As my two-year-old son held my hand, he ran with a display of excitement. His little legs picking up speed with every movement, causing him to become wobbly on his feet, resulting in a stumble and a trip. He had been running towards the lake with an expectancy to see the ducks. The previous times we’ve been to visit them, they hadn’t been there, so I had told him that they were all very tired and were asleep. The problem was, I had said that three times already! Even though he hadn’t seen them the last few times, it didn’t take away the eagerness of the possibility of seeing them again. He didn’t have any concept of time as he ran, nothing mattered but seeing those ducks. His enthusiasm and urgency were enough for anyone around him to want to follow and find out what the buzz was all about! My son certainly wasn’t moving forward with any caution. He was however, trusting that I was right by his side, holding his hand and safely guiding him towards his destination, ready to pick him up if, and in this case, when he stumbled.
It took my thoughts to the times when Jesus has spoken into my heart through the Holy Spirit about something he has wanted me to do, somewhere he’s wanted me to go. However, my desire was to rush ahead, out of obedience and delight, but not always with caution. I might forget my surroundings, things that are important to me perhaps become neglected. Not out of intention, but the vision becomes a bubble of ambition that floats me towards the given mission! However, it can cause the foundations around me to subtly fade away. Until……POP! The bubble hits something sharp and there is a realisation that I’ve gone ahead without taking the right steps. The result being like my son, rushing towards the ducks. There is a stumble and a trip, and maybe even a step on the wrong path.
Thankfully, Jesus is always there smiling at me with compassion. Loving me and my enthusiasm to do His will, whilst gently speaking into my heart to take His hand and slow down. When we slow down, Jesus reminds us of our surroundings and our foundations, revealing to us the vision He has for our lives, but, unravelling it in His time. During these seasons, I am reminded to hold onto the priorities in my life and other important ministries that have a place in my heart. When Jesus slows us down, we can sit at his feet, rest in Him and in His word until we are renewed, reminded, replenished and ready to start taking steps towards the right path once again. However, this time, with all the foundations in the right place, and our feet sitting firmly on the solid rock of Jesus.
Proverbs 16:1 NLT We can make our plans, but the LORD determines our steps.
As I sat to put into words what has been on my heart today, the hymn ‘I Surrender All’ came to my mind, and I believe it is a wonderful way to begin. The words written by Judson W. Van DeVenter in 1896, are beautiful yet challenging at the same time.
All to Jesus I surrender, All to Him I freely give; I will ever love and trust Him, In His presence daily live.
I surrender all, I surrender all; All to Thee, my blessed Saviour, I surrender all.
All to Jesus I surrender, Humbly at His feet I bow; Worldly pleasures all forsaken, Take me, Jesus, take me now.
All to Jesus I surrender, Make me, Savior, wholly Thine; Let me feel the Holy Spirit, Truly know that Thou art mine.
All to Jesus I surrender, Lord, I give myself to Thee; Fill me with Thy love and power, Let Thy blessing fall on me.
All to Jesus I surrender, Now I feel the sacred flame; Oh, the joy of full salvation! Glory, glory, to His Name!
So often, I have wanted to surrender all, I have thought I have surrendered all, and put my full trust in my creator, yet once again, without even realising, slipped back into the desire to want to take control of everything myself. As humans we DO have a desire to take control, to want to be self-sufficient, and perhaps for a time we feel that we are succeeding in this way, we are ‘on to a winner’, we’ve found our ‘perfect rhythm’. However, the reality is that eventually something changes that rhythm, knocks us off guard, and we realise that we’re not in control after all. As a mother, this can produce feeling of frustration, stress and anxiety, which is not what God desires for me as a mother or as a His child.
The words of the hymn, ‘I Surrender All’, were put to music by Winfield S. Weeden, and bring about a sense of our frailty and vulnerability in life. Through both the musical texture and words the hymn reveals our need for the one who is in control if we’d just allow Him to be, and that is our Saviour, Jesus Christ, who is the glorious bridge between us and God, allowing us, in all our frailty and vulnerability to be in relationship with Him and surrender all to Him.
