”Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.  These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts.  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.  Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.  Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.”  Deuteronomy 6:4-9

I read this passage in Deuteronomy quite often because it’s a passage that is foundational for me in my parenting.  As I was meditating on it recently, it struck me that the command to love the Lord with all your heart,soul, and strength precedes the verse to “impress them on your children.” Is it because effective training of our children in the Lord comes as a result of our love of the Lord?

Some days are real struggles for me as a parent.  I’m tired, irritable, and impatient.  The kids seem to fight more and it takes numerous instructions before they do what they are told.  Exhausted, I come to the end of the day and I can’t figure out what went wrong.  I open the word and this passage in Deuteronomy pierces my heart.  The Holy Spirit points out to me that I can’t teach, disciple, train and discipline my children in the Lord if he is not the center of my heart.

I need to be daily connected to the vine to receive my sustenance and strength.  Loving God with all my heart means that all of my being lives for God and God alone.  He doesn’t just want outward performance or attempts to perfectly obey him; he desires my heart.  “My son, give me your heart and let your eyes keep to my ways.”  (Proverbs 23:26)  He wants me to seek him first in all things; nothing else should replace him in my heart.  When we are deeply in love with someone, it’s painful to be separated from them.  The same should be true of our love for God; the very core of our being desires to be with him all the time.

In order for me to be effective as a parent, I need to immerse myself in the word and drink from the fountain of life found there.  I need to pray and feed on his word each and every day or my soul will become hungry.  I don’t know about anyone else, but when I’m hungry I become irritable.  Our soul needs its daily nourishment as does our body.

When my heart is fed each day and is full of love for God, then it overflows as I pour it out in my children.  I can effectively teach them about his love because it fills my heart, I can adequately disciple them in the word because my soul has been fed by the Bread of Life, and I can impress them with the truth of God everywhere and in all situations because he has strengthened me through prayer and the word.

For further reading:  Psalm 119, Matthew 18:1-6, Mark 12:28-34, Psalm 51:16,17

Copyright © Christina Fox, All Rights Reserved

 Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe by Email

Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.” And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:38-42

There are many things that cause us to get distracted from taking the time to read the word of God.

As moms we have busy lives dealing with cars that are broken down, cleaning house, financial worries. All of these things are used as distractions from the enemy to get us away from fellowship with the Lord by reading His word and being in His presence.

Even good things like serving God, Bible Studies, friendship, and spending time with your family can become a distraction in your walk with the Lord if you find yourself doing these things instead of spending time with God everyday.

If we don’t take the time to read and study the word then we are missing out on the one thing that can help us to get through the day. In this scripture Jesus says that Mary had chosen the “good part” that will not be taken from her.

But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:42

How can we serve the Lord if we don’t have His word in our heart? His fellowship? How can we train up our children if we don’t know the word of God? How will we know if we are being a godly wife, friend, or mother? How will we be able to discern false teachings from teachers who teach Biblical truths?

The Word and the Lord’s revelations is the one thing we can take with us, and use, throughout life, through any and all trials and triumphs we may face.

Spiritual maturity comes when we learn to discipline ourselves to read and study the word on a daily basis. When we learn to do this we will then be able to maneuver through the daily distractions and the busyness of life more efficiently and effectively.

Being a Christian mother means we are teachers. In order for us to teach our children effectively, and help our husbands, we must first have an ongoing relationship with the Lord and His Biblical truths provided within the Bible. As we grow in our realtionship we will begin to discern the distractions in our life that may be causing us to put the Lord on the back burner.

Pray today for God to reveal the distractions that are keeping you from His word and fellowship with Him.

Prayer:

Father God, thank you for another day. Life is such a gift, however lately I have been overwhelmed with everything that has been distracting me from seeing just how wonderful life really is. The distractions have also been preventing me from truly enjoying life and moving forward with the plans you have for me and this family. Lord I just pray for the distractions in my life to be evident. I also pray for your guidance on how to eliminate these distractions all together, or help me to manage them properly, and to keep everything in it’s proper place and time so that I can better serve you and grow in your word. I’m just so thankful that I can come to you for help…thank you for loving me, being there for me, protecting me and my family, and for guiding me. I pray this all in your might son Jesus’ name. – Amen!

Copyright © Heather Bixler, All Rights Reserved

 Subscribe in a reader | Subscribe by Email