by Ruth Schwenk
Father, fill me with good things. Forgive me for often pursuing what I want, rather than what You want for me. Teach me to desire You. I know that only You can truly satisfy my soul. Come and fill me today with Your love, joy, and peace. In Jesus’ name, amen.
• How have you ever struggled with not wanting to be a mom?
• What is one thing you can do today to hunger and thirst for God?
A Sneaky Form of Pride
Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.
—ROMANS 12:3
What’s the big deal with pride? It has been said that pride is really at the root of all other sins. The most hidden and secret of all sins, pride is easy to see in others but hard to spot in ourselves. The real problem with pride, though, is that it is an attempt to elevate ourselves above God.
I’m guessing we’ve all been around prideful people. They exalt themselves, talk about themselves, and promote themselves every chance they get. That kind of pride is what we might call self-promotion. We’ve all been guilty of those things at times.
But that’s not the only form pride takes. A sneakier kind of pride takes the form of self-loathing.
We see self-loathing in the person who is always putting herself down. She thinks she’s no good at being a mom. Her kids will never turn out okay. Her pants are too tight. The birthday party was a failure. Her house is smaller and dirtier than everyone else’s on the block. In other words, she is always down on herself. Every day is the perfect day for a pity party. This self-loathing is a form of pride because it is a fixation on self. Whenever we put ourselves down or talk about how bad we have it, we are really sneakily drawing the focus and attention back to us.
To one degree or another, we all wrestle with pride. Both forms of pride—self-promotion and self-loathing—interfere with loving God and loving others. In either case, we’re too busy thinking about ourselves.
Which form of pride do you wrestle with? Ask God today to help you become less fixated on yourself and more focused on loving Him and loving others. He’s promised to give you grace where you need it most.
Lord, You alone are worthy of praise and honor. Please help me take my eyes off of myself. Give me grace to walk in humility, focusing more on loving You and loving others. In Jesus’ name, amen.
• In what ways have you seen pride—self-promotion or self-loathing—take root in your heart as a mom?
• What can you do today to be more focused on God and less preoccupied with yourself?
A Friend Worth Following
Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.
—HEBREWS 13:7
The church is a community of people in which God’s Spirit dwells. God works through His people to teach us and guide us. We don’t need just anybody to surround us. We need godly people who walk by the Spirit and know the truth of God’s Word, people who are humble and honest. These kinds of friends are a rare gift.
Although Hebrews 13:7 is talking about remembering our leaders, we could apply this verse to remembering godly and wise friends as well. The writer told us to remember and think about the people whose lives are actually worth following. “Consider the outcome of their way of life,” the writer said. Evaluate their marriages. Think about their character. Watch them live out their faith. Look at their families. Listen to their speech. Notice the fruit of their faithfulness to God. And if all that’s in line with God’s Word, learn from their example. Follow them as they follow Jesus.
We all need a friend or two who is further down the road, wiser, godly, and willing to pour into us. Very rarely will these kinds of friends approach us. If we want to surround ourselves with these kinds of friends, we will need to be intentional and seek them out. Maybe it looks like a cup of coffee once a month, an occasional lunch, or just a phone call for advice. Don’t wait for this type of friend. Seek her out!
Who are you following? Who is it in your life, your church, or community that you would want to imitate? We become better through the people we choose to surround ourselves with.
Father, give me wisdom to seek out the friends who will help me become more like Jesus. Show me the women I might reach out to for wisdom, encouragement, or advice. Lord, bless me with the kind of friends who will make me better, more like Jesus. You know what I need, so lead me to a faithful friend who is worth following. In Jesus’ name, amen.
• Who do you know who is a friend worth following?
• What younger mom or woman could you reach out to for coffee or lunch? Who might God be calling you to pour into?
Pursuing Godliness
Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives’ tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things.
—1 TIMOTHY 4:7–8
Several years ago I decided to train for and run a 5K. I am not a runner at all, so this was not something that came naturally to me. To train for the big event, I disciplined myself to work hard each day. I became committed to stretching, running, and eating right. I also disciplined myself not to do certain things, like sleeping in later and eating certain foods. Although I never did run an actual race, I did well with the training, and I was thankful I stuck with it.
It’s not surprising that the Bible uses the language of training and discipline for describing the Christian life. After all, nobody accidentally becomes like Jesus. It takes work and discipline. If we want to experience all that God has for us, we need to train ourselves to be godly.
