What will you "bring forth" for God?: A Christmas Message

When Jesus was born, Galatians 4:4 tells us he was “born of a woman”.  The King James Version says in Luke 2:7 that Jesus’ mother, Mary, “brought forth” her firstborn son, Jesus: the Word of God that took on flesh and dwelt among us. Because of the Son that Mary brought forth, we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14)

The question I have for you is this: what is God calling you to “bring forth”? There is something that God has placed in you to bring into the world so He receives glory. What are you called to bring forth?

As you begin to ponder that, let's think about Mary’s experience as she prepared to bring forth the Son of God. We have to speculate a little since the Bible doesn’t include all the information we might want to know. My purpose in doing this is to draw an analogy between Mary’s experience and ours: we will see that Mary's experience as she prepared to bring forth what God had placed in her may reflect our experience as we travail in labor to bring forth the ministries God has given us. 

Mary’s story begins with the angel Gabriel announcing that God has chosen her to “bring forth a Son, and shall call His name Jesus.” (Luke 1:31)

After this, there are a lot of details that I’m really curious about, but on which the Bible is silent. We do know that Mary’s cousin Elizabeth reacted with loving affirmation and encouragement for Mary. (Luke 1:39-55) But I wonder about Mary’s other family and friends…I wonder, did she feel safe sharing her story with anyone -- and if so, did they believe her?

What did her parents think when they found out about the pregnancy - belief and support, or disappointment and shame? We know that Joseph, her fiance, planned to break the engagement -- until God intervened and confirmed that he should marry Mary. (Matthew 1:19-21) What about Mary’s in-laws? I wonder if Joseph shared his dream with his parents in defense of Mary, and did they believe it if he did?

Were there whispers when Mary went out into town? Was she a target for gossip? Did the gossip follow her to Bethlehem, and when her family finally moved back to Nazareth, had people forgotten or did that old story still haunt her? 

We are getting the idea that this could have been really hard for Mary. She had already declared that “all generations will call [her] blessed” (Luke 1:48) -- and we do! -- but she still went through some rough patches! She might have suffered a lot of shame and judgment from others who didn’t understand the revelation God gave her.

We know a few details from Scripture about Mary’s trip to Bethlehem and the night of Jesus’ birth. Culture has romanticized it a bit, with cattle lowing a lullaby and snuggly sheep and the peaceful quiet of a starry night. I rather enjoy the romanticized “silent night” -- the soft music, the lights, the wonder of it all.  But I wonder . . . was this how it was for Mary?  Think about it:

Was she in early labor -- while riding a donkey??

In children’s books the stables are warm and friendly places with happy animals, but the reality is that it was still a barn and probably smelly. And dirty.  Not a place that a woman would want to give birth.

By the way, did she have any help with the birth -- a midwife, anyone? Had Elizabeth at least warned her what she was in for? 

Was Joseph her coach and cheerleader, or the proverbial fainting father? 

Honestly, it was not an easy thing for Mary to “bring forth” her firstborn son, not an easy thing for her to bring forth the ministry God had placed within her. 

I’m so thankful that the Bible records some beautiful moments in Mary’s years as a new mom and Jesus’ years as a child:

The visit from shepherds in the stable after angels announce the birth of a Savior wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger (Luke 2:8-20). After having to give birth in a stable I bet that was a great encouragement!

Later on, the surprise visit from the Magi, those wise men from the east, affirming the kingship of Jesus (Matthew 2:1-12)

Words of affirmation from the Simeon and Anna that Jesus was God’s Christ and would bring salvation when he was dedicated at the Temple (Luke 2:25-38)

But then, Simeon also predicts that “a sword will pierce through [Mary’s] own soul also” (Luke 2:35).  Not words any mom wants to hear. And then, years later -- enemies, lies, betrayal, torture, a cross. 

We have all heard the quote that to have children is to have your heart go walking around outside your body (Elizabeth Stone). Who can imagine the pain that Mary, as the mother of the Lord Jesus, felt when He suffered more than any person had ever suffered before? Did the words of Simeon flash in her mind as she felt the sword of grief pierce her soul? Did she ever wonder, like many others, why God brought this child into the world only to let Him die?

