This sweet memory popped up for me today out of my Facebook photos, and I can do nothing else but think of all the ways the Lord has been faithful to us these last five years. 🙏 I had no idea what the path ahead would be – but HE did.
Me changing my sweet son just before he turned a year old
“God’s grace to sustain us through painful circumstances is stronger and is mightier and is much better than any deliverance out of those circumstances.” -Joni Eareckson Tada
🙌 Amen!
God’s grace these last 5 years as I have learned more deeply what it means to be a wife, a mother, and most importantly a disciple of Christ – has been life giving!
God’s grace is greater than any diagnosis, financial difficulty, broken expectation, or hurt. Insert your own hard into this fill in the blank:
God’s grace is greater then my ——————-!
God has great compassion for His children 👇
“but, though he cause grief, he will have compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love; for he does not afflict from his heart or grieve the children of men.” Lamentations 3:32-33 ESV
God allows for us to suffer for a little while so that we will be strengthened and so that our HOPE will rest in Him 👇
“My suffering was good for me, for it taught me to pay attention to your decrees.” Psalms 119:71 NLT
God answers prayer 👇
“Your promise revives me; it comforts me in all my troubles.” Psalms 119:50 NLT
Share His hope and testify of His goodness 👇
“You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.” Genesis 50:20 NLT
Experience the Joy that is ONLY found in God’s presence 👇
“You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.” Psalms 16:11 NLT
While everything else will fail you and waste away – Jesus can be trusted 🙌
REST in HIM!
👉 “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy.❤️ My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.” John 10:10 NLT
Over the last few weeks I have been recognizing some of the limitations that I have allowed fear to place on my life. Specifically as it relates to my parenting. If you follow my postings then you know I have a wonderful 5 year old son who was diagnosed with Autism when he was around the age of 2. Like parenting all children, we experience a lot of hard! Maybe more intensely, for longer periods and in different ways but similarly still to anyone parenting little image bearers and all that it entails.
The last few months we have been implementing social stories and stretching Jackson with new experiences, turns out the stretching is just as much if not more so for his Dad and I, than it is for Jackson. Social stories have been a great tool for getting Jackson back to being able to go inside the grocery store, maintain and enjoy Sunday School at church, and a few other things. Next up on the list has been visiting a restaurant. The last time we attempted to sit down with Jackson inside a restaurant ended with dishes overturned, Mommy and Daddy intensely “talking”, and Jackson going from full meltdown to pure exhaustion for days after…. hence where my fear began to take root.
Over the years as I recognize I am in need of a perspective shift, I know to look to Jesus, there I can clearly see that FEAR IS A LIAR! Our own good Father parents us in such a way that He does not “protect us” from the hard or messy, nor does He prevent all of our sufferings. God loves us so much and is such a good parent – He allows for us to suffer through circumstances while encouraging us to obey, stay strong, and wait…
Last week as I pulled into the Dairy Queen, social story in hand, and a very excited Jackson squealing as we parked – I realized I was gripped with a small sort of panic. I repeated every scripture in my head and heart as I could bring to mind. The Lord was steady, reminding me of His patience and love and acceptance, ABOUNDING in LOVINGKINDNESS and TRUTH. Therefore, I could offer no other response to Jackson. It was then when the van full of people (about 15) pulled in and hopped out before us that I realized that I was still filled with dread! I quickly prayed, “Oh Lord, WHY? Why now of all times that this place is usually empty did this group of people have to come here!” “Why Lord, I am struggling so hard! Please help me and meet me here in this NOW!”
Hand in hand, Jackson and I both head into the Dairy Queen, truthfully we both were a little nervous but trusting in the Lord. When Jackson seen the crowd he scrambled up my legs and I carried him the rest of the way – much like the Lord was carrying me. Isn’t HE just good like that!?
Fast forward, we order food, find the just right table, things are going pretty OK! Jackson loves to watch traffic so this was perfect!
