Remember what God said

I was that mom last week..That mom who was stressed paralyzed. Many times I found myself exhausted, weary, sitting on the couch just wanting to stair at the ceiling and running to chocolate just to find that there was none in my kitchen. Bummer.

I was that mom last week. The mom who felt like she was running out of oxygen and her point of blowing up was slowly making it's way.

I was that mom who let her emotions over run her and I was that mom who let her circumstances define how she felt.

 I was the mom who forgot what God said.

It was a one thing after the other kind of week and somehow in the midst of everything going on I not only lost sight of what God had said but I lost sight of who He is, what He's done and what He's doing.
Instead I was focused on myself and who my actions thought I was and what I was doing.

I've noticed a pattern that I've been struggling with lately. When I feel like thriving I thrive and when I don't feel like it I don't. And on the days I become weary, fearful and anxious I often without a fight forget what God has said to me.

The Bible says "Be strong in courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for The Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you."

Isaiah  40:31 says "But those who hope in The Lord will renew their strength. They will  soar on  wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.

I believe these verses are for everyone including moms. As wonderful as Motherhood is. As rewarding and as joyful as it is it does take daily sacrifice. And if we try to do motherhood without clinging tightly to God's victorious word, receive it and believe it we will end up  paralyzed by stress. God's word is our oxygen. Our hope. It is life.

Beautiful Mamas. We need to listen for His voice. We need to pray and train our minds, heart and spirit to listen for His still voice in the middle of our busy, chaotic, beautiful life. It is key to Thriving. Because strength comes from Hope and if we don't know any verses to put our hope in how will we hope?

John 10:27-28 says "My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
And they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of my hand.

I have such a desire to be a John 10:27 Mama, don't you? In the midst of the lies being thrown at me telling me who they think I am I  want to hear that still lullaby voice saying I'm a loved daughter who has victory.

When the doubts, anxieties and fears kick in when I feel I'm horrible at motherhood I want to hear who God says I am as a mom. I'm chosen, qualified and strengthened by The most powerful God.

When guilt is filling my cup with regret I want to hear His voice tell me "I do not condemn you" and let Him fill it once again with a pure cup of love.

Because I honestly believe sisters that once we stop letting distractions, excuses, disabilities, chaos, the grumps and business keep us from being a sheep and listening for our Mighty Shepherd's voice to calm our storms, renew our strength and give us wings we'll be unstoppable.

So, can I challenge us this week? Get your journal and when you're doing your Jesus time take a few minutes to practice  and listen for The Lords voice. Don't put limits on what He may sound like. Sometimes He sounds like a Mighty Warrior fighting for you and other times He'll sound like He's singing a lullaby to you as He calms away the burdens of fear and anxieties that have stolen the joy that Christ died to give you. He may even have a way of communicating with you that He doesn't do with anyone else.When you hear His voice or even think you heard it but you're not sure write it down in your journal.

Bible verse meditation is also a way of Hearing His voice because It's His written word that applies to us still today. What I've been doing is taking one verse at a time and meditate on it. I don't do a time limit to when I start a new verse to meditate on. I just keep praying and seeking everything to know about this verse until it's in my heart and I have and receive it. Right now I'm meditating on Zephaniah 3:17 which is one of my many life verses.

My prayer for us this week my sisters is that we not only hear God's voice and word but also receive it. Let it apply to our lives, let it define us and let it be our worth. My prayer is that in the middle of the business of motherhood and the holidays upon us that we will learn to be still in our minds when everything else is going in four different directions.  My prayer this week is that we will have the peace that passes all understanding.

Be blessed Sisters as we raise the next generation together. XO- Heather.