Entering His presence in our weaknesses, during times of trials and difficulties in our lives allows us to be humble before God, accepting our weaknesses and letting His peace wash over us, stripping us of our pride, confessing that we are not in control and that we truly need the salvation that Jesus Christ has given to all who believe and all who surrender to Him. The blessing given to us through the blood that has been shed on the cross through the death of Jesus. Jesus is now risen and His spirit lives in us to continue the blessing of His love and power that reveals His glory through those willing to trust and commit their lives to Him.
This afternoon I have been reminded of a little book given to my son by his uncle for his baptism gift. It’s called KEPT FOR THE MASTER’S USE, written by the English poet and hymnwriter Frances Ridley Havergal. The book was printed in 1897. The chapters reflect on the verses taken from her consecration hymn. The author is a testimony of a life of wholehearted surrender to Jesus, with all her imperfections. It is a book that will challenge you with its ‘no beating around the bush’ reflections, but contrasted with rich, spirit filled encouragement.
Reading chapter 6 in John’s gospel over the last couple of days shone a light over the passages that God wanted to reveal to my heart. The power in His word opened my eyes once again to the word surrender. It was through the word believe and other passages that followed, that the Holy Spirit peeled back the layers of his word and graciously gave me knowledge that the word surrender was my teaching for this time.
It was through John 6:28-29. When Jesus is teaching the disciples, they ask Him, ‘what must we do to do the works God requires?’ Jesus responds by saying, ‘The work of God is this, to believe in the one He has sent.’ It makes sense that we must believe to allow our faith to flow from who and what we believe in. This must also be cushioned in trust in who and what we believe in, and it is this trust that will lead us to being able to fully surrender to who and what we believe in. According to the Blue Letter Bible, the word believe occurs in 149 verses, in the NIV addition. Through chapter 6 in John’s gospel, the bible reads,
‘No one can come to me unless the Father who send me draws them, and I will raise them up in the last day.’ John 6:44, Jesus mentions this again in verse 65.
It’s when Jesus says, ‘unless the Father’, that was when it really struck me, the reality of His control in every situation in our lives. We can convince ourselves that we can go about resolving all our problems by ourselves, but, this is where those three words come in, ‘unless the Father’, we can try and direct our children in the right way towards the right friends, the right school or the right job that we think is best for them, but, ‘unless the Father’, we can invite others to church and tell friends and family about Jesus, but ‘unless the Father’, I think you can see where I am going with this.
The story of Hannah in 1 Samuel, is one that I’ve been reflecting and meditating on this evening. Her name, meaning ‘Grace’ speaks loudly in her faithful walk with God, and what follows through her perseverance and earnest prayer for a child. She prayed with so much anguish and grief, pouring out her soul to the Lord, that Eli the priest thought she was drunk. She couldn’t have children, but after making a promise to God that if she became pregnant, she would give him back to God, Samual arrives, and as Hannah promised, she dedicates Samuel to the Lord, saying, in 1 Samuel v 28:
‘So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord.” And he worshiped the Lord there.’
Little did she know how significant her faith, persistence in prayer, and testimony of godly motherhood would become!
Hannah’s radical faith is such an encouragement and reminds me that I too should surrender and keep surrendering my children to God and hold onto the knowledge that he is in control. When I am worried about a situation in their lives or their future, it reminds me to keep trusting in Him, and His love for them. By completely surrendering every part of my life to God, I can fully rejoice in His salvation, hold onto his promises and replace my fears with His peace. My faithful steps then become Christ-centred as opposed to being centred around my own thoughts and feelings about what might become of my children and family.
My children and my husband don’t always want to go along with my ideals, but they are my ideals, and when things don’t fall into place in the way I hope, I must remember that it is God who is in control, He knows the plans for my future and my families, and He knows the right path for us all, and unless I surrender to Him, unless I seek him and pray and leave my requests with Him and wait expectantly (Psalm 5:3), unless the Father is at the centre, the root, the foundation of my life, I will continue to be frustrated, stressed and anxious, I will lose all peace from my Father, I will no longer appreciate the full salvation I have through Jesus Christ.
As Frances Ridley Havergal writes in her hymn:
Take my life, and let it be Consecrated, Lord to Thee.
