BroadStreet Publishing Group LLC
Racine, Wisconsin, USA
Broadstreetpublishing.com
A Little God Time for Mothers
2015 by BroadStreet Publishing
ISBN 978-1-4245-4985-6 (hard cover)
ISBN 978-1-4245-5014-2 (e-book)
Devotional entries composed by Cari Dugan, Laura Krause, Stephanie Sample, Jacquelyn Senske, and Michelle Winger.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com. The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc. Scripture quotations marked (NCV) are taken from the New Century Version. Copyright 2005 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked (NASB) are taken from the New American Standard Bible, Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. www.Lockman.org. Scripture quotations marked (NRSV) are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from the ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked (TLB) are taken from The Living Bible copyright 1971. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked (NKJV) are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Design by Chris Garborg | www.garborgdesign.com
Edited and compiled by Michelle Winger | www.literallyprecise.com
Printed in China.
15 16 17 18 19 20 21 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
SHE SPEAKS WITH WISDOM,
AND FAITHFUL INSTRUCTION IS ON HER TONGUE.
SHE WATCHES OVER THE AFFAIRS OF HER HOUSEHOLD
AND DOES NOT EAT THE BREAD OF IDLENESS.
HER CHILDREN ARISE AND CALL HER BLESSED.
PROVERBS 31:26-28, NIV
CONTENTS
A little God time is what all mothers need but can rarely find in the craziness of everyday life. This one-year devotional brings you the assurance that God truly desires to be with you.
Be encouraged as you reflect on the blessing of motherhood in the midst of all the hard work. You can be confident that every act of service and sacrifice will be rewarded.
As you take a moment with God, you will find the grace and strength needed to get through all your day holds. May his joy and peace be yours as you endeavor to love your children as the heavenly Father loves you.
So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
ISAIAH 41:10, NIV
JANUARY 1
BREAK EVERY CHAIN
There is a chance to start overevery day if we need to. From the inside out, we can be transformed and our hearts renewed. We can essentially remake ourselves with the help, healing, and transformative nature of Christ! Jesus died on the cross to promise us a life free from the bondage of sin, free from hopelessness, free from any chains that try to trap us. In Christ, we are set free.
We need to hear the truth of Christs promise for us and stop the cycle of hopelessness, defeat, and bondage to sin. All we need to do is get on our knees and pray.
His purpose in all of this is that they should seek after God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find himthough he is not far from any one of us (Acts 17:27, TLB).
Is there an area of your life that you need to repent of and receive freedom from? Wait for Gods voice to permeate the deepest, saddest parts of you. He wants you to live a life where he takes care of you. He desires a relationship with you. He is pursuing your heart. He is pursuing all of you.
JANUARY 2
LETTING GO OF WORRY
Of all the things God asks us to let go of, for a mother, worry just might be the most difficult. From little things like running out of milk or forgetting to do that load of laundry, to genuine concerns such as the first time our kids go away for a weekend, put on a football helmet, or get behind the wheel, we are tempted to give in to worry. God desires our trust! He wants us to surrenderourselves and our precious childrento him and his perfect plan. He wants us to rest in his love, and he promises to care for us.
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? (Matthew 6:25-27, NIV)
What worry or fear are you holding on to? What would it take for you to open your hand and give it over to God?
JANUARY 3
MISPLACED SECURITY
It is normal for moms to manage a million things all at the same time. A part of us likes to have control because it gives us a sense of security. But is that security false? What happens when circumstances are out of our control? When relationships are broken, our children are sick, or there just isnt enough money in the bank to cover mounting bills? We allow worry to seep into our hearts. We become anxious and insecure. More often than not, we allow our concerns to debilitate usto rob us from our sleep and kill our joy.
We dont have to become weary if we remember that we serve a God who loves us so much that he wants us to shrug off the burdens that make us ache and trust him instead. Regardless of the situation and circumstance, God is in control. Our security rests in him and not in our own abilities.
Dont let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me (John 14:1, NLT).
The next time life sends you a curve ball, instead of succumbing to fear and scrambling to maintain control, bring your concerns to the one who listens and cares deeply. What are you worried about today? Talk to God and leave it all in his hands.
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