Devotionals for Warrior Moms

Cinderella’s story is one we all know very well. Cinderella was unwanted, yet still offered love and kindness (Matthew 5:44). She was never alone in her isolation with her creature friends who always had her back (Deuteronomy 31:8). She was transformed by her Godmother to be given a chance for a new life (2 Corinthians 5:17) that led her to her handsome prince who pursued her (Genesis 3:9) at all cost (Romans 5:8).

Now, let’s translate:

We, who are unwanted and wounded from neglect and pain, from the people who were supposed to love us, don’t have to be alone in isolation because there’s a community for us, if we choose. We can be transformed by God if we give our life to Him so that He and He alone can change our circumstances. In this life we are pursued by Jesus who doesn’t give up.. regardless the cost. The ultimate cost.

The shoe fits, so put on your glass slippers and come to the eternal ball!

Matthew 5:44 But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you,

Deuteronomy 31:8 Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the LORD will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you.

2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

Genesis 3:9 But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?”

Romans 5:8 But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

3 Questions:

1) Do you ever feel alone and isolated? What triggers those moments?

2) Name a few, besides God, who have your back.

3) What holds you back from surrendering all of your pain to Jesus? As we see in Genesis 3:9 and Romans 5:8 (only to mention a couple), God wants us to press into Him and has given His life to make a way. Why do we hold back?

We’re busier than ever but we can make time for things that are important. Consider the things that took up your time last week or what’s on the agenda for this week. Life gets in the way, but being aware of how we’re using our time will help us become more intentional. I have added a list of five very useful tools that help me on my busiest days and with 6 kids on the go, in the car, sitting at soccer practice, and more!

1. Worship music- The lyrics get stuck in your head and are usually words that continue to encourage you throughout the day.

2. Journaling- This is also a form of prayer and very helpful to those learning how to talk to God. Take the time to think about what you want and write down questions you need Him to answer. Praise Him by expressing gratitude.

3. Pray- Just talk to your Father. Talk the way you talk to a friend. (shower or driving)

4. Podcast or audio books – If this peaks your interest, driving becomes something you look forward to!

5. Bible app and right here at momsandfaith.com for short devotionals – The Bible app has it all! Short devotional plans for every topic you can think of, convenience, audio and video options too, verse of the day, and community -add your friends and support each other or invite them to complete a devotional together.

Read:

Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you

James 4:8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded

1 Chronicles 16:11 Seek the Lord and his strength; seek his presence continually!

3 Questions:

1. What obstacles do you face with time?

2. Are there any areas in your life that God isn’t involved in? Anything that is heavy or difficult? (Read Philippians 4:6-7)

3. Your kids are grown and moving out- What do you expect from them? How much time do you expect they give to you and in what ways (call, text, visits)?

As parents, we worry daily and feel it’s justified because we manage so many moving parts. Our responsibilities are never-ending so why not adapt to worry less? What if we could trust God more? Worry is a learned behavior, therefore we can UNLEARN it, right? We aren’t born worrying. When you were a child, do you remember worrying about where the meals came from or how the mortgage was getting paid? As children, we trusted our parents to provide and it’s the same concept with how we trust God, our father. God provides everything we need! As a matter of fact, if you don’t have it right now, you don’t need it. Worry is simply unreasonable for a believer in Christ. Look all around you.

If worry is a learned behavior, does this mean our children could learn this from us? Raising our children is part of our calling. How can we live by example to show our children what it looks like to truly trust our Father? Our kids are observing our worry but they also see what we trust in and what is safe.

“You trust Jesus for your salvation but not every day worries? He’s getting you out of hell and into heaven. Your eternal punishment is paid for- and we trust that. But we can’t trust Him for smaller issues?” Dr. Jeremy McGarity

Read (NIV):

Matthew 6:26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?

Matthew 6:30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you- you of little faith?

Questions:

1. What are your worries?
2. Do you remember anyone worrying when you were a child? What did that look like to you?
3. What can you start, stop and/or continue today to start unlearning worry?

My husband and I took our children on a family vacation and it felt more like work than a vacation. The packing, alone, was extreme. The sunny days began and ended with kids throwing fits while the baby was crying, sand everywhere, constant stopping to change diapers and make bottles, everyone waking the baby, one kid puking, the smell of wet bathing suites from the night before, and sunburns on top of sunburns. Sound fun?

We packed our Honda Pilot full and didn’t have room to pack our stroller so, with limited space, we planned to purchase an umbrella stroller when we arrived. The back breaking walks with a baby carrier sent us on a desperate search for this umbrella stroller. We checked every possibility, visited the same store twice and even purchased one online for pickup only to find it was for a baby doll! How is it so hard to find such an item? I was on a mission and wasn’t going to stop until I found one.

On the last day we spent on the beach, I sat in my beach chair, holding my sleeping baby in the shade, listening to waves as I watched my husband and kids disappear in the undulating, salty waves. It was in the quiet of this moment, alone with my thoughts, when I heard the essence inside of me loud and clear. I saw all of this chaos was beautiful. These little people with big hearts and beautiful souls were brought here for an adventure. If I’m stressed over locating a stroller and trying to find a moment of non-existent peace, that becomes a part of the experience. It was time to be present and fully insert myself into this memory.

Stop looking for things that aren’t there, having unreasonable expectations and lean on each other because your family is your team. Stop wasting so much time looking for an umbrella stroller and see what God has put right in front of you. As moms, we carry the weight, alternate and delegate.

Read:

Ecclesiastes 4:9

Proverbs 27:17

Answer:

1. What is one thing you could give less of your attention? Something that shouldn’t be taking so much time?
2. After reading Ecclesiastes 4:9, who is your right hand? Who can you count on to lighten your load?
3. What does it mean to you to be ‘present?’

So much of my life has been spent worrying about my past choices and how I wish I could somehow change them. So many days I have wasted with these thoughts, or passed up opportunities with the assumption that I was not enough or felt condemnation in some way- because I was a teen mom, or divorced.. more than once.

We have to own the choices we have made if we want to move forward because they aren’t going away. Embrace these experiences as they have become part of who we are today. It’s hard to let go of regret and shame, I know. I also know that we choose to see or not to see the beauty that surrounds us. There are blessings in the outcome! We have to stop blaming others and start taking responsibility for ourselves. It’s time to let go and let God! Forgive yourself! You deserve it. We have to choose to give it to God.

The answers are within each of us. Read Isaiah chapter 43

Highlight: (NIV) Isaiah 43:18 Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.

3 Questions:

1. What do you want to let go of? Or what you want to let go of you?
2. How does Isaiah 43:19-20 speak to you?
3. What blessings are in your life now that may not be if your regrets never took place?

For me, almost every major transformation took place only after I made it through the mud. We all have to make hard decisions and the right answer is not always clear. It’s a lot of hard work to push our egos down and put God in charge. The enemy will use our ego to lead us astray. It’s important we recognize our intentions to see if our choices are God led or ego led.

Often we face challenges we don’t invite into our lives and still end up better, stronger or more resilient in the end. Mud first then transformation. Push through the discomfort and trust God. Knowing He is on this journey with us, what is there to fear? We can honor God by pushing through the discomfort and being obedient to the things he sits in front of us.

Read: Matthew 8:23-27; Psalm 23:4; Philippians 4:6-7; Psalm 27:1-4

3 Questions:

1. What are some hard decisions you have had to make?
2. What were your intentions when making the call?
3. Matthew 8:23-27 – How can you relate to these verses?