There was a huge sense of peace in the home tonight. It was quite a change from this morning, when I felt fuzzy headed, trying to get down on paper something that resembled a list of what I could do. At least then I could keep on top of the house necessities to a level that satisfied my need to not feel overwhelmed by ‘stuff that needs to be done’. I’d been reading a little last night about procrastination. It’s become an increasing annoyance to me over the last few months or so, it seems to have creeped in, and now I’m trying to find ways to overcome it. I want to do too much. I think I can do way more in a day than is realistically possible. I’ve started my anti-procrastination journey by something so simple, writing smaller and more focused lists, that way I can psychologically make myself think that I have achieved loads because I am much more likely to tick everything off it! When I type this, I am beginning to think that this method is just another way to procrastinate, because the faster I get the list completed, the more time I will have to procrastinate on the other item that I didn’t get down on my list, wow, this is so messy! As you can see, things are not always that straightforward, but if we can just do a little every day, eventually we’ll get there.
Back to the peace in our home this evening, it was loud and sometimes quite intense, three children running around playing together, a little 2-year-old shouting to be heard, I finally found a gap to have a shower, but was playing a sermon over the Bluetooth speaker way too loud to try and override some the surrounding noise. That was my attempt at seeking the Lord in that moment. My husband was rounding up the children in a mission to get them to settle before bed. This might not sound like peace to you, but in the middle of all this noise was a gentle, warm, comforting sense of peace. It was tangible, it was love. Amazingly there wasn’t any quarrelling between the children, there wasn’t a ‘he pushed me’, or a ‘she didn’t knock my door before coming in’, there wasn’t even a toddler crying.
Taking a step back, in this precious moment, I could see my family filled with contentment and joined together. I knew that Jesus was right there with us. He was delighting in us, because he loves us. As the noise settled down, and the children began to disappear off into their room for bedtime, I heard a whisper in my heart. It started when I looked at my eldest son, and I could see a look in his eyes. I began to wonder how he felt about having a little brother, not that he ever felt his little brother was competition, he loves him dearly and takes being the eldest sibling very seriously. It was just something that came alight in my heart. How does he feel about his little brother getting all this attention? Each one of us were giving it to him, including my eldest son. Does he ever feel like he must work for our attention? Then the quiet whisper came to me, ‘you don’t have to DO anything for me.’ It reminded me of a time when Jesus spoke very similar words into my heart, ‘you don’t have to DO anything to make me love you anymore.’ This is exactly what I felt my son needed to hear, or maybe he didn’t, but I was going to tell him anyway, because I delight in my children in the same way that Jesus delights in us, but of course he delights more than we can ever imagine. We don’t need to DO to gain his love and attention. We can be resting in his presence, and he will always be with us and always be delighting in us and gently leading us along the path towards His glory and towards his love.
Recently my heart was filled with empathy and compassion for a mum who was out shopping with her two daughters. The girls were very close in age, likely to be around three and four. There wasn’t that much difference between me and this mum really, in that we were trying to get some food shopping done, whilst taking care of our little ones as we did it. We had the same purpose, to provide for our children, and to get in and out of that shop as smoothly as possible, and as quickly as possible! It was just after school pick up, so I’ll admit, not the best time to go shopping, hungry children, busy shops and children whose minds are filled with events from their day that they all want to share with you, and they all want to do it at the same time. Whilst you shop, if you haven’t got a list, you are trying to remember what you came in for, at the same time, your children’s little voices (or big!) are bombarding your brain with all sorts of demands and chattering. It can be challenging, but at the same time, you haven’t seen them all day, so you don’t want to discourage them from the infectious buzz of enthusiasm that flows out from them.
Going back to the mum I referred to right at the start, although there wasn’t that much difference between us on the surface or in our mission for that time, stepping back a little from the situation it was clear that this mum had much more to deal with in this moment.
You see, her youngest little girl was screaming, throughout the whole time her mum and eldest daughter were pacing around the isles, her little girl threw herself around the supermarket, on the floor, shouting and screaming so loud that most people who care would think there was something seriously wrong. It wasn’t a ‘normal’ tantrum, and believe me, I’ve seen a few. Discerning the situation, this seemed different. What also struck me was how the mother calmly and patiently moved along with her daughter, with hardly a raised voice and swiftly lifted her up off the floor. It was only when the boxes of beers that were stacked up along the sides of the checkout, (which to be honest, were just in the way), tumbled down into the middle of the isle. It was only then that her patience was stretched a little and the tone in her voice revealed a slight mention of discipline.
