Editor’s Note: We have asked a few women to share their talks from our last Life Giving Saturday. If you weren’t able to attend, this is a perfect opportunity to hear these women’s hearts. We know they will encourage you!
Jeremiah 1:4-5 says, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you. Before you were born I set you apart.”
Luke 2:19 says, “Mary treasured all these things and pondered them in her heart.”
These two verses have stuck with me for over 19 years. They have been the truth that has sustained me as a mom:
1. God has known my children from the foundation of the earth.
2. Mary, the mother of Jesus, had to treasure/ponder the destiny/purpose of Christ in her heart.
I truly believe, to be able to parent well, our foundation of who our children’s real father is, must be established in our hearts.
The question is…how do we live out these two verses when we’re parenting our children? I’d say the answer to that question is through PRAYER and SURRENDER.
When I was pregnant with Joshua I began asking God, praying that He would give me words to speak and pray over Joshua. Words of truth, words of life, words of courage. I soon had a song in my heart that I’ve sung over all my boys, nieces, and nephews, and every baby I’ve ever rocked to sleep. The fact that God gave me a song, doesn’t make me special – it’s just a testimony to a living God who has abundant life and vision and purpose for our children. He desires for us to position ourselves in a way to receive truth from Him so we can speak His truth over our children. Prayer is powerful!
During different seasons of parenting I remember making conscience choices to let go of control and to trust God and His word, to surrender my fears and concerns to Him. I started to stand on the truth of Jeremiah 1, and believe that if God knew my children before He formed them in my womb, then I could trust Him with their lives.
I have specific memories of my kids playing at 16th street park and me being over protective of the monkey bars and Jesus whispering kindly to my heart, “Let them be brave.”
Or, the 1sttime Brad took the boys hunting and my fear of harm coming to them surfaced and the Lord speaking to me, “Brad loves your boys as much as you do. He won’t let harm come to them.”
All three of my boys are dreamers. They have BIG dreams, dreams that honestly scare me. I’ve been tempted, at times, to be the “practical mom” that puts doubts to their dreams. Early on, while I was praying through some of my kids’ “big dreams” I felt the Lord speak these powerful words to me. It’s helped me remember who the ultimate dream keeper is…He said, “Dreams shape us, don’t smash them. Just keep pointing them to Me. I can handle their dreams.”
The words of Christ have liberated me as a mom. It’s put motherhood in perspective for me. I’m not in charge of their destiny, Christ is. I can’t make them be someone, or keep them safe. My job is to point them to Christ, to pray my guts out for them, and to ponder their destiny in my heart, just like Mary did concerning Jesus.
I’ve learned that I can either treasure the destiny and purpose God has for my kids, or I can control and manipulate the situations that parenting bring. I’ve done both, but I can tell you peace comes when I’m living a life of PRAYER and SURRENDER concerning my kids.
Here are a few truths that I’ve pondered in my heart for my children:
- God ordains their steps…Psalms 37:23
- Every hair on their head is numbered…Luke 12:7
- They are fearfully and wonderfully made…Psalms 139:14
- God is intimately acquainted with all their needs…Psalms 139:3
- They are created in the likeness of God’s image…Genesis 1:27
I spent many years not feeling like a good mom. I compared myself to others, and often felt overwhelmed and discouraged. I remember the day my counselor told me, “Julie you’ve never given up. You’ve stayed, and loved, and been present.” It liberated me.
I don’t know where you are today on your journey of mothering, but I can promise you, when you choose to stay, when you choose to show up, when you choose to pray the hard prayers and speak the words of Christ over your kids, God does His part in our children’s lives and we will see His hand accomplish His will concerning our children. He loves them more than we do. He knit them together. They are fearfully and wonderfully made in His likeness.
I’m cheering for you mom! I’m believing in you! And I know, when we’ve prayed and surrendered, God moves mountains for us, that we could never move on our own.
I’m praying that God would impart in you an anointing for faith and an ability to speak destiny and truth over your child. May He bring vision that will not only keep your child from perishing, but also keep you in a place of peace.
With all my love,
Julie
We would like to thank Julie Snellgrove for writing this post!
Women's Ministry 