And then, Jackson stands up, arms wide and begins to announce, “Good morning everyone!” Jackson’s form of speech processing will usually keep him repeating until someone responds, and well it wasn’t me he wanted to respond…
I cautiously glance around and it was then that I could see so clearly just how good God is! That big group of people I was grumbling about… well they were ALL intellectually delayed! I seen little heads and people begin to stand up and look at Jackson making his announcements. And then, we heard two replies, “Good morning.” Jackson smiled and went back to playing vehicles and I teared up, feeling full and empty and humble and in awe… isn’t it just like us to sometimes miss the blessing for the grumbling!? As I continued to look around I saw adults with their support workers, young adults trying to figure out to behave in a restaurant just like Jackson! And even a local school district was in the corner doing 504/IEP planning with parents of elementary and middle schoolers.
The entire place was full of these incredibly special people!
God did more than see me – HE met me, filled me and HE reminded me of how HE parents us.
Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. – James 1:12
In a brief summary this season the Lord is continuously, in His patience reminding me over and over Trust and Obey.
Sometimes when we are called to obey, the fear does not subside and we are expected to move against the fear. One must choose to do it afraid.
Elisabeth Elliot
As Jackson held the attention of this crowd of what I believe were “placed there by God” people, I prayed, I prayed so hard that Jackson would one day share his faith as boldly as he was proclaiming good morning. I prayed that the Lord would continue to bring the crowd (friends) HE would have, to Jackson. And I prayed that HE would never allow for us to be content in our comfort zones… (I know this is like praying for patience) but nevertheless it is what I desire.
SO for the first time Jackson: stayed the entire time in the restaurant, ate actual food (French fries), talked to people he did not know, and ate his VERY FIRST ice cream cone, with sprinkles naturally.
And so as I close, I want to share a quote from Abbie Halberstadt, from her book, Hard is Not the Same Thing as Bad:
You might be driven beyond your human capacity for patience and resourcefulness right into the arms of a God who loves you enough to refuse to allow you to stay in your comfort zone, unchanged and unchallenged--- who adores you enough to give you the kind of hard that transforms you from someone who wishes she could live for Him into someone who's doing it right now, even while she doubts her capacity to do to again tomorrow.
I had the privilege this month to sit down with my Sister in Christ, Jan Johnson on her podcast, Just Talking About Jesus. During the show I share a bit of a cliff notes version of my testimony and the muck and mire that our Lord pulled me out of. I have linked it below and it can be found wherever you listen to your Podcast at!
I hope my testimony blesses you and reminds you – that our God is so good, so forgiving, and IS ALWAYS in the process of redeeming.
From the Just Talking About Jesus website: Nakesha Womble didn’t always have a picture perfect life.
She shares her journey from a childhood marred by abuse and trauma to finding redemption and healing through her found faith in God.
Despite facing unimaginable hardships, Nakesha discovers unexpected moments of grace and restoration.
Through candid conversations and personal anecdotes, Nakesha explores the transformative power of faith, forgiveness, and resilience.
From abusive relationships to self-harm and addiction, Nakesha’s story is a testament to the enduring love of Jesus and the miracles that can arise from the darkest of circumstances.
Tune in to be inspired by her journey of healing, redemption, and the profound impact of encountering God’s grace in the most unexpected ways.
Such a comfort this morning! I am doing a chronological study through the Bible and this last week I read about Hannah who dedicated her child to the Lord and David who followed the Lord at a great cost. And – examples not to follow like Saul who willfully disobeyed God’s word. (1 Samuel 1-24; Psalm 59; Psalm 91).
One of the things I find really interesting contrasting David and Saul, is that although both of them used religious language to discuss their surrounding circumstances – David’s conscience was sensitive to the Lord and doing what was right in various circumstances. On the other hand Saul was spiritually insensitive, and even allowing him to order the execution of the Priests of the Lord.
