Free The Confident Woman: Start Today Living Boldly and Without Fear by Joyce Meyer

God’s power to help you be the confident woman God wants you to be. Think confident and you will be confident!
    These seven secrets will help you on your way to being fully confident. There is still a great deal to learn, but these tips are a good beginning.

Chapter Five
     
    THE WOMAN I DID NOT LIKE
     
    W ho can compete with the woman described in Proverbs 31? This woman can do it all; she’s a great wife, mother, she manages the house, she runs a business, she cooks, she sews—what she doesn’t seem to do is get tired! She seems absolutely perfect. Maybe that’s why my first response to reading about her was, “I don’t like you.” Have you ever felt that way after reading this passage? Her lifestyle challenged me in so many areas that I just preferred to not know her at all. At least, that was my attitude thirty years ago when I first started studying my Bible seriously.
    The woman in question is such a famous confident woman and yet her name is not mentioned. I am certain this is because God wants each woman to be able to insert her name in this woman’s story. I want you to read about her too and then I will share some practical insight that I believe will help you become the confident woman you want to be.
     
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    Proverbs 31:10–31
     
10  A capable, intelligent, and [a] virtuous woman—who is he who can find her? She is far more precious than jewels and her value is far above rubies or pearls.
11  The heart of her husband trusts in her confidently and relies on and believes in her securely, so that he has no lack of [honest] gain or need of [dishonest] spoil.
12  She comforts, encourages, and does him only good as long as there is life within her.
13  She seeks out wool and flax and works with willing hands [to develop it].
14  She is like the merchant ships loaded with foodstuffs; she brings her household’s food from a far [country].
15  She rises while it is yet night and gets [spiritual] food for her household and assigns her maids their tasks.
16  She considers a [new] field before she buys or accepts it [expanding prudently and not courting neglect of her present duties by assuming other duties]; with her savings [of time and strength] she plants fruitful vines in her vineyard. [S. of Sol. 8:12.]
17  She girds herself with strength [spiritual, mental, and physical fitness for her God-given task] and makes her arms strong and firm.
18  She tastes and sees that her gain from work [with and for God] is good; her lamp goes not out, but it burns on continually through the night [of trouble, privation, or sorrow, warning away fear, doubt, and distrust].
19  She lays her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.
20  She opens her hand to the poor, yes, she reaches out her filled hands to the needy [whether in body, mind, or spirit].
21  She fears not the snow for her family, for all her household are doubly clothed in scarlet.
22  She makes for herself coverlets, cushions, and rugs of tapestry. Her clothing is of linen, pure and fine, and of purple [such as that of which the clothing of the priests and the hallowed cloths of the temple were made].
23  Her husband is known in the [city’s] gates, when he sits among the elders of the land.
24  She makes fine linen garments and leads others to buy them; she delivers to the merchants girdles [or sashes that free one up for service].
25  Strength and dignity are her clothing and her position is strong and secure; she rejoices over the future [the latter day or time to come, knowing that she and her family are in readiness for it]!
26  She opens her mouth in skillful and godly Wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness [giving counsel and instruction].
27  She looks well to how things go in her household, and the bread of idleness (gossip, discontent, and self-pity) she will not eat.
28  Her children rise up and call her blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied); and her husband boasts of and praises her, [saying],
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