What Is a Godly Mother?

I had a friend ask me today, "What exactly is a Godly Mother"?  She said that she heard that term and it made her feel sad that she hasn't measured up to that lately.  Sound familiar?

A Godly Mother – wow, something I’ve been striving after for years. But, like many women who strive for this goal, I always feel as though I come up short. There’s always room for improvement. The good news, though, is that the bible says “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 5:3). Also, “God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble” (James 4:6).

These two scriptures, in my opinion, are very important to keep in mind when comparing ourselves to what the bible describes as a Godly woman because we will always (should always) see our short-comings and should know that we have not yet attained that goal. We will be learning our whole lives and as we grow in certain areas, the Lord will reveal deeper layers in our life that needs to be dealt with and conformed into the image of God.

Now, a Godly Mother, what does that look like? Very simply, she’s a woman who puts God first in every area of her life. She prays to the Lord for wisdom and guidance about everything. Any decisions that are to be made, need to line up with God’s heart and spirit in the scriptures. A great example is, of course, the Proverbs 31 woman. Please remember, though, this is not something that we can say “Okay, I’m going to be the Proverbs 31 woman” and then, poof, it happens. As we cry out to the Lord to mold us into this woman, He will begin to work in our lives to transform us. Unless the Lord builds the house, they labor in vain who build it (Psalm 127:1). God must do the work in us but we must yield our lives to Him and allow Him to do the work.

A short explanation of why I chose the two scriptures above to start out with: when I think about being poor in spirit, I think about what it means to be poor. Being poor means you are basically without. That to me goes hand in hand with being humble. Think about the Pharisee who prayed to God and said “I thank you that I’m not like other people”, then he lists some sinful people and goes on to list the “good” things that he does. (Luke 18:11). In his eyes, he was “rich” in spirit. Now look at the publican, “And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner” (Luke 18:13). The publican was poor in spirit. He understood that within man is no good thing (Romans 7:18), that all have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).

When we come to God with this type of heart, then He can work with us, mold us. We are presenting ourselves as soft, moldable clay but when we come with pride then we are dried up, hard, unmoldable clay and God resists us.

So, as we see the example of the Godly mother and then see our present condition, we should not get discouraged but rather take that broken and contrite spirit (Psalm 34:18, 51:17) before the Lord and yield ourselves into His hands to be molded, shaped and transformed. Before you know it, by God's grace you will have things changing in your life and your character and you won’t even realize it.

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).

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!