Please continue with me, I’m most definitely not criticising this mother. In fact, the complete opposite. It might seem strange if a parent doesn’t intervene when a child is behaving in an uncontrollable way, but the difficulty is, we really don’t know the situation.
What we don’t know……
We don’t know what happened the few moments before to spark off this distressed little girl, we don’t know what approach the mother was taking, we don’t know if the way she was dealing with this situation was a method used to resolve an ongoing struggle with her daughters behaviour, or maybe she had dealt with so much screaming already that she was actually crumbling inside and the only way she could cope was to ignore her child, maybe she was protecting herself from exploding in the middle of the store. Perhaps she had been trying to find the best approach for months on end and nothing seemed to work and she was tired and alone and had had enough of being a mother, (but not really). The list could go on, there are so many possible reasons that might not be apparent to us on the outside.
As a mother, I could see her struggle. It was clear enough that I felt I couldn’t just stand back without saying anything to offer help. It was when I was at the checkout and the supernaturally patient mother had just experienced the collapse of the boxes of beer on the floor whilst she carried her kicking and screaming daughter in her arms and attempted to put her shopping on the belt that I knew this mum had to know how amazing she is. I wanted to bring her a glimpse of hope, some light in her situation.
This world is filled with light when we open our eyes to it, but of course there is much darkness. If we can discern a situation and recognise the need for help, if we can shine a light over someone’s struggle, we are giving them hope. Standing back and turning away is often to easiest option but imagine if we slowed down from our fast-paced life and saw people, if we took our thoughts away from our own struggles for a time and directed our thoughts towards someone else in their struggles, if we gave people more time. The impact on their day could be so powerful. That power all comes from love. Love that comes from God, who loved us first.
‘We love because he first loved us.’ (1 John 4:19)
After going through a season in our family where we rarely had time or made time for devotionals in the morning, we have recently become more intentional about it again. It’s like that, sometimes the consistency falls away and we must change things up a bit. We had been talking together about making time for others and how important it is, it’s helpful to be reminded because we can easily become consumed with our own plans.
We seem to live in a culture where sometimes we avoid getting involved in someone else’s situation in fear of offending them, but what’s the worst that can happen, they can say, ‘No thank you,’ and even if they do get upset with you, their response is likely to only come from a place a stress. Of course, we have to be wise and discerning.
In the end, I did ask this mother if she would like help, and she responded very gratefully with a ‘No thank you.’ It was clear that this type of response from her daughter wasn’t new to her. As we all left the shop, I gave the mum some words of encouragement and she was so thankful. She explained that her daughter has autism and gets upset when they go shopping. As she approached her car with a big smile on her face, I turned away with my eyes filled up with tears, even as I write this, I am choked with empathy and compassion. This mum must keep going, through all the screams and distress that her daughter goes through, she can’t just stop going shopping!
This brief encounter with this mum had such an impact on my heart, it brought back the memories of my struggles as a mother when my two eldest children were very little. There are only fourteen months between them. I remember days where I was crumbing inside, days where people would stand by and watch and look at me struggling with my children, days when all I could do was sit on the living room floor surrounded by their toys, whilst my precious little ones used the settee as soft play, and I fed them potato waffles, cereal and crisps for dinner because emotionally I had nothing left to give, and energy, well, the dinner explains it all. I remember the days when I would fall into darker pits. However, I also remember that there were often days when friends and family would shine a light, bring hope and lift me up, those were the moments that encouraged me, kept me going and made a way for me, giving me sight to see the light in the darkness.
You can read my testimony that speaks more of my struggle with depression during motherhood. Whatever we are going through, nothing is wasted. Difficult times give us more compassion and empathy for others who might be going through similar struggles. We will come out stronger.
Jesus is light, Jesus is hope, Jesus makes a way. The compassion and love that he has for us shines through us to others so that we can then encourage those around us and build each other up.