Let me pull this all together now because I want you to see how Mary’s journey is also our journey:

Mary’s story takes place when the world was longing for the Messiah to come. The world was a mess for the Jews, and they were longing for a king that would set the wrong things right.

At that moment when the world was waiting, God asked Mary to “bring forth” the Lord Jesus Christ: a display of the glory of God on earth.  

Today, we are -- again -- awaiting the coming of our King. And our King already said (in Revelation 22) that He is coming soon.

At this moment when the world is waiting, God is asking each of us to “bring forth” something that will display the glory of God on earth.

So again I ask you: what is God calling you to “bring forth”? What is your assignment to display the glory of God on earth?

When Mary accepted her assignment, she declared, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” (Luke 1:38)

When you accept your assignment, you, like Mary, take on the role of maidservant of the Lord.  You allow yourself to be a vessel through which the kingdom of God is revealed to the earth. If I may use the analogy, you allow yourself, like Mary, to become pregnant with the ministry the Lord has placed in you to give the world. You allow yourself, like Mary, to go through some hard places so that something of Christ can be birthed in you -- whether it be a more Christ-like character that others will observe, to a ministry (big or small) -- something in your life will make Jesus Christ more visible. 

We saw from Mary that being the Lord’s maidservant is not easy work.  It took a lot of courage, a lot of faith, a lot of deciding “I will not regard what they think/say, i will only regard what God has said.”

To be a maidservant is to sometimes be misunderstood...to sometimes feel abandoned, alone, rejected...to sometimes wonder why things turned out this way...to sometimes be in pain and suffer loss (as Mary saw her son rejected and die).

But, to be a maidservant is to be able to say, like Mary, that despite all these things: My soul magnifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior! He has regarded me (little me!) and done great things for me! (Luke 1:46-49)

To be His maidservant is to be able to receive gifts so precious that there is no where to store them except to treasure them up in your heart (Luke 2:19). To be His maidservant is to be able to see the ministry that you birthed in faith take flight and bring glory to God on earth.

To be a maidservant is worth it. 

One more time I’ll ask: what is God asking you to “bring forth”? Will you be His maidservant?

Parenting Exhaustion

I zombie-walk out of dark bedrooms after praying for, tucking-in and kissing my little darlings. “Who’s going to put Mommy to bed?” is the joke in our house because, by the end of the day, I’m exhausted. Not physically exhausted, parent exhausted. Exhausted from the effort of consistent correcting and redirecting, the pile of laundry with orange spots when a wad of clay went through the dryer, the rice that baby spilled on the kitchen floor waiting to be swept, the thought of fixing the drawer that broke in the bathroom and the end table leg in the living room (um yes, two furniture breaks in one day), and top it off with making sure we’re all ready with food and school work for the next day. Parenting exhaustion!

It’s a job that I adore, but a job that sometimes squeezes soooo much out of me. 

Years before our beloved brood was born, my husband and I climbed Mount Kilimanjaro.  As we made our summit push, the difficulty of the terrain and unforgiving altitude tempted us to give up. Is it really worth it? Each time we slid on the volcanic scree or had to take three breaths before another step, we asked ourselves. 

But we had come so far! At some point, you just can’t give up.  You can’t go back. There is no real choice: you can only go forward. And so forward we went. One step at a time, sliding backwards, encouraging each other, moving on, slow progress towards a definite goal.  It’s going to be worth it! 

Parenting is a slow, consistent, sometimes very challenging climb.  There are moments when the road seems endless and all we see is the mountain in front of us.  There are moments when we slide backwards. There are moments when we need to take a deep breath! 

There are moments when we feel like giving up and need encouragement.  Mama, if you’re in one of those moments, remember that there are summits along the way, and you are going to look back and say, it was worth it! For now, take one more step. 

And after that, just one more step. 

It’s going to be worth it!

So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. 

Galatians 6:9 (NLT)

By the way, we did summit Kilimanjaro, and the view was amazing. 

But from the parenting summit -- I bet the view will be even better. 

The Second Plague

What I tell you in darkness, that speak ye in light:

and what ye hear in the ear, that preach ye upon the housetops.

