"To Be Sober"

Sober.  What does that word mean to you?  Or, what do you think of when you think of a sober woman?  Sadly, to me it use to mean an uptight, serious, hair-pulled-back-in-a-slick-bun librarian.  The world has taken a quality of great beauty and value in the eyes of God and made it ugly and unattractive.

What is God's idea of a sober woman?

Concise King James Bible Dictionary

    Sober ~ to be in control of one's mind and life;  It refers to spiritual alertness and seriousness of purpose; prudence; temperance

Dictionary

    Sober ~ self-control; temperate (exercising moderation and self-restraint); devoid of frivolity or exaggeration

Just the definition of the word is enough to be convicting!  I'm overwhelmed even now as I read it and pray that I can keep focused and organized enough that this can be a blessing to you as well.

Sober refers to spiritual alertness and seriousness of purpose...  As I looked through verses on this word 1 Peter 5:8 stood out at me...  "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour."  Satan is out looking for someone to devour...will it be your family?  your son?  your husband?  Are we alert to the spiritual condition of our family?  Do we take our job serious and carefully examine every action we take, every word we say and consider whether it works with our goal for our family or against it?  In order not to allow Satan the opportunity to devour our family, we must   be in control of our mind and life. 

We must have control over our emotions.

"He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty: and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city."  Proverbs 16:32

When we are at home with our family, are we easily riled; or do we act calmly even when we have a good excuse to go crazy?  Do we get exasperated with our children? our husbands?  Lack of control with our spirit and temper leads to lack of control with our tongue and... 

We must control our tongue:

"There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health."  Proverbs 12:18

Is our tongue giving health to those around us or wounding?  Sometimes it might be better for us to not say anything at all.

"Whoso keepth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles."  Proverbs 21:23

We women probably cause most of the troubles in our churches and in our homes because we cannot control our tongues.  We would save ourselves and our families a lot of trouble if we could learn to control our tongues...but it just seems like a hopeless battle for us.  That is because the "words" start before the tongue.  "...for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh."  Matthew 12:34

So one of the first things we need to learn is....

We must control our thoughts.

"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."  Philippians 4:8

God has used this verse mightily in helping me to keep my mind focused on what HE would have me to focus on.  When someone hurts me and my mind wants to linger on it, I "check" through this verse..."Is what I'm thinking true?" (I almost always mind check yes because it was "true" -maybe not in the context of this verse, but I'm upset and looking to excuse myself),  "Is it honest?"....By the time I get to "Is it worthy of praise?", I am willing to let go of my thought and think on the things Christ would have me think on.  No, I am not perfect (in fact, I didn't want to post this study this week because I have failed more than succeeded in this area this week) and I sometimes allow myself to dwell on things like "He could have taken out the trash.  He doesn't do anything else!"  "Everyone has fogotten me.  No one loves me."  "I do everything!" (remember our definition devoid of exaggeration?  The mind can sure exaggerate a problem!).  But it is then that I lose control of my tongue and start having troubles in my life and in my soul. 

We haven't even touched the surface of being sober, but just reading through a few verses in the Bible we see a different view of a sober woman.  What we see is a woman who is sweet, kind, in control of her words, not loud, not moody, is not affected with what is going on around her, who uses her words only to encourage and edify others - she has a purpose and that is to glorify God; to be beautiful to God.  She is careful over each action she makes and each word she says, knowing that it could either draw her family or others to God or push them away.  How beautiful this woman is!  And, oh, how I desire to be her!  I pray that the Lord will help me "to be sober...that the word of God be not blashphemed."