Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
I Peter 5:7
This is a stressful time. Whether your stress is related to the economy or rooted in personal events in your life, God tells us that He is capable of taking care of our anxieties and our selves. It is important for us to cast our anxieties on the Lord so that we do not exercise that stress on our families.
Take some time today to get away by yourself in order to "Be still, and know that [He] is God" (Psalm 46:10). It is in meditating (reflecting) on the greatness of God, how big and capable He is, that we are able to gain perspective on our circumstances. Pray that the Lord will give you grace through His Holy Spirit at work in you to long for His glory above all else. Pour out your heart to Him, and ask Him to take those anxieties away from you. As Jesus Himself said in Matthew 11:28-30, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Friday, March 13, 2009
Encouragment
See to it, brothers, that none of you has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from the living God. But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.
Hebrews 3:12-13
Encouragement is vital to the human soul. As Christians, we are commanded to encourage one another (Heb 3:13). That can take the form of telling others what you appreciate about them, sending random cards through the mail, or speaking a kind word about a friend's child. But note that in this passage, encouragement is defined in comparison to making sure no one has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from God. In other words, encouragement is daily engaging others in ways that help them grow in their relationship with the Lord.
Seek opportunities today to encourage your husband, children and friends to grow deeper in their relationship with the Lord!
Hebrews 3:12-13
Encouragement is vital to the human soul. As Christians, we are commanded to encourage one another (Heb 3:13). That can take the form of telling others what you appreciate about them, sending random cards through the mail, or speaking a kind word about a friend's child. But note that in this passage, encouragement is defined in comparison to making sure no one has a sinful, unbelieving heart that turns away from God. In other words, encouragement is daily engaging others in ways that help them grow in their relationship with the Lord.
Seek opportunities today to encourage your husband, children and friends to grow deeper in their relationship with the Lord!
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Overflowing With Thankfulness
So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
Colossians 2:6-7
Scripture tells us that as we continue to live in Christ, we should be overflowing with thankfulness. So today start a new habbit: make it a point to tell your husband and your children things you are thankful for about them. You can write it down and leave a sweet hidden note somewhere (if you have small children, keep it in a personal journal that's just for them, that you can add to through the years). Even if you write it down, make sure you speak it out loud to them, with great joy and sincerity!
Colossians 2:6-7
Scripture tells us that as we continue to live in Christ, we should be overflowing with thankfulness. So today start a new habbit: make it a point to tell your husband and your children things you are thankful for about them. You can write it down and leave a sweet hidden note somewhere (if you have small children, keep it in a personal journal that's just for them, that you can add to through the years). Even if you write it down, make sure you speak it out loud to them, with great joy and sincerity!
Monday, March 9, 2009
Words are the Overflow of the Heart
For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.
Matthew 6:45b
The Holy Spirit reminded me of this verse the other day, after a gentle reprimand by my husband, when I took credit for something God clearly did all by Himself. I immediately repented of the apparent pride in my heart. In the same way, as mothers we can use this verse to speak to the hearts of our children. If they're complaining, whining, throwing a fit, gossipping, speaking bad about someone they know, or being a tattletale, we can tell them that our words show us what's really going on in our hearts. If we're to have hearts the glorify God, then we must pay attention to the words we speak, carefully watching our tongues.
Matthew 6:45b
The Holy Spirit reminded me of this verse the other day, after a gentle reprimand by my husband, when I took credit for something God clearly did all by Himself. I immediately repented of the apparent pride in my heart. In the same way, as mothers we can use this verse to speak to the hearts of our children. If they're complaining, whining, throwing a fit, gossipping, speaking bad about someone they know, or being a tattletale, we can tell them that our words show us what's really going on in our hearts. If we're to have hearts the glorify God, then we must pay attention to the words we speak, carefully watching our tongues.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Godly Sorrow Over Sin
Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.
2 Corinthians 7:10
We must help our children discern between godly sorrow (that which brings repentance) and worldly sorrow (that which leads to condemnation). Sorrow that is from the enemy is characterized by vague feelings of negativity, sometimes full of condemnation and/or shame. But sorrow from the Lord gives hope - the hope of redemption and forgiveness! We need to help our children discern these feelings in their hearts so that they can have a right perspective of God and be weary of the enemy at work to destroy. This is one of the reasons why forgiveness is such a crucial part of our children's acknowledgement of sin. Forgive with a smile and a hug, putting the past behind and moving forward with a clean slate!
2 Corinthians 7:10
We must help our children discern between godly sorrow (that which brings repentance) and worldly sorrow (that which leads to condemnation). Sorrow that is from the enemy is characterized by vague feelings of negativity, sometimes full of condemnation and/or shame. But sorrow from the Lord gives hope - the hope of redemption and forgiveness! We need to help our children discern these feelings in their hearts so that they can have a right perspective of God and be weary of the enemy at work to destroy. This is one of the reasons why forgiveness is such a crucial part of our children's acknowledgement of sin. Forgive with a smile and a hug, putting the past behind and moving forward with a clean slate!
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