Matthew 10:27 KJV 

Coronavirus. There is no introduction necessary here because all the world knows what’s been going on in all the world.  So I’ll just tell you what the Lord has said to me: 

There is a second plague -- a plague of loneliness

This is not the loneliness that we are experiencing from not being out and about, from missing our friends and extended family, from getting bored at home.  This loneliness is real too, and not to be minimized, but thankfully there are tools to help us cope like video chats and online church and the good old fashioned phone call. 

But the plague of loneliness is not this, and it cannot be cured with the same tools.  The plague of loneliness is the deep, deep loneliness of grieving in isolation -- being sick and afraid in isolation -- having to say goodbye to someone you love with no one to support you because you are in isolation. It is a plague of being truly and utterly alone, often in the very moment that you need love and support from a community of friends and family.  

This is the second plague, and there is only one cure for it: the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. The experience of Him as “Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.” (Matthew 1:23) The experience of Him coming with the weight of His glory right to where you are -- filling the emptiness and lighting up the darkness. His Presence -- how can I describe it?? -- it can be felt, and it is good, and it raises you up above the trials you’re facing and brings a peace and comfort that can only be divine.

David experienced it and wrote, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.”  How could David fear no evil when he walked alone through that dark place? Because, he said, “Thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” (Psalm 23:4) The companionship of God was David’s source of strength.

John the Revelator was exiled and  imprisoned on the Island of Patmos when the Lord visited him and gave him the vision written in the book of Revelation.  John experienced an amazing visitation from God in loneliness. (Revelation 1:9-19)

Moses pleaded with God to send His Presence with the Israelites as they journeyed into the Promised Land.  Moses knew there was no way they could overcome the challenges they would face there without the Presence of God. (Exodus 33:12-17)

God has always wanted to come to us - His children - and commune with us.  Now is the time to really press in to the Lord and seek His Presence. In His Presence you will find love that overcomes loneliness, joy that overcomes sorrow, peace that overcomes anxiety, and fortitude that overcomes fear. 

Please AND Thank You

O LORD who is never early and never late

Why do You sometimes make me wait

To receive what You've already decided to give? 

"So that thankfulness is the way you live."

I realized it in a single moment: these little people surrounding me had changed again. Reading lessons had morphed from a battle into a delight for one. Self control was beginning to chip away at the pattern of surrendering to tantrums for another. Mobility, speech and a very healthy appetite had washed away secret concerns for the youngest.

It didn't happen in an instant, but I realized it in an instant - that each of those things had been a specific prayer for a specific child. Thank you, Lord - You heard and answered!

The slow passage of time is a threat to giving thanks because we become forgetful. We forget that what is happening around us isn't arbitrary, it's an answer. God orchestrates both events and their timing, and He knows how He will answer my prayer from the moment it passes my lips -- even if I don't see the answer until much later.

I love the times that I pray and BOOM - God shifts something immediately! But more frequently there is a spiritual waiting room where I have to learn to just trust Him, and as I continue moving forward the answer to my prayer unfolds.  The ten lepers were healed - not immediately, but as they went.

When the prayer and the answer are disconnected by time we can be tempted to forget that God is behind the answer. We can forget to pause, return to Jesus and give thanks. We end up saying a lot of "please God"s, but not a lot of "thank you"s.

O LORD open my eyes to see that You are constantly responding - in times of waiting and in time of action.  No matter how far time stretches the link between my prayer and Your answer, help me remember to be like that one leper that returns praising You in a loud voice.

Little Gifts for the Lord

"Mommy, I have gifts for you!"

Every afternoon my son comes bounding out of room time with an armload -- paper airplanes he's folded, finished color-by-number pictures from a coloring book, drawings of dinosaurs and family portraits. He is beaming. Proud. Joyful.

Stegosaurus card

Home portrait

And a color-by-number he made for me to color (I happily obliged)

They are simple things. Just crayon on paper, mostly. Sometimes embellished with a paper clip swiped from the kitchen desk drawer. To any other adult, they'd seem inconsequential. But to me - to his mom - they are precious, priceless - because they are given from a heart of love.