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. (2 Corinthians 1: 3-4)
Yes my situation is different to the next person, so I can’t compare exactly, we are all going through unique experiences, but what I can do is show people love and kindness that flows from my own life experiences, and from the love of God, revealing hope though storms and shining light over darkness.
The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (John 1:5)
He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; He gently leads those that have young. (Isaiah 40:11)
If you want to hear more about having hope in Jesus please watch my video below. There are plenty more scriptures and encouragements on my channel. You can also subscribe and receive notifications. Thank you.
Recently my toddler stirred up in my heart thoughts about they way in which we live each day. This could be in your role as a mother, in your workplace, when you are with family or friends or perhaps in your relationship with your husband. What I noticed about my toddler is the way he responded when I asked him to help his big sister by putting her shoes away! A little act of kindness, but the way he smiled when he did it is what struck me most. He was so willing to please, and he was so sincere. Don’t get me wrong, he is learning to say NO! This is more about how his eager willingness and generous smile brought so much light, and revealed to me a little nudge of how different my day could be if I would be so willing in my actions!
I believe that if we desire to keep shining light, to have a heart that says yes without resistance, to make a difference in our day and to those around us, we should keep our eyes fixed on the one who can show us the way. Jesus is the light, he is the one who will sustain us, and our love for one another will flow through us from Him. My little boy was so thrilled to please his big sister and his mummy in that moment that the joy that came through his action was tangible. When we are walking closely with the Lord, he gives us the strength and the ability to take the right actions, not because it’s an agreement that if we do more, he will love us more, (of course, there are some things we have to do), but doing what we do because of where the desire for that action comes from. The root of it, the heart felt need to take action to love others, because of God’s love for us, this love like no other gives us the desire to carry out what is pleasing to the Lord. It’s not a case of doing what we do to gain more value from God, and as I said, to make God love us more, that’s not what the Christian faith is. When we love Jesus, when we commit our lives to him and ask for his forgiveness for whatever we may have done, and that is ANYTHING, he will know when we truly are seeking his forgiveness and that we have a sincere heart for Him and he WILL forgive us.
I am always blown away by the following bible passage in Colossians 1:15-20
'The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.'
Children love to please their parents, (most of the time!), when they don’t there is more than likely an underlying reason for the retaliation that unravels. I think there is a parallel here, in our relationship with our Heavenly Father. I know I want to please the Lord, because of His love, forgiveness and grace towards me, and knowing what he has done for me, but sometimes feelings, situations in my life, take me away from the desire to please Him. Not because it’s intentional, although to be honest, like a child, and a child of God, I do sometimes retaliate intentionally, but in most situations, because I’ve taken my eyes off him and have become indwelling and less focused. This makes me more susceptible to live the day without willingness and therefore without thankfulness for what’s right in front of me. It’s not good, it takes away what God wants for us, and put a dark cloud over His light.
The bible says in Philippians 4:8 that we are to, ‘Fix our thoughts on what is true, and honourable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. To think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise, and to keep putting into practice all that we have learned.’
This isn’t going to be possible if we are not keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus. We might think initially that we are doing fine on our own, but eventually, we’ll slip. Jesus stops us from slipping and falling into the trap of thinking we can do it all by ourselves.
When we work willingly at what we do, with Jesus, we will be strong and immovable. We will be able to work enthusiastically for the Lord. We can be encouraged when the bible tells us that nothing that we do for the Lord is ever useless.
The bible reminds us to be thankful, to love one another, to be humble, forgiving, sincere in heart, seek wisdom, be content in all we have and to honour the Lord and seek his kingdom first, and this is not exhaustive. It is quite a chunk to meditate on, isn’t it!? However, seeking the Lord in all of it is the way that we can learn to grow to be more like Jesus and be transformed by the renewing of our mind. We can be more willing, more sincere and more loving in our actions when we acknowledge Jesus in all we do and seek his wisdom for our lives.
I hope this will encourage you and remind you of how much you are loved by God.
Don’t give up today, keep doing the good work you are doing whatever that looks like in your life, and keep seeking Jesus for His guidance and wisdom. He is faithful no matter what your circumstances are right now. You can find more encouraging scripture in the video below.
