A Post For Your Mama Heart

With Mother’s Day coming up this weekend, I’ve been thinking a lot about the amazing gift that motherhood is. God blesses us in so many ways, and children are one of the greatest glimmers of grace I think I’ll ever see on this side of eternity. From the moment our daughter was born, I have come to know the vastness of God’s grace and love for us more than I ever have before. Children are such a sweet, sweet gift from the Lord.

Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb a reward. -Psalm 127:3

As our daughter grows and the joys and challenges of parenthood change, I continually see how God is working in my heart, Dakota’s heart, both of our hearts and minds in raising our children with the truth of the Gospel at the center of our marriage, and how God is tending to and working in our little C’s heart. God continues to show me my sin (which I’m thankful for!), so that I can strive to cut out the sin that separates me from God and continually become more and more of the godly woman God is calling me to be. Sin is tough to face, but whenever it comes to the surface and I see it, I’m reminded that my time on this earth is short, this home is not my permanent home (no matter how much I love our new home!), and the fight of sin is long and wide (talking a ton about this right now in church as we work through Joshua).

Now Joshua was old and advanced in years, and the Lord said to him, “You are old and advanced in years, and there remains yet very much land to possess. -Joshua 13:1

This verse is so encouraging to me–because we see here that God is telling Joshua, a godly man, that there is still work to be done. There is still a battle to be fought against the wages of sin, even in his old and advanced years. So, I’m reminded when I face my sin, and I’m seeing it for the first time or revisiting a sin for what feels like the 10 millionth time, I know that God is continually working in me. He wants me to become more and more like the image of His son, Jesus… exactly what we were created to be before the effect of sin stained us all after the fall.

So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. -Genesis 1:27

Seeing the miracle that life is suddenly becoming yours to care for and love is an unbelievable experience. And I am so grateful and consider myself privileged to call myself mom– and mom of two in just a few short months. It has been one of the greatest blessings to become a mother, and at the same time God has used this new season of my life to show me more than ever how sinful I am and how desperately I need Him, all times of the day, in all the moments that motherhood brings.

I want to encourage you this morning to press on in the fight of sin, even in the mundane moments of motherhood and parenthood. When your child is disobedient- seek first the Lord in His word and in prayer for patience and to respond with edifying words. I’ve already found myself (and with Dakota) referring to scripture with C when she is being disobedient, and even though she may not fully understand, she will respond and say, “ohhh yeah!” and usually stop whatever she is being asked to stop doing. A verse we reference to her comes from Colossians:

Children, obey your parents in everything, for this is pleasing to the Lord. -Colossians 3:20

In the difficult moments of parenthood, using God’s word, scripture, to lead and shepherd our child is the foundation we use to guide us as we go. Of course we don’t always get it right, we don’t stop and go to God in prayer to ask for help in responding in a loving and edifying way with one another as we parent, but as I said earlier, as God continues to show us our sin, we continually grow in our parenting, in our marriage, in our roles in our family, and that transcends over all aspects of our life. This task of mothering, parenting, and fathering is no easy feat, and satan is waiting to capitalize on your weaknesses. We have should be ready and anticipate fighting our sin, every single day!

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us… -Hebrews 12:1

I want to encourage you today as I preach this to myself to press on in the fight against the battle of sin. Dig in to God’s word- find the time, even if it’s just 5 minutes a day to start. We only know what God has to say, how He calls us to respond, and grow to know and love Him more if we are in a personal relationship with Him, communicating with Him daily. Pray, often. Throughout your day, stop and thank God for your children and spouse, and seek Him first when you are struggling in how to respond with love and patience towards either of them. Surround yourself with other Christian women who can encourage and exhort you in the Lord as you share in your struggles of being a mother and wife. And give yourself grace, sweet friend. We are only human. We will fail, no questions there, but God is with you even in those moments, ready to pour out even more grace and forgiveness over you, because of the great love that He showed for us through His son Jesus by dying on the cross for our sin. Remember this sweet, sweet truth mostly today, friends, and know that you are the only one who can mother your children best, because God himself has given you this amazing task.

with love & in Christ,

courtney