As a mom of three little ones, my days are filled with simple things. I make oatmeal, serve oatmeal, and clean up oatmeal the baby threw on the floor.  I read stories, give snuggles and fold blankets - again. I zip coats, tie shoes and find mittens.  I buckle carseats, push strollers and babywear like a boss. I defuse temper trantrums (while trying not to have one myself) and sympathize with every single bump and bruise. I give big pushes on swings ("higher, Mommy!"), slide down playground slides and sing Ring Around the Rosie. Guys-- I do a lot of laundry. And even more dishes. I do . . . So. Many. Little. Things.

To many people, these things are inconsequential. She gave up three degrees and a six-figure salary to wipe noses and make PB&J (don't forget to cut off the crusts)?  She could have really made a career for herself.

But to God - to my Heavenly Father - they are precious, priceless gifts given from a heart of love. My gift to Him is to care for those He has entrusted to my care.

"Look, LORD! See what I've given you today?"

And I am beaming. Proud. Joyful.

Praying for Your Children

This post is based on the message Praying for Your Children that I gave at the Joshua Prayer Group’s “Be the Man, Be the Woman” Conference on June 15, 2019. 

I have the incredible privilege of being the mother of three amazing little boys. And though the oldest is only about 3 feet tall, I’ve already learned something very important . . . I can’t control him.

Sure, I can set parameters. I can enforce consequences. I can try to teach and influence him -- but, ultimately, I can’t control my child’s heart. And a child’s heart is a critically important place because it sets the pattern of his or her life and behavior.  Proverbs 4:23 instructs us to “guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.”

Even though I can’t control my child’s heart, I am so thankful that God’s business is changing hearts -- so I’ve learned that the best leverage I have with my children is to pray, putting them in God’s hands so He can work in their hearts.

Why & What to Pray

Consider the Bible your parenting prayer book: it was written by a parent (because God is Father and He calls people His children) with the absolute best hopes and dreams and promises for His children. So when we pray, we can use His words, take His promises - and make them our own. We don’t say these words from the Bible simply as a recitation though; we say them in faith, remembering that faith is simply agreeing with God’s Word, the Bible (an example Scripture-based prayer is included at the end of this post). 

The Bible has so many beautiful thoughts and promises for our children! These are just a tiny sampling: 

* I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread. They are always generous and lend freely; their children will be a blessing. (Psalm 37:25-26)

* Blessed are those who fear the Lord, who find great delight in his commands. Their children will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. (Psalm 112:1‭-‬2)

* Through the praise of children and infants you have established a stronghold against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger. (Psalm 8:2)

* I will pour out My Spirit on your descendants, and my blessing shall be on your offspring. (Isaiah 44:3)

Pray what your child will become, not just what he is today

Maybe you’re thinking, “it seems like my son/daughter is so far from those things that I can’t even pray it”.  But don’t let where your children are today discourage you, and DON’T let it stop you! Because prayer is not about what your children are now, but about what God intends them to become. 

When we pray God’s Word for our children, we choose to share His perspective on our child and pray for what he is becoming rather than doom him to stay as he is today.

Don’t grow discouraged if you don’t see overnight changes; be patient, be persistent. And be prayerful: make prayer a primary part of your parenting.  Prayer is a continuous labor. Train yourself to pray in the moment too, as issues arise or cross your mind. Train yourself to pray preventative and protective prayers - you will never know how much hardship your child was spared because of your prayers!

Speak words of faith consistent with your prayers into your child’s life

One other practice goes hand in hand with your prayers, and that is the words you speak to them. 

Your words to your children and about them should be consistent with your prayers. Proverbs 23:7 tells us that as a person thinks in his heart, so is he. That means if you tell your child that he is lazy, he will think he is lazy, and he will become lazy. If you tell your daughter that you are disappointed in her, she will think she is a disappointment and she will become disappointing.  

Proverbs 18:21 tells us that the tongue has the power of life and death.  With my words, I can give life to my child’s defeated soul. Or, with my words, I can wound my child’s sensitive spirit. As mothers, we should use our words to call forth what our children will become. We should use our words to draw out the godly character that our children are called to embody.  

I recently stepped into the bathroom to find that one of my children (who loves art projects) had painted the toilet seat with my bright pink nail polish -- because, who can resist that tiny little nail polish brush? Realizing his infraction, he had also tried to clean it off with my shampoo, and was busy pumping the economy-sized bottle of shampoo onto the toilet seat and wiping it with a wad of toilet paper. 