Scripture references
Philippians 4:8, 1 Peter 3:17, Galatians 6:9, Colossians 3:23, 1 Corinthians 15:58, John 8:12, Hebrews 10:22, 1 Thessalonians 5:18, Philippians 4:11, Ephesians 4:2, John 13:34, Psalm 37:5, 1 John 1:9, Hebrews 12:2, Colossians 1:15-20, Romans 12:2.
When I read my toddler a story that has an illustration of an animal in it surrounded by a fence, he always says, ‘stuck’.
When I think about anxiety, I think about being trapped, locked up, or as my son describes when he speaks of the animals in his story books, stuck. Jesus helps me through anxiety. I first experienced anxiety and panic attacks about seven years ago during a difficult time in motherhood. My body was frozen, but my head was spinning. I was sat at the table in my kitchen and the walls began to close in on me. My chest was tight. My breathing was rapid. I couldn’t catch my breath. I thought that all the items on the kitchen worktops were about to be thrown in my direction. At first I couldn’t make a sound, I knew I hadn’t lost my voice, but somehow it just wouldn’t come out. I sat in darkness. Then suddenly, it came. I screamed. I cried in anguish. I screamed more. My husband was downstairs in his workshop. He rushed up the stairs, I can only imagine the thoughts going through his mind, some terrible accident. As he entered the room, his presence changed the atmosphere. His voice and his touch, as he placed his arms around me and I buried my head into his chest, brought a feeling of protection, safety. A strong desire to leave the house came upon me, and I ran down the stairs, I didn’t really want to leave my husband, but it was as thought being outside was the only way I would be able to breath again, to take the air into my lungs. I needed an open door. My mind wasn’t rational, my husband’s mind was. Mine was filled with fear, pain and anxiety. My husband came after me, and I collapsed in tears in a heap on the floor next to the door I was about to run out of. Slowly and gently my husband began to settle my breathing with reassurance and gentleness.
Since then, different situations in my life have caused anxiety to show up. Some of the reasons are obvious to me, on the surface, popping up now and again, like the weeds growing through the cracks in the pavement. Other reasons are much deeper, an accumulation of experiences, traumas in my life that would be triggered at unexpected times. When certain triggers cause anxiety to show up, I know that the open door I need isn’t the front door of my house, but the one Jesus opens, the one that truly sets me free. There are no locks on his door. He his holding out his hands waiting for me to run towards him.
He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young, (Isaiah 40:11 NIV).
One morning, I was praying and seeking Jesus to minister to my heart, to help me with anxiety. I was given a picture. It was a bird that was trapped in a cage.
I was then given another picture; the bird’s cage door was wide open! The bird was sat on the branch of a tree. I can imagine the bird spreading its wings and chirping a beautiful sound in response to being let out of its cage. It was a beautiful picture of freedom and reminded me that when we look to Jesus, he opens the door to freedom. Jesus makes a way.
When we live in fear that drives anxiety, from my own experience, it sets the rational part of our mind off course. It can be difficult to see clearly, it doesn’t just trigger a response within the mind, but it also produces a very physical response, that can freeze our ability to function. When I think of the goodness of the Lord, and then I think of the weight and darkness of anxiety, the two don’t unite. It’s not from God.
From my own experience of anxiety, I know that I must make a choice to fix my thoughts on Jesus when it is triggered. If I don’t, it’s a downward spiral, that can result in falling into a pit. If that does happen, Jesus will lift us out of that pit. He’ll never abandon us, no matter how deep the pit.
How can we fight?
Jesus will take us by the hand and guide us in his light. Drawing closer to him in our struggles is the way towards his truth. Reading God’s word in the bible to fight off our battles with the sword, protecting ourselves with His shield from the flaming arrows that might come our way and try to tempt us, distract us or lead us into a path of destruction away from life, seeking God’s kingdom first and setting our feet on His rock will give us strong foundations so we don’t sink into a pit of despair.
Triggers
The trouble with anxiety, is that it takes us by surprise, it can appear so suddenly. Guarding our hearts and minds, keeping in step with the spirit, reading God’s word and receiving the armour of God are some ways we can be prepared for when those triggers might come. Triggers can’t always be avoided but sometimes we can prevent them by not putting ourselves in situation where we know they might show up.
