Proverbs 31 Devotionals

• Oct. 2, 2008 - The Quiet Hour

The Quiet Hour

Quiet? What's that? As moms, we can all relate to the having the feeling that we just don't have enough time to read the Word and pray. We mistakenly think that we can make it through the day in our own strength.

For those of us who are stay-at-home moms with young children, we may find that naptime is a good time to get alone with the Lord. As the children get older and outgrow naptime, we can still institute an afternoon quiet hour (or 1/2 hour, if necessary). You may find it helpful to have a timer on hand. You gently instruct the children to find something to do by themselves until the timer goes off. They are not allowed to play with each other, nor are they allowed to listen to music, play on the computer, or watch TV. They can read a book, color, or quietly play with some toys, but they must be instructed not to bother Mommy until the timer goes off. (Of course, a real emergency would supersede the instructions!)

We do our children a great disservice if we fail to teach them how to be alone. Too often, we fall into the trap of entertaining them ourselves, or with the TV, or numerous other activities. They need to have times of solitude so that they know how to be alone. This will help them to be open to hearing God's still small voice.

We can't hear God speak above all the clamor and distractions, so we can't expect our precious children to hear Him speak when they are constantly with other people, are busy, or are being distracted by many things around them. Recently, my own daughter has come to me on many occasions, expressing her desire to hear God speak. I wasn't sure how to answer her beyond telling her that He often speaks to us in a still, small voice, not heard by the ear, but felt in the heart. I find myself pondering on starting a daily quiet time. I think my first prayer will be for her to hear her precious Father's voice speaking to her....

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• Oct. 2, 2008 - Motherhood - A Labor of Love

Posted in Parenting

Motherhood - A Labor of Love

I have always been fascinated with pregnant women, so when I became pregnant myself, I was even more fascinated. I loved being pregnant, and was constantly looking in the mirror at my growing belly! How awesome that God chose women to have the blessing of carrying a child. Even so, when it came time to deliver, well that is another story! Those labor pains were no fun at all. Thankfully, I only had hard labor about 30- 40 minutes before they rushed me down for an emergency c-section. I have heard many stories of women who were in labor for over 30 hours. I'm sure that some of you have your own stories about labor!

While I was pregnant, I kept having an intense burden to pray for Dennis Rodman (a former NBA star). It became a joke that my "focal point" during labor would be a picture of Dennis Rodman. Believe me, when those hard labor pains hit, looking at a picture of him was the last thing on my mind! I so clearly remember that while in the middle of a big contraction, I heard the words "the baby is breech, we have to get her to surgery right away." My immediate thoughts were "Thank you Jesus! I'm not going to feel pain much longer!"

I looked up the word "labor" in the dictionary and it said, "physical or mental exertion; work, to work hard, to move slowly and with difficulty, to suffer, to be in childbirth." It's obvious here that when the labor pains stop, the real labor is only beginning. It is very hard to adjust to getting up several times every night to feed a new baby. It's a lot of work, just trying to get out the door with an infant. There is always so much that needs to go with you besides just the baby! Then there is all of that extra laundry that a wee one can cause!

As the baby gets older, there is the teething stage, then the separation anxiety stage, and then the potty training stage, and the list goes on and on. I remember how every Sunday I would literally have to peel Rachel off of me to leave her in her class. It was such a battle that by the time I got to my class, I no longer felt like being there.

When we were potty training, my mom commented that Rachel was the only child she ever saw who was literally potty trained away from home. For some reason, she was very fascinated with public restrooms. (I didn't understand it then, and I still don't understand it!) Of course, we never had her little seat with us that would attach to the toilet, so when I sat her down, I would take my hands and hold onto her legs so that if she would start to fall, I could grab her very quickly. Then, if I needed to use the bathroom, she just had to mimic me, and put her little hands on my legs so that mommy wouldn't fall into the potty! :)

As mothers, we are truly life-givers. Not just by giving birth, but it is something that we do every day. We do it with our words, through keeping a warm, inviting home, by being tender and loving in our actions, by imparting wisdom and instruction, to the food on the table.

Sometimes the growing which our children do can cause us more "labor pains." Like when given their first haircut, and suddenly the baby is no longer a baby, but a little boy or girl.

Later, there is the time that they want to leave the yard and go play with the other kids in the neighborhood. Suddenly, I'm not the one she wants to be with all the time. It was bittersweet. I finally had a little more time to do other things, but I wasn't so sure that I was ready for her to be out and about with the other kids in the neighborhood. That meant that she was growing up! What happened to my little baby? She was just here a few days ago, and now, well, she's growing up. The pain of labor hits again.

