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Written by Michelle J. Goff, Founder and Executive Director of Iron Rose Sister Ministries
The year 2025 has provided ample opportunity to learn and practice wisdom. As with any type of practice, we did not do it perfectly from the start, but learned along the way and grew as a result.
Faith is a wise woman practice. It is a noun, but one that implies action. The apostle James stated, “But someone will say, ’You have faith; I have deeds.’ Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds” (Jas 2:18 NIV). The more we exercise our faith, the stronger it grows. Others see evidence of our faith by our actions.
Hebrews 11 is the highlight reel for many heroes of the faith. It is like the social media summary of their spiritual lives. That brief description of their faith does not permit the detailed retelling of what happened throughout their stories. Each of them had to practice their faith over time. Generations later, we see the fruit of their faith.
Over the past year, women from across the Americas have shared their own words of wisdom as we have highlighted different facets of “Practice Like a Wise Woman.” Whether you read every post as it was published or are a new reader of our blog, we invite you to scroll back through the articles from this past year and reflect on the impact of practicing like wise women who build their houses on the Rock (Mt 7:24).
We should all “Pray about it!” Instead of getting frustrated about what we can’t do, remember when Jesus recognized the woman who sacrificed for Him. In His own words, “She Did What She Could,” preparing Christ’s body for His burial. During the month in which we celebrate the resurrection, we turned to what it means to “Follow in His Steps.” Christ reminds us that we, the church, are His bride. Are you “Rehearsing for the Big Event”? As we practice and prepare, we undergo a “Transformation.”
During the second half of the year, we looked to scriptural and everyday examples that can say, “Follow Me, As I Follow Christ.” When we do so effectively, we enter into “Disciple Training,” but since that training is riddled with mistakes, also known as learning opportunities, we question: “Practice Makes Perfect?”
Therefore, to finish the year strong, we circled back to our primary emphasis by centering on “Wise Woman Practices,” even demonstrated and discussed in a trilingual virtual event. Through the month of November, during which many practice the spiritual discipline of giving thanks, we “Practiced Thanksgiving.” And then, to finish out the year, we have looked to “Wise Women in Action” as our inspiration in preparation for the new year to come.
Each of these topics has been rooted in faith—a faith we have been putting into practice.
Thank you to our faithful readers, to those who respond with encouragement and feedback, and to those who share these posts with others. It is our prayer that you have been encouraged and equipped in your spiritual walk—to grow closer to God and one another. May we continue to put these things into practice like wise women who build their houses on the Rock and also “Bear Fruit” (Jn 15), our theme for 2026.
Written by Michelle J. Goff, Founder and Executive Director of Iron Rose Sister Ministries
A smile, a seat on the bus, a cup of cold water… There are many ways we can be kind and generous toward others, which is the primary encouragement found in the third parable of Matthew chapter 25.
The King will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.” (Mt 25:40 NIV)
The King welcomed those into His Kingdom who had put His words into practice, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” those who practiced love for Him by extending that lovingkindness to others.
The recipients of the King’s blessing were surprised at His words because they did not remember serving Him. He recognized the simple act of the mother who shared food with the hungry child who came over to play with her own children. He honored the consistent way in which the businesswoman brought an extra bottle of water for the homeless man who sat in front of her office building. He celebrated the women who donated new clothes to the battered women’s shelter, not just the forgotten items in the back of the closet.
The parable about the sheep and goats at the end of Matthew 25 follows two others that also emphasize the importance of good stewardship— the proper management of what God has provided. The five virgins who took sufficient oil were intentional about planning ahead. The first two men, with five and two talents respectively, administered well what they had been given, thus multiplying it for when the master returned. Finally, the sheep were blessed by the Father and given their inheritance (Mt 25:34) because they honored the Father and took care of “the least of these.”
For us to be wise women, we must be good stewards of what God has provided.
- Recognize that all that we have comes from God. The virgin’s oil, the men’s talents, and whatever the people used to bless others, everything comes from the Great Provider.
- Be intentional about how we use what God has provided. The wise virgins didn’t share their oil with the foolish virgins, but the sheep were affirmed for sharing their food, drink, and clothing with others. Both practices have their place in the Kingdom.
- Keep a Kingdom focus. Prepare for the Bridegroom, work for the Master, and honor the Father by fulfilling His commands to love.
- Check our motivation. Are we falling into the trap of comparison? Are we doing things so that others will see us? Will someone recognize Christ through what we do or say?
- Avoid selfishness. If we are going to love and care for others, there will be sacrifices. But remember, we serve a God of abundance who graciously provides beyond what we could ask or imagine.
Take a moment to reflect on these five points. During a week in which many are focused on the birth of Christ, how did Jesus embody and inspire us to do whatever we can for the least of these”?
Finally, using the Common Threads, let’s make it very personal and practical.
From Matthew 25, name an area in which you want to grow or bloom.
What is a thorn that needs to be removed, possibly something that is hindering you from loving “the least of these”?
Is there an area in which you want to dig deeper or need someone to hold you accountable (iron sharpening iron, Pr 27:17)?
One way to dig deeper is to read the entire 25th chapter of Matthew and pray over these three parables, asking God to reveal the application for your life.
Amidst the holiday season, let’s extend God’s lovingkindness to others and give thanks when others do the same for us. We would love to hear your stories or see pictures of how God has provided opportunities for this to happen!