Training doesn’t mean we work in order to get God’s approval. We already have His acceptance by faith in what Jesus has done for us (Ephesians 2:8–9). Training is living a life committed to Jesus and focused on Him. Training involves working out our salvation, pursuing the goal of godliness out of gratitude for all God has done for us.
Now look at what the rest of 1 Timothy 4:8 says: “Godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.” Not only does godliness benefit us in the life to come, but it benefits us now. The pursuit of godliness is of great value to our own soul as well as to the people around us. Our families are blessed by the fruit of our desire to be like Christ.
Start training today. Devote yourself to godliness. You will be blessed by it, and so will your family.
Father, the life You offer me is abundant. I know that You have saved me by grace because of my faith in Jesus. Help me pursue You with all I have. Show me what is hindering me, and teach me to train myself to pursue godliness. In Jesus’ name, amen.
• What are some specific ways you can “train yourself to be godly”?
• What do you need to put off or get rid of in order to pursue godliness?
Trusting God Together
Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
—PROVERBS 3:5–6
Soon after I got married I learned that my desire to be in control was going to make life a lot more difficult. I suddenly had my husband’s wants and needs to take into consideration. Over time I learned that my need to control wasn’t so much about me or my spouse but ultimately about my trust in God, or lack thereof.
When we try to control our situation rather than trusting God, we can create a lot of unnecessary stress and tension in our marriages. A couple facing difficult times might be tempted to fight against, instead of fighting for, each other.
We are invited to trust the Lord with all of our hearts. We are told to “lean not” on our own knowledge or resources, but to put all our confidence in God coming through for us. Hold on to Him. The promise is that He will make our paths straight.
Where do you and your spouse need to trust God? What challenges are you facing that you need to let Go
d carry? Is there stress or tension, maybe even conflict, because one or both of you are not trusting God?
Today, pray that your marriage would be marked with trust—a confidence in God’s plans and timing. Pray against letting stress, fear, or worry burden your marriage. Ask the Father to carry what is heavy. Lean on Him and ask Him to continue to direct your steps as you trust Him at every twist and turn.
Father, we don’t always understand what You are doing or why You are doing it, but don’t let the difficult and hard things tear us apart. You know what is best for us. You are stronger, wiser, more resourceful, and good. Help us love each other more as we learn to lean on You. In Jesus’ name, amen.
• In what ways are you struggling to trust God in your marriage right now?
• What is one step you and your spouse can take to trust God and to “lean not on your own understanding”?
Do Something Brave
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.
—JOSHUA 1:9
What do you dream about doing but are too afraid to try? Is there something you’ve always wanted to do, but you feel inadequate or unqualified? If so, maybe today is the day you need to go for it and do something brave!
But don’t just do something brave for your own sake; do it for God. Living the Christian life in a way that impacts people around us can be uncomfortable, even risky. Whether in our workplaces, neighborhoods, or churches, we may have to step out of what is predictable or familiar and trust God for the outcome.
In what way is God calling you to be brave? Maybe it’s inviting a neighbor over for dinner. It could be reaching out to a coworker. Or perhaps it is speaking up in conversations around the office or at the playground when you’ve been silent. It might be leading a Bible study, serving in a different kind of ministry, or getting together with another mom in your neighborhood.
Fear paralyzes us and keeps us stuck. It robs us of the joy of walking in faith. Being brave doesn’t mean we don’t have any fears or insecurities. Being brave means doing something regardless of our fears.
We can find the strength to do something brave for God’s sake when we remember the promise that He is with us wherever we go. We never step out by ourselves or in our own power.
So whatever God is calling you to do, remember He is not calling you to do it alone. “Be strong and courageous . . . for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Lord, give me courage to step out in faith today. I don’t want to live a comfortable or predictable Christian life. I want to be brave, but brave because of my trust in You. Help me remember that wherever You lead me, You also empower me to do the task You have for me. In Jesus’ name, amen.
• What is God calling you to do that you have been too fearful to do before?
• What is one thing you can do today to step out in faith for God’s glory?
Understanding Anger
In your anger do not sin.
—EPHESIANS 4:26
Every mom starts out oohing and aahing over her child. And then reality kicks in. The demands and challenges of raising another human being bring out stuff in us that we didn’t even know was there! This is all a part of God’s plan to change us from the inside out.
As every mom knows, anger is one of those dangerous emotions lurking in our hearts. Not all anger is sinful in God’s eyes. After all, God gets angry too. But His anger is always good and right. Unlike ours, His anger is over what is right and pure.