Although I homeschool, I have heard the stories from other mothers about sending their child off to school for the first day. There's the labor pain again. Later, we will probably all experience that labor pain of watching our child go off to college. Does this labor ever stop? NO! As long as we are mothers, we are going to have some labor pains.

All mothers, at one time or another, are going to go through some suffering. Rom. 5 in the Message Bible tells us that we continue to shout our praise even when we're hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we're never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary, we can't round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives! -- God will use motherhood as a real pruning time for us. I have grown more in my walk with the Lord since I became a mother. It is the thing in my life that has caused the most sacrifice from me, but it has been worth EVERY bit of the sacrifice.

I remember hearing a lady on the radio talking about all the things which mothers do. She used a term that I just loved! She said that our title should be "domestic goddess." Don't you just LOVE it!? Shortly after hearing that term, I got a paper to fill out for jury duty. What do you think I wrote down in the job title section? You guessed it! DOMESTIC GODDESS! When I got called for jury dury, both attorneys commented on my response. They both thought it was really funny. -- A quick side note here. With everything going on at the time that I got called for jury duty, it would have been easy to question the Lord in why He was allowing me to go through that experience. He knew good and well what He was doing. It was a civil case that lasted three days. It was very interesting to observe, not to mention that within a month of having done my civic duty, I was attacked by a pit bull. You don't find too many attorneys in church, but because God allowed me to serve on that jury and observe these attorneys, there was no question in who I was going to call to represent me.

Let's look at some of the examples for ways in which we mothers labor. Our job titles could be: meal planner, chef, pharmacist, nurse, laundry attendant, chauffeur, teacher, personal care attendant (giving baths, etc.), bathroom attendant (wiping bottoms), maid, butler, bargain hunter, hazardous waste removal specialist (taking out the trash), germbuster (disinfecting the house after illness has been present), cheerleader (encourager), motivational speaker, accounts payable manager, scheduler, secretary, organizer, seamstress, inventory manager (writing grocery lists), snow removal person, lawn care attendant, arbitrator (settling arguments between the children), principal (disciplining the children), life skills instructor, language interpreter (figuring out why the baby is crying), and finally, one which is critical for us to be: the prayer warrior. (I am sure that I left out many more job titles.)

Do you see it? YOU ARE AWESOME! Look at all of the things which God has entrusted us to do for our children! He sees us as very capable or He wouldn't have entrusted us with it. Phil. 4 says that I can do ALL things through Christ, who strengthens me. THROUGH HIM WE ARE ABLE TO DO ABSOLUTELY AWESOME THINGS!

Lord, I know how overwhelming life can be at times, even though I only have one child. Many of my sisters have more children than I do, so I know that they get weary and overwhelmed at times. Help them to remember that it is only through You that we can accomplish Your purposes in our homes. Help them to get their focus on You each and every day, and to be faithful in not only asking for Your help, but in looking to see how it is that You are helping them. Help them to see You right there with them each and every day. Help them to see Your tender mercies, which are new every morning. Amen.

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• Oct. 1, 2008 - Devotions for Children

Posted in Parenting

Devotions for Children - Are they really necessary?

Proverbs 1:8 and 6:20 say "don't forsake your mother's teaching." This makes it clear that we, as mothers, do have an assignment from God to teach OUR children. Our assignment isn't to teach the children at church, or to teach the women at church. Our assignment isn't to teach our friends or neighbors, but to teach OUR children. While teaching the other people isn't bad, if we begin to be more diligent in teaching others, or if we expend so much energy on other people that we have nothing left for our children, then we are wrong. We are out of balance and we are out of God's will.

Let's look a little further on this issue. Prov. 31 is an entire chapter about the teachings which King Lemuel received from his mother. There is so much in this one chapter that it's obvious she didn't teach him these things in just a few short sessions, but she was diligent in teaching him.

We are told in I Sam. 15:22 that to obey is better than sacrifice. We have seen that we are commanded to teach our children. If we fall into the trap of teaching many other people, but failing to diligently teach our children, we may be sacrificing, but we are not obeying.

Jochebed (mother of Moses) only had him for about three years before he was taken to live in a palace filled with pagans, yet she had given Moses enough instructions in righteousness in those early years to enable him to take a strong stand for the Lord many years later. He had some really tough choices to make, yet he chose to make the right choices, in spite of what it cost him personally (prestige, honor, wealth, a life of leisure). I would venture to say that Jochebed was also diligent in praying for Moses every day.