A great example of how “saying” the right things is meaningless – if the Lord does not have your whole heart. “He said to him, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important command.“ Matthew 22:37-38 CSB
Reading Psalm 91 in light of scripture as a whole – brings me to Thanksgiving! Thanking the Lord for His protection in many ways at different times in my life. I can trust Him to bring great things in times of suffering because HE is faithful. He continues to shape and develop His great plan for His people!
A note in my Bible points out that it was Psalm 91 that Satan used to tempt Jesus in the wilderness (Lk. 4:9-12), “God won’t let you get hurt will he?”… Evaluate this idea in light of the cross…
So today when the world is looking to “signs and wonders” of the eclipse or the chaos of what seems like everything…
Look up ⬆️
The Lord God is a God of order. From the vastness of the universe to the simplicity of a flower there is evidence of a divine organization. Haphazardness and chaos are not part of His government. Symmetry and harmony are His ways. Randomness and disorder are never His modes of administration.
From creation to the end of time, God has had a plan and has worked that plan. He is timely, precise, and true to His Word.
These are His characteristics and they are to be ours. We are not to come and go whenever we want to, but whenever we are to.
Spontaneity may be exciting and have an appearance of freedom, but in reality, it more than often proves to be the cause of harm and misfortune. Our God is a God of order; therefore, we are to be a people of order.
“God doesn’t want me to play with religion. He doesn’t want me to dabble in church. He wants me—body and soul.”
”Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.” So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them. God blessed them and said to them, “Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky and over every living creature that moves on the ground.”“ Genesis 1:26-28 NIV
Our worth comes from the ONE in whose image we are made.
I can distinctly remember the moment that I realized God from the beginning created us to subdue our surroundings… and this command extends to our thoughts and experiences.
”The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.“ 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 NIV
I am so thankful for the advocacy of the Holy Spirit, without whom I would have never been able to see that I had elevated the trauma of my life, over the fact and truth that I am an image bearer of God.
Secular therapy, psychology, and pharmacology has thrived off of the idol of trauma.
I choose the word “idol” here because therapeutic intervention says, “work through these experiences and address your trauma in order to be able to ———“. At the onset your trauma and experience is placed at the highest level of priority and thus elevates itself above God, and your relationship with God. It points you back to yourself. How can we be both be our own problem and our own solution?
The Imago Dei tells us from the beginning that we can subdue our environment, scripture further tells us:
Jesus is greater than any experience we will encounter in this world. (”You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.“ 1 John 4:4 NIV)
God is close to the brokenhearted and dries up all of our tears. (”The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.“ Psalms 34:17-18 NIV) (”Record my misery; list my tears on your scroll— are they not in your record?“ Psalms 56:8 NIV)
The Lord continually renews us with His spirit everyday. ”because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you to himself. Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.“ 2 Corinthians 4:14, 16 NIV)
Jesus heals us and is our place of safety. (”“He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.“ 1 Peter 2:24-25 NIV)
Friends, if you’re hurting bow down to the only ONE who heals, redeems and restores LIFE! It is only through Jesus that all of the dust and ashes from our past can be made into something new and beautiful. (”He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God.“ Ecclesiastes 3:11-13 NIV)
We are seeing “mental health” crises at an all time high. And although I do believe there are certain situations that may need medical or professional intervention, majority of what we are seeing is people being given over to their brokenness, they are hurting and lost. They are grasping at interventions that keep them digging holes while being told they are wells.
Only one fountain can satisfy this type of thirst.
”On the last and greatest day of the festival, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”“ John 7:37-38 NIV
And finally when we are grieving, we have these promises:
”“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.
Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.“ Matthew 5:3-12 NIV
These verses contain more wisdom than all of the doctors, therapists, and DSMs combined.
When we repent and seek Jesus: The blood of Jesus will cover your past addictions. The blood of Jesus will cover your past assaults and abuses. The blood of Jesus will cover the abortion you had and deeply regret and hurt over. The blood of Jesus will cover the horrible things your have said to loved ones. The blood of Jesus will redeem your sexual sin. The blood of Jesus will redeem your life. The blood of Jesus will bring reconciliation.