Our sinful anger, on the other hand, is self-centered. Rather than revolving around what is right, our anger is based on what we want. Anger is a nasty emotion that can either explode in an instant or simmer beneath the surface until is slowly oozes out of every pore of our being. But what often drives our sinful anger is wanting something more than we want God.
Sinful anger is always connected to something we hold important. We want comfort and don’t get it, so we get angry. We want control and don’t have it, so we get angry. We want respect or approval, and when we don’t get it, we get angry. While those things aren’t inherently bad, they can become idols to us. Our sinful anger is the result of our wanting something more than we want God Himself.
So when you start to feel that hot flash of anger, stop and ask yourself, What is it that I really want right now? What am I desiring more than loving God and loving others? Is this righteous anger or sinful anger? Remember Paul’s words: “In your anger do not sin.” And rest in the promise that you have all you need in God.
Father, forgive me for the times I get angry for the wrong reasons. Search my heart and show me those desires that are sinful and self-centered. Teach me to be slow to anger, kind, patient, and compassionate. Change me from the inside out. In Jesus’ name, amen.
• Why is God’s righteous anger an expression of His love?
• What does your anger reveal about what you truly desire?
Nourishing Your Children’s Souls
Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ”
—MATTHEW 4:4
As the years march by, our kids are not the only ones growing—so is our food budget. All four of our kids love to eat. Keeping a pantry well-stocked is nearly impossible, especially with two teenagers! The Bible has a lot to say about eating—not just eating to satisfy physical hunger, but our spiritual hunger as well.
We are hungry and thirsty. And yet the Bible reminds us that all of this language of eating and drinking is really about our deeper need. Our deepest longings. Our souls’ thirst and hunger for God. We will never be truly satisfied until we come to know and treasure Jesus, the true Bread of life (John 6:35).
Our kids do not come into the world knowing what to do with their hunger and thirst. They need us to lead them, teach them, protect them, and help them know Jesus. Just like us, they will try to fill their hunger with relationships, stuff, entertainment, accomplishments, and countless distractions. Patiently and persistently, we must keep bringing them back to God’s Word and His unconditional love, abounding grace, and faithful promises.
We are not just raising kids; we are shaping their souls. And just as we would never send them into the world without physical nourishment, we can’t send them into the world starved of spiritual nourishment either. Let’s remember to feed our kids. Read God’s Word with them. Help them memorize His truth. Remind them of His love. Bury His promises in their hearts. Feed their stomachs, but most importantly, nourish their souls.
Father, I believe Your Word satisfies those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. Continue to create in me a hunger to know You and love You. Give me wisdom and strength to nourish my kids’ souls. Help me not to grow weary, become complacent, or stop being alert. Remind me to diligently feed and nourish my children’s hearts with Your truth. In Jesus’ name, amen.
• How can you protect your kids with God’s Word?
• What is one way you can begin nourishing your child’s soul today with God’s Word?
Our Helper
The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?
—HEBREWS 13:6
One way God loves us is by listening to us. He knows when we are afraid. He turns His ear to us when we are overwhelmed. When we feel like we’re in over our heads, He is not indifferent. He not only hears us, but He also helps us.
To say that God is our Helper is to admit we are lacking wisdom and strength. To cry out to God as our Helper is to go to the One who has infinite resources to supply what we need. The writer of Hebrews reminds us that we can have total confidence that, regardless of the circumstances, God will never leave us or forsake us. We can declare, “The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.”
God is our defender. Protector. Provider. The source of our strength.
We say it with confidence and conviction: we will not
be afraid. As Paul asked, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” (Romans 8:31). When we need help, we have Someone who comes to our aid. He is with us, and He is for us. He is our Helper.
What are you struggling with right now? Where do you feel weak? Is something in your work, your parenting, your marriage, or your family making you feel helpless? One of the most important and powerful prayers we can pray is simply, “Lord, help me.”
Ask God to take away any traces of unbelief, to be with you in your marriage and in your mothering. He will enable you to be steadfast, diligent, and faithful. Turn to Him to guard your heart; He is your ever-present Helper. You can have full confidence in the fact that He is who He says He is, and He will do all that He says He will do.
Lord, You are my Helper. You have promised that You will never leave me or forsake me. Help me in my weakness. Supply what is lacking in me. Pour out Your power and wisdom in me so that I can be the mom You have called me to be. Lord, I love You and trust You. In Jesus’ name, amen.
• What is causing you to feel helpless right now?
• What is one thing you can do today to rely on God’s help?
From Greed to Giving