“Pastor, I’m over 40 years old now. As a woman, don’t you think I’m overdue for marriage?”

No! Women don’t get overdue for marriage. God didn’t tell a woman to find a husband; rather, He told the man to find a wife. So until your man finds you, you’re not overdue for marriage😂.

I understand that you may be pressured by family and society, but if you respond to the pressures, instead of enjoying marital pleasures, you may end up in detention.

When it comes to marriage, only two people initiate the process. While man has the responsibility to find a wife, God takes the responsibility to set the “finding man” and the “prepared woman” into families. So God does the settings, men do the finding, women prepare to be found.

That’s right! As a woman, you have to be findable. Proverbs 31:10 asked a very powerful question, a question you’ve probably seen many times but perhaps never associated it to anything worthwhile. Let’s read that scripture;

Proverbs 31:
10 Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.

Just look at that! That question has been there all along, yet we say we don’t know what a lady has to do to get married. Thank God the Holy Spirit has revealed it today; every man is looking for a virtuous woman. According to that scripture, a virtuous woman is scarce to find.

Some ladies make themselves easy to see by exposing sensitive parts of their body, if only they understanding that finding and seeing are two different things. It’s true that men are moved by what they see, but they’re also disciplined enough to make decisions based on what they find. What they see may trigger emotions, but what they find compel them to make choices. You’d never see a man who married a woman because she has good shapes, but because she has good qualities. Beauty may attract, character sustains.

A virtuous woman is a woman of great character, purposeful and God-fearing at the same time. Proverbs 31 did justice to the qualities that a virtuous woman should possess, let’s read it from scriptures:

Proverbs 31:
10 Who may make discovery of a woman of virtue? For her price is much higher than jewels.
11 The heart of her husband has faith in her, and he will have profit in full measure.
12 She does him good and not evil all the days of her life.
13 She gets wool and linen, working at the business of her hands.
14 She is like the trading-ships, getting food from far away.
15 She gets up while it is still night, and gives meat to her family, and their food to her servant-girls.
16 After looking at a field with care, she gets it for a price, planting a vine-garden with the profit of her work.
17 She puts a band of strength round her, and makes her arms strong.
18 She sees that her marketing is of profit to her: her light does not go out by night.
19 She puts her hands to the cloth-working rod, and her fingers take the wheel.
20 Her hands are stretched out to the poor; yes, she is open-handed to those who are in need.
21 She has no fear of the snow for her family, for all those in her house are clothed in red.
22 She makes for herself cushions of needlework; her clothing is fair linen and purple.
23 Her husband is a man of note in the public place, when he takes his seat among the responsible men of the land.
24 She makes linen robes and gets a price for them, and traders take her cloth bands for a price.
25 Strength and self-respect are her clothing; she is facing the future with a smile.
26 Her mouth is open to give out wisdom, and the law of mercy is on her tongue.
27 She gives attention to the ways of her family, she does not take her food without working for it.
28 Her children get up and give her honour, and her husband gives her praise, saying,
29 Unnumbered women have done well, but you are better than all of them.
30 Fair looks are a deceit, and a beautiful form is of no value; but a woman who has the fear of the Lord is to be praised.
31 Give her credit for what her hands have made: let her be praised by her works in the public place.

Will your husband have faith in you? Will he have profit for marrying you? Will you do him good and not evil all the days of your life? Would you work with your hands or depend on your husband for every single need? Would you take care of your husband and your home? The list continues. But there’s no way you’d possess all these traits and not be found by a man.

That said, beware of marrying devils. It’s not only men that are looking for virtuous women, devils are also looking for them to destroy their virtue. Before you accept any man’s proposal, ensure that God approves of it.

I hope this has brought enlightenment to someone.

Remain ever blessed, in Jesus precious name!

#EmekaAnslem