Have you heard of it? I expect that if you are a mother, and you know Jesus, you have relied on it daily.
Let’s be real. Too often it can be elusive (seemingly), or just downright conspicuous by its absence. Some days can feel like there is no way to get it all done—no way to make everyone happy—and no way to reduce the load. This can feel like a never-ending circle of frustration. And it can feel like God is just not helping.
Every mother has had those thoughts and feelings, but I have good news for you! The problem is not with God. That’s a good thing because if the needed change is in your hands, YOU can lay hold of the difference-making power that abounds and exceeds every challenge you face.
Since mommies like lists, let’s make a list that will really help!
1. Take every thought captive.
When you are on that frustrating gerbil wheel, the first thing you must do to make it stop, is to realize that it WON’T stop until you take hold of your thoughts and feelings. Second Corinthians 10:5-6, The Message, says, “We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ. Our tools are ready at hand for clearing the ground of every obstruction and building lives of obedience into maturity.”
When we THINK and FEEL like we are overwhelmed, there is nothing God’s promises can do for us. Our hearts must be prepared to believe His Word of freedom and help. God gave us tools when He created us. He gave us free will so we can decide where we allow our thoughts to go. He gave us a voice to command ourselves what to think.
A feeling is simply an awareness of an emotion. The feelings and emotions we have are fickle and can change moment by moment!
So, put those emotions aside. Make a firm decision to not be led by your emotions.
Here are some truths about our emotions:
Along with our minds and wills, our emotions are an important and God-given part of our souls. So what do you do with your feelings and emotions when they take you in a direction that does not agree with God’s Word? You give them to Him. First Peter 5:7 says, “casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you” (New King James Version).
Look again at 2 Corinthians 10:5-6, (MSG): “We use our powerful God-tools for smashing warped philosophies, tearing down barriers erected against the truth of God, fitting every loose thought and emotion and impulse into the structure of life shaped by Christ. Our tools are ready at hand for clearing the ground of every obstruction and building lives of obedience into maturity.”
By taking our thoughts captive and submitting our feelings and emotions to God, we direct our lives to fit into the structure of a life shaped by Christ, His Word and what He did for us on the cross! We are smashing the walls erected in our hearts and breaking up the hard, stubborn places that keep us from believing His Truth! That is how we prepare our hearts to hear and receive the promises of God.
2. Receive His grace.
“But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me”
(1 Corinthians 15:10).
This should be a “Mommy” scripture! This word is what we need to take in. It is not in ourselves that we are anointed to be the best mothers in the world. It’s by the grace of God. It’s up to us to receive what He has offered—or more precisely what He has already bestowed on us. Otherwise, He has given it in vain for no useful purpose.
Look at the “first mother,” Mary (this is a good title for the mother of our King). Luke 1:28 says, “And he came to her and said, Hail, O favored one [endued with grace]! The Lord is with you! Blessed (favored of God) are you before all other women!” (Amplified Bible, Classic Edition).
The Lord endued her with the grace she needed before Jesus was ever born! Endued means “invested or endowed” with a quality or ability. Mary had much ahead of her that would be difficult as a mother, but from the beginning she had what she needed to face it all! She wasn’t perfect, but she was empowered to be the mother of our Savior. Even though we are not raising the Savior, we are raising sons and daughters of God. That same infusion of abilities and qualities is ours to receive as well.
There is more and more grace. Read what Galatians 5:22-25 (AMPC), says:
But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness, gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-restraint, continence). Against such things there is no law [that can bring a charge]. And those who belong to Christ Jesus (the Messiah) have crucified the flesh (the godless human nature) with its passions and appetites and desires. If we live by the [Holy] Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. [If by the Holy Spirit we have our life in God, let us go forward walking in line, our conduct controlled by the Spirit.]
The fruit of the spirit is grace revealed. Are these not the things that mothers need the most in dealing with everything that comes with the job? BELIEVE it! RECEIVE it! What’s more, pass it along to your children! It’s the gift that keeps on giving, both when it’s coming out of you and when it’s coming out of your family.
Second Peter 1:3-5 (New Living Translation), tells us:
By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires. In view of all this, make every effort to respond to God’s promises.
Here we see that we have been given everything we need to live a godly life, which is the life He designed for us. Our part is to come to know Him, and then to make every effort to respond to God’s promises. That’s another way of saying the just shall live by faith; believe you receive; or as Jesus put it, “Have faith in God” (Mark 11:22).
3. Have faith in God.
Romans 4:16 tells us, “Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed….”
There is a beautiful grace designed for us to walk in every moment, but it can only be received by faith in God’s promises. When we make a daily commitment to receive His promises by faith, the result is that we come to believe those things are ours! Yes, we must walk it out day by day. But the more we live this way, the more going back to our old fleshly way of doing things just seems crazy. The Greek word for flesh means “work.” Work versus grace—to me, it’s a clear choice!
In Romans 11:6 we read: “And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.”
So, I’ve made my case for the “Mommy Grace.” And happily, it is the same process for “Daddy Grace,” “Ministry Grace” or the “Anything-You-Are-Called-to-Be-or-Do Grace.” Read 1 Corinthians 15:10 once again: “But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.”
This is who we are. The best mommies in the world, not empowered by our own goodness but by the grace of God that lives BIG within us, reaching out to our children to draw them to Him.
With a smile on my face and a laugh in my soul at the good things our Lord has in store for you, I will throw this one in, too. First Samuel 1:18 says, “And she said, Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad.”
Mother, enjoy your world today. It is a gift from the One who loves you.
Kellie Copeland is responsible for Covenant Partner Relations at Kenneth Copeland Ministries and is the developer of the Superkid Academy curriculum. Through her ministry and as “Commander Kellie,” she fulfills the mission of drawing people of all ages into a personal, growing and powerful relationship with Jesus Christ.