How do I respond?

Moms: even when our children do something wrong, our words can honor them as people apart from their sin (“Sneakiness is not who you are; you are better than that. If you are curious about something, ask me - I love you and won’t withhold anything good from you.”) rather than identify them as their sin (“You are so foolish, what were you thinking?”).

So, as mothers, we ought to be filling our children’s hearts with the promises of God so what they think about themselves is consistent with what God thinks about them.  Our words will help shape their futures by shaping what they believe about themselves. 

What, then, is the summary of a mother's responsibility to pray for her child? Read the Word; Pray the Word; Speak the Word.

Example Prayer for Your Child’s Love for the Bible

Dear LORD, thank you for the heritage and reward You gave me when You gave me my child (Psalm 127:3). You created my child’s inmost being, knitting him together in my womb; he is fearfully and wonderfully made because all of Your works are wonderful (Psalm 139:13-14). My child still has so much to learn, but You, LORD, will teach him and give him great peace (Isaiah 54:13). Place truth in his inward parts (Psalm 51:6). Help him to fall in love with your Word and hide it in his heart so he will not sin against you (Psalm 119:11).  Keep him on a path of purity by living according to Your Word (Psalm 119:9). Cause him to delight in the law of the LORD and meditate on it day and night (Psalm 1:1-3). Even in his youth, may he set an example for other believers in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, so that no one can look down on him (1 Timothy 4:12). In Jesus’ name, amen.

Five Lessons from Under a Broom Bush

Have you ever been enjoying the view from a spiritual mountaintop, only to experience a sudden crash down into the valley? You’re not alone.

After Elijah’s victorious showdown with the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel (see 1 Kings 18:18-40) - both a physical and spiritual mountain top! - he receives a death threat and flees for his life.

1 Kings 19:1-8 tells the story:

Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say, “May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow I do not make your life like that of one of them.”

Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, Lord,” he said. “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.” Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep.

All at once an angel touched him and said, “Get up and eat.” He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again.

The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, “Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.” So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God.

What a remarkable passage! Here is a powerful man of God who just fought and triumphed over the powers of darkness - and now he has fled and succumbed to hopelessness. I am baffled by Jezebel’s boldness after all of her prophets were slaughtered and the Lord sent fire from heaven. She should have been shaking in her sandals! And I wonder how Elijah could have been so fearful of one person after the Lord had given him victory against the hundreds of prophets of Baal!

But let’s not criticize Elijah from slipping from mountaintop to valley, because which of us hasn’t experienced the same fall? I find great encouragement in this passage because it shows that the “Bible superheroes” (like Elijah) were normal people, like you and me.  They are not immune from sadness or despair.  Rather, what made them “super” was that they prevailed through their troubling times in the strength of the Lord.

When Elijah was at the end of his own strength, emotionally and physically, God literally prepared a table for him in the wilderness.  The tangible bread he ate that nourished him physically is, for us, a metaphor for the Word of God that nourishes us spiritually, as is written in Deuteronomy 8:3 (NIV) “man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord”.  Most of us have not experienced being fed physical food and drink by an angel, but God still does feed us in our wildernesses with the bread of His spoken Word.

Let’s look at five observations about how Elijah was fed to understand how we can receive the Word of the Lord in our wilderness:

1. Elijah was alone.

Elijah got alone with God.  He even left his servant behind in Beersheba as he continued on to a very lonely place - the wilderness.  Our lives today are full of noise: overscheduled calendars, constant dings on our phones, social media screaming for our attention - noise, noise, noise! Yes God can thunder above the din but you will have a much easier time hearing him when you separate yourself from all the racket and get alone with Him.

2.  Elijah put himself in a posture to hear from God.

In the depths of his despair, even wishing that God would let him die, Elijah initiates a conversation with God.  We won’t hide the fact that his words were not exactly faithful or inspiring! “I have had enough, Lord. Take my life.” But they are honest words to a caring Father that already knows how he feels anyway.  The point is this: Elijah spoke to God. Even if we don’t know what to say, even if the only words we can muster bely the depth of our discouragement, even if we feel like we have no hope or no faith left, we can whisper a prayer.  We don’t need to sound like we have it all together - God can handle the mess and even invites it so He can clean up for us.