Josiah was only eight years old when he became king. II Kings 22,23 tell us that he did what was right in the sight of the Lord, not turning aside to the left or right. How did he know at eight years of age what was right? His mother, Jedidah, was the one who instructed him in what was right in the sight of the Lord. In chapter 21, it mentions Amon, who was Josiah's father, and he did evil in the sight of the Lord. Josiah burned all of the items made for Baal, Asherah and the starry host. He slaughtered the pagan priests, burned the Asherah pole, smashed the altars, and he also set the plans in motion to repair the temple of the Lord. Josiah was told by a prophet that God's judgment was going to fall upon Israel, but because of his responsive heart and his weeping on behalf of the sins of his people, God promised him that he wouldn't live to see the destruction which was to come upon Israel.

Hannah only had Samuel for about three years before sending him to live with Eli, the priest. Eli had two sons who were living ungodly and evil lives, yet she entrusted Samuel to Eli's care. She planted God's Word into Samuel in those formative years, and he became a prophet, priest, and leader who was used by God in a mighty way. I think it's interesting to note that Eli's sons (Hophni and Phinehas) died in battle at the same time when the ark was captured. Eli died when he heard this news. Phinehas's wife delivered her baby, only to name him Ichabod because God's glory had departed. YET, God's glory had NOT departed from Samuel.

Mary taught Jesus so well that when He was only twelve years old, He was amazing the teachers and scholars in the temple with His teaching and understanding of the Word.

For those of us who haven't been diligent in training our children in the ways of the Lord, we must remember that something is better than nothing. We must start somewhere. It doesn't have to be hour long devotions. That isn't practical to small children. We also can't just leave the training up to Sunday school teachers. Think about it - if you only attend church on Sunday morning, then never pick up the Word the rest of week, how much about God are you going to learn? It's the same with children. We must teach them diligently. Ask God to show you practical ways to turn every day things into times of teaching.

I will close with some examples of how we can put this into practice.

1. When Rachel and I would go shopping, we would look at clothes, and I would comment to her when I saw something that wasn't modest. I would explain why modestly is important. For several years now, she is pointing out clothing to me and telling me that it isn't modest.

2. Before going to garage sales, ask God to help you find specific items, and name a specific price range for the item. Pray this with the children. Then, when you find the items, you can point out how God answered your prayer. I can't tell you how many times we have done this. It is an exciting time for us, just waiting to see God's answer.

3. As you're outside, enjoying nature, talk about how God is a God of order. He made an apple seed to grow into an apple tree. An apple tree will never grow a peach. He made rabbits to have rabbits, and a rabbit will never have a squirrel, etc. This dispels the erroneous teaching which they will get in public schools about evolution.

4. Teach them about God's blessing. There are a couple of ways to do this. I used a rope, forming it into a circle. I had Rachel stand in the middle of the circle. Then I told her that as long as she obeyed and did what God wanted her to do, she had His blessing and protection upon her. But if she disobeyed mommy, etc., she was outside of the circle. To get back in the circle, she must confess her sin and repent. Another way to do this one is by using an umbrella.

5. When you are writing out the tithing check, talk to your children about what you are doing and why you are doing it.

6. Rachel had been going through a spell where she either didn't do what I said until I said it three or four times, or else she would argue with me about doing it. I quickly used the scripture about how obeying is better than sacrifice. I pointed out to her that while it was very good of her to want to raise money for her "buddy barrel" for missions, it is far more important for her to obey. Every time she starts to disobey or argue with me, she is hearing that verse.

7. If you know someone who is pregnant (maybe even you!), talk about Psalm 139. Explain to them how God knows this baby and even sees the baby while it is still unseen by us. Get a book that shows the stages of the baby's growth and talk about what God is doing to the baby at those different stages.

8. When dealing with children who like to grumble, tell them that God wants them to do all things without grumbling so that they will shine like the stars of the universe. (Phil. 2:14-15) Tell them that you like to see them shine too!

9. To teach them about our words, use bubbles. Go outside and let them chase the bubbles as you blow on the wand. After about 5 minutes, tell them to go get all of the bubbles and bring them back. When they can't do it, you tell them how it's the same with the words from our mouths. Once we say something, we can't take it back. We can say that we are sorry, but it would be better not to have said it at all. Another way to do this lesson is by letting them squeeze a tube of toothpaste onto a paper plate. You then tell them to put all of the toothpaste back into the tube. (You might even want to offer $10 to any of them who can do it!) Then you teach them about their words.

