Exploring the Meaning of Biblical Motherhood part 2

I started Chapter 2 with this post. And since I like to talk (or I guess blog my thoughts) I have a part 2 for chapter 2. =)

What Happened to God's Design? When God's Design is Forgotten or Ignored?

This is important. Cause I need to know what warning signs to look for if I start to do this. Plus, we already discussed that obeying God's design for us is the way to go for our children and ourselves.

And the Lord our God commanded us to obey all these decrees and to fear him so he can continue to bless us and preserve our lives, as he has done to this day. For we will be counted as righteous when we obey all the commands the Lord our God has given us. Deuteronomy 6:24-25

Sally says, family is at the center of God's design for all people and, moreover, is the center of life from which God's work and redemption will begin.

And God, when His design was complete, pronounced it very good.

Which leaves us, of course, with the question of what happened... The answer as to why it happened is found in Genesis 3. What happened to God's design for men, women, children and families was human sin! (Genesis 3:1-6)

This meant that humans no longer reasoned as God reasoned, and they began to make up their own theories about their purpose in life.

This is chilling to me. To know that my natural inclination is to not reason the way God reasons. To know that Satan would like nothing better than to make me start thinking lies about my role as a mother. To know that Satan will seek a foothold in my life by making me doubt my ability as a mother, making me feel like I've failed, making me focus on everything that's not working.

I see Satan's work so much now days when it comes to how people feel about family and children and marriage. I have had people dismiss me completely when they find out I stay home and my first priorities are my husband and my children. We are told by the world to look for fulfillment outside of the home in a job, sports, hobbies, and owning more stuff. This is not God's design! Remember he created us to have children, be blessed by them, pass on His ways to them.

When the mission and reason for having children is lost, they easily come to be seen as a time drain, a monetary expense, a career impediment, a curtailer of personal freedom.

Because children are not considered important enough to occupy the lion's share of a mother's time, childcare quickly becomes a growth industry. The responsibility of instilling morality, conscience, intellect, emotional stability, and spiritual understanding is relegated to daycare, teachers, schools, the media and peers. Emotionally, spiritually and often physically as well, children tend to be left to their own devices- left to flounder for love, purpose, and meaning in a culture that values time, efficiency, and measured productivity above the real needs of a human being.

And once children lose their value in a culture, so does the work of bringing them into this world and tending them once they are here.

Often, as a result, women feel confused and torn between the cultural messages they hear about what is important for them to do and the eternal message God has written on their hearts.

It saddens me to admit this, but I have thought too many times to count, "When my children are older, then I can get something done."

Why would I think that I am getting nothing done now? Is raising three beautiful blessings less important than projects, house cleaning or hobbies? NO!!! But here is a prime example of my reasoning not being the Lord's. Partly because I needed to really get into the Word and cram my heart full of what God's purpose for me and His heart for my kids really is.

The most important factor in being a successful mother is in turning our hearts to God, to seek His will, and to allow Him to begin making sense out of the messes we've made of our lives. He who created motherhood is the gentle teacher whose ways and input we must seek.

Lord,

I want to turn my heart to you everyday, every hour, every minute! Please show me your will in my life as a mama. Forgive me for ever thinking that my children are nothing short of a miracle and a gift sent from you. Teach me God how to be a mama that shows my children this with my words, thoughts, and actions. Let my children see that they are precious to me, loved unconditionally by me and worthy of my time, resources and life. God, help me to tune out the world and tune into your design for me. May your name be praised forever, Lord!

In Jesus Name,
Amen

Posts In This Series:

Mission of Motherhood

Discovering the Mission of Motherhood

Goals For Caleb and Caroline

Exploring the Meaning of Biblical Motherhood, Pt1

The "Why"

Exploring the Meaning of Biblical Motherhood, Pt2 (this post)