Jesus gets us… but more importantly He changes us. All of these tears and turmoils pale in comparison to the future glory of those who love the Lord.
Yesterday, well really for several weeks, work has been even more difficult, frustrating and heartbreaking. This morning I felt led to repent of the anger that I have felt and how that has impacted those closest to me. Righteous anger is a real snare for me. As the Lord is so faithful to do, He gave me a few reminders this morning from Psalm 27.
”The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?“ Psalm 27:1 ESV
(27:1) Fear can be a prison. We conquer fear by trusting in the Lord. To dispel fear I need to REMEMBER that God is my light and my salvation.
”When evildoers assail me to eat up my flesh, my adversaries and foes, it is they who stumble and fall. Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident. One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple.“ Psalm 27:2-4 ESV
(27: 4) This verse reminded me of Psalm 23 & Psalm 1. David’s greatest desire was to live In the presence of the Lord EACH day of his life. In the presence of the Lord is comfort, joy, protection and praise. What is it that I DESIRE the most?
”For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock. And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me, and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing and make melody to the Lord. Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud; be gracious to me and answer me!“ Psalm 27:5-7 ESV
(27:7) Since David sought the Lord’s presence EVERYDAY, when times of trouble came, David was already in the presence of the Lord. It is shortsighted to only call out to the Lord in times of trouble or need.
”You have said, “Seek my face.” My heart says to you, “Your face, Lord, do I seek.” Hide not your face from me. Turn not your servant away in anger, O you who have been my help. Cast me not off; forsake me not, O God of my salvation! For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the Lord will take me in.“ Psalm 27:8-10 ESV
( 27:10) This verse was like a balm to my spirit this morning. 😭👆🏻 His love is sufficient to meet ALL our needs. While many of us and many of the children I see daily will have lasting scars from the hurts caused to us by those who should have loved us, like our Mothers and Fathers BUT God! God can take and fill any place in our life of anyone who has abandoned us. He can fill the voids and heal the hurts. He can and does lead us to those who take on the role of Mother and Father to us. He has done it for me and He is faithful to continue to do it for others.
”Teach me your way, O Lord, and lead me on a level path because of my enemies. Give me not up to the will of my adversaries; for false witnesses have risen against me, and they breathe out violence. I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living!“ Psalm 27:11-13 ESV
(27:13) Place your confidence in the Lord. He is holy and His plans are good, this is the only thing we can have true confidence in. A HOLY confidence.
”Wait for the Lord; be strong, and let your heart take courage; wait for the Lord!“ Psalm 27:14 ESV
(27:14) Waiting for God is not easy. Lamentations 3:24-26 calls us to HOPE and WAIT for the Lord. Often we can “feel” like God is not answering our prayers or understanding our urgency. However, this kind of thinking implies that God is not in control or fair. BUT God Is worth waiting for.
God often uses times of waiting to refresh, renew, and teach us. We make good use of waiting times by discovering what God may be trying to do is us while we are in them.
Father, thank you for shifting the focus off of myself this morning and onto YOU. 🙌
Some months back I was blessed in sharing a short devotional on prayer for a very special Momma and her sweet baby girl. The Lord impressed on me the importance of women being devoted to prayer. This message has been coming up for me and the women in my life again recently so I thought I would share some of what the Lord showed me then and what He is showing me now.
Whether you’re welcoming a new baby, serving in your community or walking with a loved one through sickness this season I pray this message be an encouragement to you. I pray God will give you a deeper understanding of the importance of prayer and that you will be filled afresh with a desire to be in prayer. The holidays have a way of magnifying the things around us. Christmas has a way of magnifying the greatest joys of our lives or the deepest losses. Let us choose then to magnify Christ this Christmas season, let us choose to celebrate the greatest gift ever given to us, our Savior. Being in prayer is like putting a magnifying glass on your relationship with Jesus.
