Encouragement

My mom sent this to me in an email, and though I'm not sure of the source, it spoke to me so very much that I knew I had to post it on my blog! I wish I could confidently say that I've got this mom thing all figured out. I've been working on this amazingly thrilling job of raising kids for close to 17 years. And while I love my kids to pieces, I can't say I've mastered motherhood. I've done a lot wrong as a mom. Haven't we all? But, one thing I know I've done right is praying boldly for them. Recently, I mentioned 3 things I pray over my kids everyday: * I pray they grow up to be some of the most godly people in their sphere of influence. * I pray that they would be caught when they make wrong choices. * I pray that God would save them from the wrong friends and save them for the right friends. And that goes for their future spouses as well. These are great prayers to pray over your kids. I need simple and these are simple. But, they are also powerfully effective and I've seen God answer them time and again. Especially the getting caught part- have mercy. I will keep praying these prayers, however, there is something I've been working on changing up just a bit. I'm not changing what I pray but rather, how I pray. I want to pray more boldly over my kids. And by boldly I mean with more confidence and authority. James 1:5-7 reminds us, "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does." As a mom, I want to be single-minded on the reality that if God entrusted these kids to me, I am the exact mom they need. And as the rightful holder of that position, I will believe not only in God but I will also believe that I have what it takes to raise these kids right. As long as I ask for God to help me each day, I can be the mom I need to be. So, besides praying the above prayers for my kids and also whispering "Help me Jesus, help me Jesus, help me Jesus" about 100 times a day, I am praying these prayers for myself as a mom… Lord, help me to: * be ruled by truth not fear. * not build the stability of my identity on the fragility of my kid's choices. * walk in humble confidence that you, Lord, will give me everything I need to be the mom these kids need. Hush Satan's accusations and condemnations so my prayers will never be hindered. Sweet sisters, being a mom is not for the faint at heart. Be encouraged that God led you to read this post today to remind you, you are a good mom! You are the exact person He picked to be the mom of your kids. Now, walk in that sweet encouragement and awesome responsibility!