are you building your house?

"the wisest of women builds her house,
but folly with her own hands tears it down."
[proverbs 14:1]

are you building your house or tearing it down?  your heart and actions impact not only your life but the life of your husband and children (and this is true even if you are single... what you are doing now has an effect on the men that you will attract and even your future married life, see proverbs 31:12).  fortunately, proverbs [and the rest of the bible] has a lot to say about how we can build our house, by God's grace.

by fearing the Lord

"the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge" [proverbs 1:7]

"in the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence,
and his children will have a refuge.
the fear of the Lord is a fountain of life,
that one may turn away from the snares of death" [proverbs 14:26-27]

by seeking to make our homes peaceful

"better is a dry morsel with quiet than a house full of feasting with strife" [proverbs 17:1]

by speaking positively about our husbands and children to others

"the mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life" [proverbs 10:11]

"when words are many, transgression is not lacking,
but whoever restrains his lips is prudent" [proverbs 10:19] 

by speaking positively to our husbands and children

"gracious words are like a honeycomb,
sweetness to the soul and health to the body" [proverbs 16:24]

"anxiety in a man's heart weighs him down,
but a good word makes him glad" [proverbs 12:25]

by rising early

"[an excellent wife] rises while it is yet night" [proverbs 31:15]

by disciplining our children  
  
"whoever spares the rod hates his son,
but whoever loves him is diligent to discipline him" [proverbs 13:24] 

by being generous

"[an excellent wife] opens her hands to the poor,
and reaches out her hands to the needy" [proverbs 31:20]

"blessed is he who is generous to the poor" [proverbs 14:21] 

by trusting God and not worrying

"strength and dignity are her clothing, she laughs at the time to come" [proverbs 31:25]

"you are [Sarah's] children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening" [1 peter 3:6]

by seeking and accepting mentorship, teaching and guidance from other wise women

"where there is no guidance, a people falls,
but in an abundance of counselors there is safety" [proverbs 11:14]

"whoever walks with the wise becomes wise,
but the companion of fools will suffer harm" [proverbs 13:20]

by loving God's Word, the Bible

"whoever despises the word brings desrtuction on himself,
but he who reveres the commandment will be rewarded" [proverbs 13:13]

"blessed is the man who fears the Lord,
who greatly delights in his commandments.
his offspring will be mighty in the land,
the children of the upright will be blessed" [psalm 112:1-2]

by preparing for the future

"she is not afraid of snow for her household,
for all her household is clothed in scarlet" [proverbs 31:21] 

by having discretion

"the simple believes everything,
but the prudent gives thought to his steps" [proverbs 14:15]

"like a gold ring in a pig's snout is a beautiful woman without discretion" [proverbs 11:22]

by being content with what we have

"a tranquil heart brings life to the flesh,
but envy makes the bones rot" [proverbs 14:30]

"there is great gain in godliness with contentment, for we brought nothing into the world and we cannot take anything out of the world.  but if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content." [1 timothy 6:6-8] 

by providing for the physical needs of our households

"[an excellent wife] provides food for her household...
considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard...
she makes bed coverings for herself, her clothing is fine linen and purple" [proverbs 31:15b, 16, 22)

by working hard

"in all toil there is profit,
but mere talk tends only to poverty" [proverbs 14:23]

"[an excellent wife] looks well to the ways of her household,
she does not eat the bread of idleness" [proverbs 31:27]

and what is the result?

"her children rise up and call her blessed,
her husband also and he praises her:
    'many women have done excellently,
    but you surpass them all.'
charm is deceitful and beauty is vain
but a women who fears the Lord is to be praised"
[proverbs 31:28-30]