Why is prayer in motherhood important?
As women and Mother’s in our community we are uniquely positioned to pray for our children, our leaders, our husbands, friends and for the church. Women interact on average with far more people groups than the men in our communities. Women who are faithful in the mundane everyday moments are more likely to have homes where prayer and worship are modeled on an everyday basis. In my own life I have seen this, our home visibly begins to fall apart when our/my prayer life begins to fall apart. This last year I have been praying diligently for my son, Jackson. Jackson has a diagnosis of Autism, this particular diagnosis comes with a certain reality that we have to learn to wisely manage and maneuver with during these formative and foundational years of his life, Jackson will be turning 5 this month. In my own strength I could not handle the sleepless nights, the isolation, the rigid routines and structure he needs or the series of doctors and therapists who want to tell me the best way to raise my son.
OH, BUT THE GOODNESS OF GOD!
In His strength I have found all of these and so much more.
Matthew 21:22, “And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing you will receive.” John 14:13-14, “And whatever you ask in my name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in my name I will do it.”
The Lord has answered many specific prayers for Jackson this year, that he would:
Have a desire for relationships and be able to tolerate being close to others. Jackson greets everyone from the coffee shop in our Church every Sunday morning. Jackson is the first to notice if someone is upset and will guide me by the hand to go pray for them. And although it is a little scary at this age, he will graciously give out hugs to any and all!
That Jackson would begin to have functional language and words. A year and a half ago Jackson could only sign three words and would communicate by names of sea animals and vegetable categories. A year ago he said, “I love you” for the first time. And in these last 6 months he has began to use phrases and can express when he feels hungry or thirsty, if he wants to do an activity, and he can make some choices without becoming overwhelmed to the point of a meltdown.
These are all things I have real fears over that I continue to choose to take to the Lord in prayer. And this is only a tiny amount of all the things I am weak in that I NEED GOD’S STRENGTH to survive and thrive in.
Another praying mother…
Most of us remember Hannah of the Bible, Samuel’s mother. Hannah poured her out soul to the Lord for year’s pleading for a son and eventually God granted her prayer requests with her son Samuel, who Hannah dedicated to the Lord. Samuel grew in wisdom, became a great prophet and judge, and led the Israelites to victory over the mighty Philistines.
Throughout scripture we are told that God desires, invites, and hears our prayers. What a gift He has given us! The psalmist writes, “As for me, I call to God and the Lord saves me. Evening, morning and noon I cry out in distress, and He hears my voice.” (Psalm 55:16-17)
Despite knowing that God invites our prayers, we often struggle with how to pray, what to pray, and what to expect from our prayer lives. In the west, we are especially a results driven culture and we tend to have a utilitarian outlook on prayer. We pray to God to ask for HIS help with our problems. Of course asking for God’s help and provision is one important part of prayer, but mostly a pragmatic, problem solving approach to prayer misses the deeper and beautiful truth about prayer:
We are meant to have a relational outlook on prayer. Not a practical one, as we pray we can and should view God as a loving Father who cares deeply for us. He wants to hear about our deepest pains AND our grandest hopes. He wants to know the ways we need HIS help.
He also wants you to LISTEN for HIS voice. Prayer is not mainly about solving problems; it is about experiencing our relationship with God. Though prayer is relational and thus not formative, we do need to know something about how prayer works.
In Matthew 6 we find the famous Lord’s Prayer and some introductory comments Jesus made about it. In this text we discover a basic guide for how to pray, as well as encouragement and warning about our attitude towards prayer.
Matthew 6:1; 5-8 – HOW WE SHOULD THINK ABOUT PRAYER
“Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.” “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep babbling on like the pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”
This tells us and the audience of the danger in making our prayers a performance.
