-God's Generals
I was so encouraged when I read this quote on a friend's Instagram recently. I love being a mom, it's one of the greatest gifts that's ever been given to me. But as a wife and mother who feels inside that she has a calling that's bigger than herself, that goes beyond the walls of my home, who feels like something so BIG and BEAUTIFUL is brewing inside by the hand of the Lord, it's hard sometimes to see the beauty, importance and power of the simple normalcy of everyday life: being an available wife, raising children, managing the home, etc. But more and more lately the Lord has been showing me just how important the ministry of home is. That it's the very foundation and highest priority of any family, whether both parents have careers, or one works and one stays home. Either way, it's the foundation.
foundation
[ foun-dey-shuhn ]
the basis or groundwork of anything.
It takes discipline to pull yourself into the present and see the importance and power in the sometimes mundane, while at the same time keeping your hearts desires and dreams alive, looking forward to the amazing things you'd like to accomplish with God to advance His Kingdom. Especially when, in the secret place, He's been growing and changing you in ways people have NO idea, preparing you for another facet of your calling and destiny and you want to shout it from the rooftops! Sometimes you might feel antsy or bored in the repetition or overwhelmed with present tasks. But when we can learn to be present and engaged with the calling that's right under our noses, keeping our priorities in order to the best of our ability, we'll reap a harvest of fruit beyond our wildest dreams. AND I truly believe that even in the midst of raising a family, God will surely make room for you to pour out to others beyond your 4 walls, without sacrificing the most important things...you just have to trust Him and yield to His rhythm for you. He always surprises me with how he works those things out.
I don't know about you, but I want every facet of my calling to be completed in full. So when the lie of the enemy comes to tell you that you're losing yourself or giving up on dreams that you have to focus on family first, you can immediately cast down those thoughts and shift them to the truth that through this important and powerful season in your life, God is actually using all of it to prepare you for your future! And the cool thing is, right now in this very precious and powerful season, you're advancing the Kingdom of God just by growing and nurturing the human beings He gave you. I mean eventually they'll be adults in society and the way they enter into adulthood is part of our responsibility in partnering with God to raise our kids in His ways. So don't be discouraged! He knows the longings of your heart and He faithfully fulfills the longings of His children and makes room for your gifts to be used for His glory in amazing ways!
Lately I've been asking the Lord to help me to see the beauty, importance and power in the present. I think it's crucial to ask Him for this because it's so easy to sit there while folding laundry, daydreaming about the future, and miss the important "Now" moments that fly by. There's nothing wrong with daydreaming, but sometimes we can wish so much that we were doing something different, or that we were in a different season, that we miss the significance of the present. I'm speaking from experience! I wrote in my journal back in January, as the Lord impressed upon my heart, that "you must refuse to allow the enemy to downplay or degrade the profound effects of managing your home and home-life well. Changing sheets so your husband and children sleep on a soft and clean bed, is no small thing. God's satisfaction will flood your soul as you realize even something so seemingly insignificant actually brings GLORY to our Heavenly Father."
Beloved daughters of God, I pray that whatever season of motherhood you're in, God would open your eyes to see the beauty and importance in right now while at the same time stirring up inside your heart desires for the things He has waiting for you in His perfect timing. I pray that He would give you opportunities to use the gifts He's given you even while you're raising your children, in ways that make you come alive!
He knows exactly what He's doing in the wonderful plans He has for you :)
Love,
Kristin
"Whatever you do, live your life in a way that glorifies and honors God."
1 Corinthians 10:31
