Do You Smile at the Future?

As I was spending time in the Word during the wee hours of the morning (or night, depending on how you look at it), I suddenly had an urge to read Proverbs 31 again.  Like many women who desire to be Godly, I've read that chapter numerous times over the years.  But as I was turning to it tonight, I knew in my spirit that the Lord was leading me there to show me something.

Sure enough, as I was reading, six words stood out to me: And she smiles at the future (v. 25).  I just kept reading those words over and over.  It's as if I've never seen them before.  As I pondered this statement I realized that I don't smile at the future.  Most of the time I try not to even think about the future.  Then I had to stop and ask myself - Why?

Why is it that when I think about the future I get knots in my stomach? Why is it that when I think about the future I feel this helpless despair?  When I think about the future, I'm not thinking about me but rather my sons.  Are they going to grow up to be mighty men of God or are they going to reject the Lord and live heathen lives?

Am I doing all that I know to do now, during the few short years that I have to train them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord?

I believe that there is definitely room for improvement and that's why the Lord has so graciously revealed this area to me.  Now it is up to me to trust in the Lord and do good (Ps. 37:3).  Trust that He has revealed this to me so that I can turn it over to Him.  Trust Him to continue the work in me and my children and do those things which I know to do, without losing heart because in due season I will reap (Gal. 6:9).

A Mother's Prayer

My mom bought this beautiful plaque for me a few years ago.  I do not know who the author is but the prayer on it is absolutely beautiful:

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Dear Heavenly Father,

I pray for the wisdom and the sight

To teach my children wrong from right.

I pray for strength and time to spare

With endless love to show I care.

I pray for patience to understand

My children and their endless demands.

I pray for the knowledge to impart

Faith in Your Word from the very start.

I pray for Your guidance in my life

That my children's lives are free from strife.

I pray for Your love and charity

That they learn kindness and humility.

I pray for Your guidance from above

That my children are graced in Your love.

I pray for these things so my children know

That You are with them wherever they go.

For all of these things I humbly pray

As you guard my children along life's way. 

Rise Up and Build

I couldn't sleep last night and knew that I needed to get up and spend some time with my Lord. I feel that as a parent I'm failing miserably. I feel as if anything spiritual that we've ever built in the boys' lives has crumbled and has come to ruin. Then I face questions from family members and mockings that make me doubt, worry and move in fear. It makes me feel as though I see no fruit at all in our children. I see family and "friends" just waiting for the day that they can say "Ah ha, I knew it wouldn't work!".

I picked up my bible and began reading in Nehemiah 2. Not a place that I expected to get ministered to about raising our boys. But isn't that just how God works? In the unexpected. Of course, Nehemiah was building a literal wall to protect the people from their enemies but we are building a spiritual wall. Chapter 2 verse 17...you see the distress we are in, how Jerusalem lies waste...come and let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer be a reproach. Verse 18...Let us rise up and build. Then they set their hands to this good work.

I know the Lord is calling us to set our hands to the work of building the walls of this house. With the Lord going before us and building, we need to raise the wall up so that the enemy can't come in and tear down and destroy. The wall needs to be high and strong so we are able to fight off the enemy, so that the life and light of God can shine forth as a beacon and our family will not be a reproach but a force going forward for the glory of God.

As soon as people (non-believers and so-called christians alike) find out that you're taking a stand against the "normal" flow of society and raising your children (the spiritual wall) for the Lord, they mock and despise you, and our answer must be the same as Nehemiah's in Ch. 2 verse 20 - The God of heaven Himself will prosper us; therefore we His servants will arise and build, but you have no heritage or right or memorial in Jerusalem. Jerusalem, of course, in this context being our family.

The story goes on to tell of the labor being done and the attacks from all sides from the enemy. The people had to build with one hand and carry a weapon in the other. There will be a fight that comes along with the labor and we must be continually prepared to fight. We must stay in the Lord's presence and know how to use our sword (the word of God). I love the encouraging words in chapter 4 verse 14; Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, great and awesome, and fight for your brethren, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses. We must remember what we are fighting for and know that the Lord is great and awesome! Verse 20...Our God will fight for us. Where is our trust? If it's in our own abilities, then we will surely fail but if it's in God, how could we lose? Chapter 6 verse 9...now therefore, O God, strengthen my hands.

If I allow people or what I see in the natural to cause me to be afraid and act that way, then I am in sin. Chapter 6 verse 14 speaks to this. The enemy will send letters (words from others and fiery darts in our own minds) to frighten me and try to stop the work but whose report am I going to believe?

I awoke this morning with a renewed vision and excitement! I am ready for battle - I WILL RISE UP AND BUILD!