Matthew 6:9 -13- A GUIDE FOR PRAYER
“This, then, is how you should pray:
“This then is how you should pray”. These are the introductory words to the Lord’s Prayer and before we get into the prayer itself, it is important to notice a key word in this opening phrase, “HOW”.
Jesus says that what he is about to tell us is an example for us. It is a guide to the manner in which we ought to pray. It is a script. He did not say, “this then is WHAT you should pray”. We should think of the Lord’s Prayer as a rough outline or template that we can go through when we pray. It helps us to make sure our priorities are in order and that our heart is in the right place.
Let us continue now with the prayer itself and not the order of thoughts.
“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name (recognizes who HE is – the person / Adore Him because of who He is and give Him praise)
your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. (seek to do His will, His word is the path to finding His will and your purpose)
Give us today our daily bread. (ask God to meet you even in the mundane tasks, what you need to accomplish your spiritual duties, this is an example of PETITION)
And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. (ask God to forgive your debts or failures in obedience due Him, this is an example of PARDON)
And lead us not into temptation, bur deliver us from the evil one.” (seek a way to escape the evil of temptation, an example of PROTECTION, this is not asking for a removal of trials but of judgment when you are overcome by trials)
A number of Biblical commentators and theologians over the centuries have recommended praying the Lord’s Prayer line by line. And then elaborating on the specifics from your own life. For example you could pray something like this, “Give us today our daily bread. Lord Jesus you know what I need. Please help me to trust in your provision and be thankful for all the things you have already given me.”
WHAT ABOUT PRAYER LIFE OVER THE LONG HAUL
What about our prayer life over the long haul, over time? We can once again find clues about this in something else Jesus said in the parable of the persistent widow (Luke 18:1-6).
Luke 18;1, “Then Jesus told His disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.”
The final phrase of verse 1 “always pray and do not give up”, doesn’t mean to “always pray and keep on praying” which would be one basic idea stated two ways. The phrase conveys two separate, related ideas. The “not give up” part is a translation of a greek word that has to do with being discouraged or loosing heart. So we might translate that last phrase as “always pray and do no loose heart or become discouraged”. Jesus is telling that persistence in prayer and avoiding discouragement are linked. Then Jesus tells the parable of the persistent widow.
Luke 18:2-5, “
2 He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared what people thought. 3 And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’
4 “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care what people think, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually come and attack me!’”
6 And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”
Jesus was saying that even if an unjust judge hears the pleas of the widow and responds, how much more will God, who is a just judge and loves His people, respond to the cries of His church?
Jesus finished with a rhetorical question: When the Son of Man (Jesus) returns will He find faith on earth? This question relates directly to prayer; which is what the parable of the persistent widow is about. Will Jesus find people who are still believing in Him, praying and trusting in Him despite life’s challenges?
The point is this: Our endurance in prayer – or lack thereof – tells us something about whether we really trust in God. When we continue praying over and over it is a testament to the fact that we keep believing God is real, that He is there, that He is listening and that He cares. It is not about that perfect words, even if our prayers are clumsy and intermittent, the very fact that we keep praying is an expression of our trust in God. Our prayers are real conversations with our Heavenly Father.
We should always pray and not loose heart, “I love the Lord for he hear my voice; He heard my cry for mercy. Because He turned His ear to me, I will call on Him as long as I live.” (Psalm 116:1-2)
In closing, if you are still with me, I would like to offer a few encouraging examples of faithful women who changes history through having a faithful prayer life:
Susanna Wesley raised her sons (John one of the greatest evangelists of the 1700s speaking to crowds of more than 20,000) and (Charles who wrote 9,000 hymns still sung today) in a home dedicated to the word of God and prayer. In the midst of raising 10 children, she would spend two hours a day in personal prayer. On the days she could not find a place of solitude she would lift her apron over her head to be alone with God.
