Proverbs 31 for the single woman:

I've been reading through Proverbs one chapter at a time this month, and seeing as how it's October 31st today, I landed on Proverbs 31. If you're familiar with the Bible, you know this one. It gives a pretty specific list detailing what it looks like to be a wife of noble character. It's a great list, but I use to struggle with this chapter. It bothered me that the most detailed account in the Bible of a godly woman is a married woman. (Is the chip on my shoulder showing?)

Since I became Matt's wife, my appreciation for Proverbs 31 has grown. Here's what I wish my 19-year-old-self would've seen in this chapter, despite my marital status:

"Work hard at whatever you're doing, whether this means school, ministry, a part time job or all three. Have the discipline to get up early, eat a good breakfast and start the day out well. Later, you'll appreciate establishing these disciplines. Don't be afraid to work long and hard on something, but don't find your worth in your accomplishments. Have eyes that see the poor and a heart that cares for the needy. Plan ahead. Be proactive to be on time, to meet deadlines and to prepare for the unexpected. Be a good roommate to whoever you're living with. Be a good stewart of the home God has blessed you with, whether this is an apartment, a dorm, a house or your parent's basement. Run with an honorable crowd. Don't date someone with a questionable reputation or who is unknown in your community; a godly man is a well-known and well-liked man. Have a sense of humor and a joyful perspective on things; remember that God is taking care of you and you have nothing to fear. Oppose lazy tendencies. Be a woman who finishes what she starts and follows through on her commitments. And lastly (this needs no revision), charm is deceptive, beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord will be praised."

I still struggle to fit myself into Scripture sometimes. I read verses that call me into the seemingly unattainable. But my mistake there is trying to make the Bible about me instead of making myself about the Bible.

Whatever you read in the Bible, listen up. The more you immerse yourself in God's word with a willing heart, the more able you are to hear from him, no matter who he's speaking to. (Spoiler alert: he's speaking to you.)