3.  Elijah ate twice.

Yes, perfect faith will take God at His Word the very first time. But often, we don’t have perfect faith. And that is okay, because God knows that we are dust (Psalm 103:14) and He is compassionate and gracious in our weakness.

Consider Abraham, the father of our faith, who was told not once but twice that His descendants would be as the stars in the sky (Genesis 12:2 and 15:5).  And the second time, Abraham honestly tells God, “You have given me no children; so a servant in my household will be my heir” (Genesis 15:3) before the covenant is confirmed! Likewise Gideon set out not one fleece but two (Judges 6:36-40).

Sometimes asking God twice is not an indication of “doubt”, but rather an indication that we are “down and out”.  We don’t need to be convinced; we need to be encouraged.  And God will graciously give us that second meal to strengthen us.

4.  Elijah went on the strength of that food 40 days and nights.

Though tangible, this was no natural bread.  Only a supernatural meal could carry Elijah that far and that long. This bread was straight from heaven, delivered by angels, prepared for a man with no strength left in the natural.

So it is with the Word of God.  It gives strength that worldly advice or platitudes like “don’t worry, be happy” simply cannot offer. You can’t explain it; you can’t manufacture it. It’s supernatural.

Several years ago I walked through a long stretch of darkness that often threatened to overwhelm me. But in the very beginning - before it even began, in fact! - God gave me a word similar to the one He gave to Abraham in Genesis 12:1-2: God told me to leave the comfortable place where I was dwelling and journey to a new, unfamiliar land, and He would bless me there. The strength of that Word, that supernatural bread, carried me through the many long difficult months ahead.

5.  The food did not carry Elijah through to the end.

It only carried him through to the next step.  Elijah arrived at to Mount Horeb - “the mountain of God” - and God spoke to him again: go anoint Elisha as prophet (see 1 Kings 19:9-18).  

If we only had to connect with God once and then could make it all the way to heaven, all the way through the assignments that He has ordained for our lives, then what need would we have for connection with Him? But God is a relational Father and He does not want to just wind up a robot and watch it scurry around until it dies.  He wants to be the Vine to our Branch. He wants to be the Father to His child. He wants to be the place where we abide and continually receive nourishment from Him.  He wants to walk with you like He walked with Adam in the Garden of Eden.

Don’t expect the Word to answer all of your questions and predict all of your future. Expect it to be what you need today, and then expect God to provide another meal tomorrow.

Prayer Prompt #52: Mama, Did You Know?

Mary, did you know that your baby boy will give sight to a blind man?

Mary, did you know that your baby boy will calm a storm with his hand?

Mama, did you know that God has miracles for your baby to do, too?

Mama, did you know that Mary’s baby boy - Jesus, the Savior - proclaimed this: “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.”  John 14:12 (NIV)

Mama . . . did you know that He was speaking of your baby?

And mama . . . did you know that that He was also speaking of you?

Dear LORD, may our babies carry on the work that Mary’s baby boy started.  May the blind see, the deaf hear, the lame leap, and the dumb speak the praises of the Lamb. Make us the moms whose prayers will undergird our babies’ lives of faith as they do “even greater things than these”. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Prayer Prompt #51: Are You Parenting as a Fool?

A fool vents all his feelings, but a wise man holds them back.

Proverbs 29:11

This is me disciplining on a good day:

“Please remember: we don’t stand on tables.”

And here’s me disciplining on a bad day:
“GET OFF THE TABLE!!! I’ve told you a hundred times to use the furniture properly! I’m sick and tired of telling you this over and over and over again, and if you keep it up, there won’t BE any tables left in this house for you to climb on because I’ll get rid of ALL of them!”

Ugh . . . I’m never proud of those moments! But we’ve all been there, and can probably agree that rather than training our children to stop standing on the table, we’ve actually just trained them to respond to us in kind!

Perhaps that’s why the Bible says this kind of emotional venting is foolish: the fruit it produces is not the type we want to bear!