George Washington was inwon for his humility, perseverance, and dignity. His mother Mary raised him and his siblings as a single mother after her husband died when George was 10. It is recorded that she went to a nearby rock outside of her house to pray continually. George wrote letters to his mother while on the battlefield of the Revolutionary War, that he escaped death when bullets went through his coat and horses were shot out from under him. Miracle after miracle happened to George and he honored his praying mother with these words, “all that I am I owe to my mother”.
Billy Graham has led nearly 3 million people to freedom in Christ and has preached the gospel to more than 80 million people during his lifetime. He has said of all the people he has ever known, his mother, Morrow, had the greatest influence on his life. She would gather the family together to listen to the Bible and to pray together. She and his dad would pray for Billy at 10 each morning.
Every christian mother contending, interceding and praying for her children had the potential to change the course of history for God’s glory. Let us rise up and be strong in the Lord and in the power of His Might as we pray to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than we could ever think or imagine.
So how should we pray?
Honestly
Consistently
With the main goal being a deeper relationship with God – to experience the joy of unhindered access to God and a relationship with Him.
When the Son of Man returns, will you be found in Faith?
In today’s world I have unfortunately found that in my desire to make things orderly, I often have my “self” at the center of that need. Not desiring to make things orderly for the glory of God but to minimize my ordinary workload. I will admit much of this is not original to me, but it has blessed me and continues to sanctify me…
Looking back in Genesis – Adam and his helper, Eve, brought order to God’s earth with goodness, thoughtfulness, and authority. They imaged God and brought Him glory. There was dignity in their everyday lives because their work found its origins in God’s command.
As mothers, we continue to reflect God’s character in each moment as we conform to to His likeness. Ordinary moments existed before the fall and they were not demeaned or dismissed by God. Instead they were good and valuable for the flourishing of life.
Unfortunately, Eve wasn’t satisfied with the fullness of God’s provision in Eden or the knowledge and responsibilities He had given her. Instead she listened to the serpent, who tempted her to seek the extraordinary… becoming like God himself. 🍎
She was the first human who wanted to step outside of the ordinary, human, limited bounds of God’s command into something greater, godlike and unlimited.
This spills over into our lives today when we want to skip over todays mundane – wiping counters, cleaning messes, sweeping, diaper changes, emails, bills, and so on…
When we do this we stop finding our identity in who we are (image bearers of God) and start trying to find it in what we do. But when we start to rank the value of our lives in external circumstances, we will NEVER be content with our day-to-day lives.
As long as we pride ourselves in being able to speed through normalcy so we can get on to the better parts of life, we’re walking in the faithless footsteps of Eve. 🦶 🚶♀️
God works in both ugly, and the mundane to bring new life, redemption, and his sovereign plan to fruition, and such is the same for those indwelled with the Holy Spirit. All the moments of our lives – ordinary and extraordinary- will give us reason to fall before the Lamb on the throne, worshipping HIS worthiness in ALL things.
Being thoughtful with our time is a good thing but my/our deepest longing for glory and purpose is found in Christ.
👉🏻It might be mundane to fold laundry, but its extraordinary to do it patiently with joy and a heart of love. 👉🏻It might be mundane to sit on the couch and read another book to a whiny four-year-old, but it’s extraordinary to show kindness and mercy to an undeserving sinner. 👉🏻It might be mundane to fill the fridge with groceries, but it’s extraordinary to praise God for his provision. 🙌Our everyday moments might be ordinary, but when we accomplish them while displaying the fruit of the Spirit, they reflect our extraordinary Savior.
You ever have those moments where the fear of not being good enough creeps in? The fear of not being qualified enough to do the things the Lord has appointed you to do? Maybe it’s just me -but I have struggled with this… sometimes I still do and I need to constantly STOP 🛑 and remind myself:
I am not enough but GOD is…
Moses was also someone who felt he wasn’t good enough. When God spoke through a burning bush and called Moses to lead His people out of Egyptian bondage, he had a big case of the “not-good-enoughs”
That’s when he had a one-sided argument with God. Moses told God he was the wrong man for the job. He wasn’t brave enough, strong enough, smart enough, eloquent enough, charismatic enough or confident enough.