Being in a relationship with Jesus means that we are united in him, like any relationship, (not that I’m implying a relationship with Jesus is like ‘any relationship’!) to stay united, to stay connected, we need to be in communication with one another, so praying, listening and hearing what Jesus says to us through His spirit will allow him to minister to our hearts. This opens a door to our hearts to receive his peace and knowledge that he is with us, he is our comforter and helper and won’t let our foot slip when we seek him. Making a choice to receive freedom, and be willing to take his hand and let him guide us will soften our hearts, the darkness of anxiety will be washed away with his gentleness. The huge waves that starts with little explosions of bubbles under the surface, having potential to cause an uncontrollable volcanic reaction that could pour out a lava of emotions that would cover and damage anything in its way, will become soft gentle waves of peace. Once we get there, our wings will be able to stretch out, and we will be able to fly again. We will be made stronger in Him, and Jesus will teach us His ways through it all, refining us and giving us a beautiful voice again, singing praises to our God.
Is there a mum out there who isn’t stretched for time? We’d all love to be able to say that we are able to routinely sit down each day and make a dedicated time for bible study, but being a mother, responsible for a family and the running of a house, plus a full or part time job on top of this, I can relate that it’s not always a reality. If you are anything like me, you’d quickly agree that there are many seasons in our lives, and we get tired, exhausted, weary and let’s be honest, with all the unexpected situations that crop up in life, consistency can sometimes be an issue. No matter how many lists, charts, calendars, systems or new habits I have put in place, one month I think I am onto a winner, waking up early, ready for the day before the children get out of bed, meal plans and shopping lists sorted, cleaning up to scratch! Then suddenly, I take one look around, and everything is upside down! I know I’m not on my own when I speak in this way about motherhood. I also know not to compare myself to others, I have fallen into that trap before, but I still must be on my guard, and even more so when I am weary. If life is getting too much, if I get overwhelmed, or feel as though everything is out of control, it can sometimes be a trigger for anxiety. One way I know I can protect myself each day is by, yes, remembering that I am not in control, God is, but also by praying and putting on the full armour of God every morning. Not only does this help me to prepare for the day ahead in my role as a mother, but it also protects me from situations that could unexpectedly appear throughout the day. This could be anything that might spark off an unwanted reaction. By acknowledging Jesus and surrendering each day to Him, it allows me to guard my heart and mind, helping to calm my responses to whatever comes my way with the grace that Jesus would respond with. This is an ongoing learning process that I must practice in my walk with Jesus. Remembering to put on His armour each day will ensure that we are beginning our day on strong foundations.
Ephesians 6:10-18
‘Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armour of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.
In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one.
Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.’
I hope and pray that this will be a blessing to your day.
Heavenly Father, thank you for your faithfulness. Thank you for your promises, they are our protection and armour. I pray that I would hold your promises in my heart and mind Lord Jesus. Forgive me for when I don’t always believe them to be true for my life. Remove the spirit of self-doubt from my heart. When I say I don’t deserve you, you say that I do! Create in me a pure heart and renew a steadfast spirit within me. I am your child. As I live in this world people around me might try to tell me that I am something different to who I have been created to be, even try to tell me that I am not good enough. I know that this is all a lie. Protect me from discouraging words that come into my heart and mind and free me from past words that have crushed my confidence. I am free because of you. Guard my heart and mind and put your armour on me Lord. I am enough and I will not believe words that choke me from producing fruit. You created my inmost being and you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Bring the hope I have in you to life Lord Jesus. Stir up your spirit within me so that I may be willing, committed and wholehearted in all I do for you. Give me your wisdom so that I may spread knowledge of your love and love others in the same way you love. Clothe me in your righteousness so that I live as a child of light, that produces the fruit of goodness and truth. Show me what pleases you, Lord. Open the eyes of my heart to see you. Fill me with knowledge of your will through all wisdom and understanding that the spirit gives, so that I may live a life worthy of you Lord, and please you in every way. I receive your armour of protection today and will shelter under your wings. In Jesus name, Amen.
Psalm 139: 1-6 (NIV)
You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely. You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. In Jesus name, Amen.
Heartfelt Family Prayers and Devotionals 