November 21

Proverbs 31:16
She considereth a field, and buyeth it: with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard.

Biblical Insight
The Proverbs 31 woman possessed the good business sense to consider a field and then purchase it. Women in ancient Israel could own property, but it was not easy. Numbers 36 tells the story of the daughters of Zelophehad who wanted to maintain their family inheritance. Moses told them they needed to marry within their clan. In Joshua 17, these women received their inheritance in the Promised Land along with the men in their family. Most likely, the husband of the Proverbs 31 woman trusted in her to buy the field. His trust was well served because she sold the field and then planted a vineyard with her earnings.

Daily Devotion
Living abundantly is a choice. Take our finances, for instance. The choices we make every day will either lead us toward financial freedom or keep us in the bondage of debt.
Consequently, we can apply godly wisdom to our financial situations by acknowledging the habits we have formed that lead to the formation of debt and then making the practical steps to correct them, one new habit at a time. This is applicable in so many areas of our lives, such as relationships, eating habits, sleep patterns, and even faithfulness in our walk with God.

Jesus came that we may have life more abundantly, but it is our choice whether or not we will allow Him to fulfill that promise in us. If we are willing to let God do a new thing in us, we must be willing to put away the habits of bondage. After all, we are new creatures in Him, and that requires new, healthy habits of growth.