not the woman the world expects you to be. Oh, I have so much to share with you!

Wonderfully Made!

I'd like to give you some more food for thought about your femininity. I'd like for you to develop a new attitude about being a woman. I'd like you to appreciate the wonder that God created you to be.

Be Virtuous Project
What Does it Mean to Be Virtuous and Remain Virtuous

We'll walk through this wonderful transformation step by step, and we'll laugh together and cry together, and we'll have some very serious moments, and there will be times when you'll want to just turn my nose in a knot! But I assure you, I am looking out for your best interests in all I say, and my only purpose is to help you draw closer to God.

Be Virtuous Conclusion
What Does it Mean to Be Virtuous in This Culture

Not only did our Father create us to glorify Him, but ever since the very first man and woman, we women are the vessels by which His creation is made manifest. We are made to be fruitful. But bearing children is not something to be thought of as superior to man, taken advantage of, or taken for granted, it's a privilege and an honor. A barren woman also has a duty and obligation to glorify God. If you're unable to have children, without a doubt, you have a different calling and God has other blessings for you in His plan, if you'll seek them. We'll be discussing that later in the program too. Before we were born, the Lord planned these things.

Psalms 139:14-16

14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.
15 My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.

If there are any obstacles in your life right now that you believe would impede your success in giving your all to this program, it would be in your best interest to resolve them first. Before you put good in, you should take bad out. Below is a list of studies that may help you. If any of these topics apply to you, or you're interested in learning more to help a person you know who is challenged by any of these things, please do so. In your spare time, choose to read some of these studies as to enhance your Virtuous Woman walk.

Virtuous Vitamin

The Virtuous Woman program is divided into 28 steps. This first How to Be a Virtuous Woman step is quite lengthy, but most of the others are only about half as long. Whether you wish to study one step each day, or several steps at a time is up to you. My suggestion would be to follow the program one step each day, then after reading the program the first time, read one step a day, each month, until it becomes second nature to you. For many years now, the world has daily influenced you that you should follow it's ways. In the same way, you must daily reinforce that ... The Way of Jesus as being the only Truth.

At the beginning of each step, we'll start with the "Virtuous Vitamin" which is a separate virtue and it's definition for you to add to your recipe for success as a virtuous woman. Just as you need essential vitamins and minerals in your physical diet to insure good physical health, you also need to fortify your spirit with virtue to maintain strong faith and character to bear the name of Jesus Christ, your betrothed. Each day, focus on making that particular virtue a part of your permanent character. At the bottom of each step, I'll remind you to meditate (think and rethink) about this specific virtue. Ponder on how you can increase it in your life. Ask yourself how Jesus may have demonstrated that virtue in His life for us to follow.

As part of this program, I'd also like for you to start a Personal Journal. Just jot down your thoughts, your trials and tribulations, your questions, maybe write a psalm, or your goals, once a day. Keep it private, just between you and God. When you find answers to your questions, write them down too. That is very important. It's a great way to look back and see your progress and it also shows the Lord your determination to be a virtuous bride for Him. If you can't think of anything to write, you can write about the virtue that you are to meditate on for that step, perhaps how you can increase it in your lifestyle.

In the box at the bottom of each step, there may be a link to a related study to enhance your program. You may have already read some of these studies if you have participated in any of the other programs that Christianity Oasis offers, or you may have discovered them through the Christian Walk Studies page, but all of our studies are Bible based and the Word was intended for us to partake of often, not only once. We do frequently add information to our studies, (even this one!) and you always comprehend something better each successive time that you study it, so I encourage you to go on ahead and enjoy them over and over again!

In this same box at the bottom of each How to Be a Virtuous Woman Step, there also may be a Music Selection that we suggest you enjoy. If you cannot find a selection for any reason, it will not affect your Virtuous Woman program, it is simply an optional enhancer.

Be sure to save this What Does it Mean to Be Virtuous page to your favorites so you can return when you're ready to take the next step, and may God's Grace and blessings be with you, every day of your life.


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The Virtuous Woman Steps

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