Showing posts with label plans. Show all posts
Showing posts with label plans. Show all posts

Looking Up

February 18, 2010

I can't change myself, that's for sure! I'm so glad, though, that God is able to change me and that He's given me His Word that's living and active. The last couple weeks I've been seeking to meditate on some things to help me look upward rather than get overwhelmed by all that goes into being a mom. When my mind is filled with these truths, my day is so different! I'm trying to pray through these verses in the morning when I'm feeding Addie and then at little times throughout the day. Looking at God is SO much more encouraging than looking at myself!

What is my hope for being a mom today?
God gave His son to die for my sins; surely He will meet every other need that I have today.
-"He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?" Romans 8:32


God is with me!
-"Fear not, for I am with you;
be not dismayed, for I am your God;
I will strengthen you, I will help you,
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10

In my own strength, I can do nothing but He is much stronger than me!
-"I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing." John 15:5

-"But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
2 Cor. 12:9


How does my Lord parent His children?

He is patient and loving
-"The Lord is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love." Psalm 145:8

Jesus didn't grasp at His own rights; He humbled Himself and became a servant
-"who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant" Philippians 2:6,7

Jesus didn't demand that He be served, He gave up His life to serve that we might know God
-"For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45

Jesus had compassion on the people when they followed Him around; He knew they needed Him
-"When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things." Mark 6:34

What does God call me to do as a mom today?

To live for Christ and not myself
-"and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised." 2 Corinthians 5:15

To love my children with a tender, affectionate love to adorn the Gospel
-"and so train the young women to love their husbands and children...that the word of God may not be reviled." Titus 2:4,5

To teach God's Words to them
-"You shall teach them (God's Words) to your children, talking of them when you are sitting in your house, and when you are walking by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise." Deuteronomy 11:19

To discipline them and instruct them
-"...do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord." Ephesians 6:4

Looking to the Savior, not my Circumstances

April 10, 2008

In His kindness, the Lord has been showing me my need to turn away from the sin of unbelief and put my faith in His sovereign goodness. I am so quick to look at my circumstances of crying children, Owen in pain, lack of sleep, a messy house, many areas where I see that I'm falling short, etc. and become overwhelmed. The thought that often comes into my mind is, "I can't do this." Sometimes it seems completely impossible to me that I could have joy or peace in the midst of my circumstances. But, circumstances don't determine my response-my heart does. What's been in my heart lately is unbelief that God is going to give me grace and that He's being good to me. That, my friends, is sin and that is what is leading to me having the feeling of being overwhelmed.

As usual, it's my husband who God used to graciously help me see what's been going on here. He sympathized with me in the challenges, but also encouraged me to look at God in all of it and to think about what being faithful to God looks like right now. Oh. God? Hmm...I think I'd been too busy looking at myself to look at Him. (Thank you for your loving help, Josh!)

Not surprisingly, as I've looked up at Jesus instead of around me at my circumstances, I've been finding more peace and joy to endure with thankfulness to God. As I fight to set my mind "on things that are above, not on things that are on earth," (Col. 3:2) I am beginning to be filled with faith that God's grace is indeed, sufficient. My circumstances haven't changed, but my heart is beginning to.

Here's a really simple plan I'm praying through each morning to renew my mind:

TRUSTING IN GOD, TURNING FROM UNBELIEF

Lord, help me put to death an evil, unbelieving heart
“Take care, brothers, lest there be in any of you and evil unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God.” - Heb. 3:12

  • If I'm not believing that God will give me grace, I'm sinning in unbelief
  • Unbelief is serious; it's a sin that Christ died for

Lord, help me to trust You, having faith that You will give me grace
“I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” - Philippians 4:13

  • Christ is strengthening me and through Him I can do whatever He calls me to today
  • He will give me all of the grace I need to care for my husband and children as I rely on Him


Lord, help me to put on thankfulness
“giving thanks to the Father who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.” - Colossians 1:12

  • I have much more to be grateful for today than to complain about
  • I have been saved from God’s wrath and I am now His child!
  • My children are a blessing and an inheritance-a gift!
"May you be strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light." Colossians 1:11-12