A good reference for other ways to teach your children in fun ways are the Family Night Tool Chest resources from Focus on the Family.

If you can't afford to purchase them, check with your local library to see if they might have them.

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• Oct. 1, 2008 - Titus 2 Moms

Posted in Parenting

Titus 2 Moms

In II Tim. 1:5, we find that Timothy had a godly heritage in his grandmother, as well as his mother. Paul was convinced of that same godly heritage also abiding within Timothy. It is apparent that Timothy's dear mother was diligent in training him and instructing him in righteousness.

Today I am going to contrast the differences between training and not training our children in the Lord. I found it to be an eye-opener for myself.

Prov. 5:23 tells us that a lack of discipline will cause one to die or to be led astray by his own folly (stupidity, carelessness, foolishness).

Prov. 15:10 tells us that stern discipline awaits the one who leaves the path, and the one who hates correction will die.

Prov. 17:21 tells us that having a fool (idiot, imbecile, blockhead) for a child brings grief to his father (or mother). There is no joy for the parent of a fool.

-- I guess another way to look at training and instructing in righteousness is to see it as an added benefit for ourselves. I know that I want my child to be a joy to me, so I need to be diligent in instructing her in righteousness.

Prov. 17:25 A foolish child brings bitterness to the one who bore him/her. -- Can you think of a person who has become bitter, due in part to having a grown child who has turned out to be foolish?

Prov. 19:18 Tells us that we are to discipline our children and not to be a willing party to their death. -- The implication here is that if you don't discipline your children, you are a willing party to their death. Now this could refer to their physical death, but also to their spiritual death.

Prov. 29:15 tells us that a child left to himself/herself disgraces (discredits, strips of honor, shames, disregards) his mother.

Now let's see what can happen if we follow the Lord's command to instruct them in righteousness.

Prov. 2:1-5 If we teach them to store God's commands in their hearts and to turn toward wisdom, we are helping them to understand the fear of the Lord. We are also helping them to find the knowledge of God.

Prov. 3:1-2 If we teach them to hold the Word in their heart, it will prolong their life by many years as well as bring prosperity (accomplishment, victory, success).

Prov. 6:21-22 If our children will learn to bind God's Word upon their heart and to fasten them around their neck, God's Word will guide them, and when they sleep, His Word will watch over them. When they awaken, the Word will speak to them.

Prov. 6:23 They will find that God's teaching is a light and that the corrections of discipline are the way to life.

Prov. 19:18 The inference here is that we need to discipline them while they are young, (while there is still hope).

Prov. 22:15 The rod of correction (not punishment) will drive away the folly that is bound up in the heart of our children. -- Punishment is when we react out of anger, rather than responding to the situation with emotions which are controlled by the Holy Spirit.

Prov. 23:15 If we raise our children to have a wise heart, then our hearts will also be glad.

Prov. 23:16 When our children speak what is right (precise, accurate, certain), our inmost being will rejoice. -- Have you had times when you've been in public, observing the ungodly behavior of others, and suddenly you hear wisdom coming from the mouth of your child regarding that situation? What joy that brings!

Prov. 23:24 If our children grow up to be righteous men/women, then we will have great joy. A wise child will bring delight to us.

Prov. 29:15 The rod of correction will impart wisdom (sense, reason, clear thinking, good judgment, sanity, knowledge, tact, stability, solidity). -- I know of individuals who refused to spank their children. Now these children are grown and they are constantly getting into some kind of trouble. It appears to me that the parents don't even want the children to come visit because they have to worry about what valuables are going to come up missing, etc.

Father, You have given us much to do in training our children. You know how tired we can become over the course of the day, and when we are tired, it desperately clouds our judgment. WE NEED YOUR HELP! We recognize that we cannot do it alone. Thank You for not calling us to even try and do it alone. Help us in our failings and shortcomings. Help us in our short fuses, our busyness, our lack of patience, our intolerance, our selfishness. Help us to grant mercy, grace, and love to those with whom You have entrusted to our care. Help us to lay down our fleshly desires that we may fulfill your calling upon each of us as parents. Amen.

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• Oct. 1, 2008 - Train Them Up

Posted in Parenting

To Train or Not to Train (Train Them Up)