Dear LORD, help me set a guard over my mouth and keep watch over the door of my lips (Psalm 141:3).  Help me exercise self control and restraint when I’m tempted to “vent all my feelings” at my children.  Give me words filled with wisdom to correct what needs correction without inserting my own wild emotions.  Help me teach my children good patterns of speech by how I speak to them. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Prayer Prompt #50: Made in His Image

So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

Genesis 1:27 (NIV)

And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

2 Corinthians 3:18 (NIV)

“You look just like me!”  I’m still in awe to have a little person that so closely resembles me.  Sometimes I gaze at my children and am filled with wonder at how God made their features to look like me and my husband. The resemblance is beautiful, signifying belonging and connection to one’s parents.

I want to look like my Heavenly Father. I hope that when people see me, they catch a glimpse of His character.

Dear LORD, You made my children to resemble me, just as you intend Your children to resemble You.  Transform me more and more into Your image with ever-increasing glory. May my character resemble Yours in all I say and do and think in my heart. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Prayer Prompt #49: Are You a Coach or an Umpire?

Don't use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.

Ephesians 4:29 (NLT)

Sometimes I discipline my child like I’m his umpire: “Strike three, you are OUT!”  Such discipline is divisive: it’s mom vs. child.

But a family is a team, so we ought to work together, not against one another, for everyone’s benefit.  Instead of umpire, I ought to be my child’s coach and work with him to overcome any weaknesses.

Dear LORD, it’s too easy to fall into a pattern of being an umpire of my child instead of a coach.  Help me establish patterns of behavior and speech that communicate to my child that I am on his team, that I am for him and not against him. Give me words that encourage and help him, not condemn him with parental anger. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Prayer Prompt #48: The Face of Childlike Faith

How kind the Lord is! How good he is!

So merciful, this God of ours!

The Lord protects those of childlike faith;

I was facing death, and he saved me.

Let my soul be at rest again,

for the Lord has been good to me.

Psalm 116:5-7 (NLT)

Newborn babies naturally prefer to sleep in mommy’s arms.  When baby is asleep in my arms, I can pass through all sorts of terrain, activities and noise levels and he will barely stir.  Just last night I carried him close to me through torrential rain, deep puddles and traffic jams -- he was not even aware. He just snuggled in and slept peacefully.

What a beautiful thing that baby considers mommy’s arms the safest place for him!  This is where he feels secure. He is not concerned about the storm raging around him because he has thrown all of his trust upon the one upholding him.

When the Bible speaks of childlike faith, I consider how my babies have slept in my arms -- fully at peace and fully trusting that they are safe being held by their parent.

Dear LORD, thank you that there is a place of total rest and security for me in Your arms.  I want to go back to that childlike faith, where I don’t worry about the storms of life because I know that you are upholding me. I praise You because You are the perfect parent that will carry me through all of life’s seasons with loving protection.  In Jesus’ name, amen.

Prayer Prompt #47: Is He a Good Sleeper?

One of the most common questions you get when you’re the mother of a newborn.  And for good reason, since when you become a mom you get to play Baby Sleeping Roulette! Because some babies are the poster children for “sleeps like a baby” and others inspire bizarre decision-making like, “Baby’s finally asleep! Should I sleep while he sleeps, or shower for the first time in four days?”  Not that I’ve been there or anything.

But you know all of this because you are moms too.  So you also know that going without decent sleep makes you a crazy person.  And makes you forget the names of your other children, your age, where you live and many other random things.

And - bonus! - if you’re not on your guard, it will also make you cranky, short-tempered and irritable.  

So, as a mother of a newborn again, this verse really struck me:

We live in such a way that no one will stumble because of us, and no one will find fault with our ministry. In everything we do, we show that we are true ministers of God. We patiently endure . . . sleepless nights . . .

2 Corinthians 6:3-5 (NLT)

People are watching us, Christian moms - both the people outside our homes and the little ones inside our homes.  So let us pray that no matter the physical, mental or emotional strain, we will continue to show that we belong to Christ and He is sufficient for whatever we must endure.

Dear LORD, when I’m worn out it’s too easy to become impatient and grumpy even with the people I love most. In those times of exhaustion or stress, remind me to continue to look to You and receive the strength to patiently endure.  Help me come through these hard moments as a true minister of God. In Jesus’ name, amen.