At one point, Moses asked God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you, and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?” And God replied to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you'” (Exodus 3:13-14. NIV).
Moses was 80 years old when he argued with God. But even the weakest knees in the hands of I AM can become a mighty force to be reckoned with.
You can fill in the blank with a number of qualities. False beliefs such as … I’m not strong enough. I’m not experienced enough. I’m not talented enough. I’m not brave enough. I’m not pretty enough.
But here’s what we need to remember:
👉🏻Whatever positive characteristic we feel we are not, God is. 👉🏻Whatever we need, God is. He is the God who fills in our gaps; He is I AM who fills in our blanks. 👉🏻When we say, “I’m not strong enough,’ God says, “I AM.” 👉🏻When we say, “I’m not smart enough, God says, “I AM.” 👉🏻When we say, “I’m not good enough, God says, “I AM.”
Once we let go of the lies that we’re not enough .. and take hold of the truth that we’re more than enough because of Jesus’ presence and power in us… then we’ll be set free from paralyzing insecurity and on our way to experiencing courageous confidence to do everything He calls us to do.
Did you know one of my greatest struggles has always been speaking… publicly, small groups, you name it! I would experience debilitating anxiety for days leading up to the event. And yet, the Lord has placed me in roles that require frequent speaking to all sorts of people, often about really hard things.
Many of my greatest weaknesses the Lord has used to do great good and HE has provided everytime! He is Faithful! I stand with Paul, who lamented about his weakness: “But he [God] said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me”‘ (2 Corinthians 12:9).
That’s what happens when we allow God to fill in our blanks. He turns what we perceive as our greatest weakness into our greatest strength.
What is God calling you to do today? Where do you feel you’re not enough? Oh friend, because of Jesus finished work on the cross, and His power in you, you are more than enough! He who has called you is faithful! 🙌
Social media has impacted our lives in so many ways – the lie of comparison dramatically impacts us (especially women) in the areas of how we keep/style our homes, how we dress, and how we parent. But it also impacts how we view and treat our spouses. The expectations that we have for our spouses.
The great news for Christian women – we acknowledge a higher calling placed on us as wives AND the Gospel gives us a better way!
Creation: Imaging God in unique ways, Adam and Eve were created differently from one another but those differences were not divisive – they were assets. They needed one another to complete the tasks given to them by God. In Eden they were unified, two becoming one, as they selflessly worked together. Living out a beautiful picture of love and harmony through worship of God alone.
Fall: When Eve doubted God had a good design for her life and union with Adam, sin and division entered the world, forever changing the marriage relationship. Now instead of being unified as husband and wife, we can act like two individuals sitting opposite of each other. Instead of out-loving one another, we look to our marriage to fulfill our own selfish desires. And if we’re Mothers – we can have the tendency to hide behind our children who we grant unconditional love to while holding our Husbands to an unattainable standard. We often live as an “I” instead of an “We” because being in a union requires us to die to self.
Redemption: Jesus loved us more than any earthly Husband ever could. Living a perfect life and purchasing our union with HIS Life. Through this sacrifice, Jesus displayed only what marriage can shadow – the Covenant love between God and His people. This love paved a way so that we could die to our selves and this happened when we were justified before the Throne. This is then played out over and over again as we are refined and sanctified for our future glory. Through Jesus’ death we are made right with God and we are one in Christ.
This is great news for believers! The same love that was in Christ to motivate Him to be patient with needy people. Kind to those who hurt Him. And long suffering for those who didn’t follow His instructions – this love is in us!
His love took Him all the way to death on the cross for us.
In Christ – this is the same love a wife can have for her Husband!!
No matter how your relationship may be with your Husband today – Let him see the work of Christ in YOU! Let Christ’s love in you be greater than your own prideful heart.
What are some things you can prayerfully work on in the way you view and interact with your Husband?
The Meek Momma 