The Wise Woman Knows: 20 Minutes a Day to a Christ-Centered HomeSample

Mothering in God's Strength

Step One (Five Minutes):  Start your time with the Lord by praying for your husband, children, and yourself. For example, “'Lord, teach me to number my days so that I will gain a heart of wisdom.' (Psalm 90:12) and 'Show me, Oh Lord, my life’s end and the number of my days. Let me know how fleeting is my life.'  (Psalm 39:4) Help me to learn something I will remember for the rest of my life today. In Jesus' Name, Amen."

Step Two: Read the Scriptures and devotional. Write anything that stands out to you in your journal.

Motherhood is hard. Many times, I cry out to God to please help! My perpetually growing children give me a steady flow of new opportunities to learn in my role as a mother. Now that my youngest is a toddler, I finally feel able to gracefully and patiently handle the tantrums, but the attitudes my school-age children sometimes have, now that is a challenge! Sometimes I wonder, wouldn’t it make sense if God called us to motherhood once we knew what we were doing?

Interestingly, that’s not how God sees it. I think God purposefully wants us in a place of humility, a place of awareness of our weaknesses and frailties. It’s when we’re in that place we realize we really can do nothing (of value) apart from Him. That is when we rely on Him to guide us and teach us to be the moms He wants us to be! The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 12:9, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”

I love how that truth is evident reading through the Bible and studying different heroes of faith, “whose weakness was turned to strength” as they were used by God (Hebrews 11:21). Gideon was called a mighty warrior for God while cowardly hiding in a grain pit from the enemy (Judges 6:12). Rahab was called to help the Israelite army but was a prostitute in the enemy camp (Joshua 6:25; Matthew 1:5-6). These are just two examples, but a common theme through the Bible is that God exclusively used flawed people, sinners, for His purposes.

This is good news! He doesn’t need us to have everything together. In fact, He calls us in our lack in order to fill us up, “Come to me all you who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). He has called us for a mighty purpose: motherhood! No prior qualifications are needed; God qualifies you! He equips you to be the mom He created you to be!

Step Three: Take five minutes to plan your day. Write down six things you would like to accomplish today. Ask God to help you! Have a great day!

“Be assured, if you walk with Him and look to Him, and expect help from Him, He will never fail you.” ~ George Mueller

With Love,

Elizabeth Moum and the Help Club for Moms Team