I spend some time almost everyday praying and wondering about what kind of mother will I be to our little girls. Will I be the worrysome mother who doesn't let their children out of their site? (Probably) Will I be nurturing? Will I take time to teach or be so caught up in activities that life passes us by? (I hope not).
I took some time today to meditate on what God's word teaches those he's called to be mothers. I am warning you now before you read this list--- it is impossible. he he, not very encouraging, but we can do all things through Christ who gives us strength and I believe with a lot of prayer and daily following after Him he will help us live each day to the fullest shining in His glory. If I can accomplish any of these below, I know it isn't me, but Christ, the hope of glory in me!
The list below is going to serve as a meditation, encouragement, and prayer list for me.
1. We are to be available- morning, noon, and night. To meditate on God's truths so that we may pass them onto our children. To converse, teach, and point them to our Heavenly Father.
Deuteronomy 6:6-8
6These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.
2. We are to be involved! We are to interact, be involved, discuss, and process life TOGETHER!
Ephesians 6:4
4 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.
3. We are to be teachers and to give our children a Biblical Worldview.
Psalm 78:5-6
5 He decreed statutes for Jacob and established the law in Israel, which he commanded our forefathers to teach their children, 6 so the next generation would know them, even the children yet to be born, and they in turn would tell their children.
Deuteronomy 4:10
10 Remember the day you stood before the Lord your God at Horeb, when he said to me, “Assemble the people before me to hear my words so that they may learn to revere me as long as they live in the land and may teach them to their children.”
4. We are to train our children and help them develop & discover the gifts God has given them!
Romans 12:3-8
3 For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you. 4 Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, 5 so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. 6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to hisb faith. 7 If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; 8 if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
5. We are to discipline our children with love and grace that it may produce a harvest of righteousness and peace!
Hebrews 12:5-11
5 And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons:
“My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,
and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,
6 because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son.”a 7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? 8 If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. 9 Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! 10 Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. 11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.
Proverbs 19:18
18 Discipline your son, for in that there is hope;
do not be a willing party to his death.
6. We are to provide a loving and nurturing environment, where they are free to fail, experience unconditional love, and acceptance.
Titus 2:4
4 Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children,
2 Timothy 1:7
7 For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.
Ephesians 5:1-2
Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2 and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
Galatians 5:22-23
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
1 Peter 3:8-9
8 Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. 9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.
7. We must model a Christian life, perspective, and attitude to our children as Godly examples!
Deuteronomy 4:9
9 Only be careful, and watch yourselves closely so that you do not forget the things your eyes have seen or let them slip from your heart as long as you live. Teach them to your children and to their children after them.
Deuteronomy 4:23
23 Be careful not to forget the covenant of the Lord your God that he made with you; do not make for yourselves an idol in the form of anything the Lord your God has forbidden.
Psalm 37:37
37 Consider the blameless, observe the upright;
there is a futureb for the man of peace.
What things have you learned Christ has called us to be as mothers? Do you have a favorite scripture verse you meditate on to help keep you encouraged?
