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April 25, 2018 |
“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV)
I left the notecard sitting on the counter because I wasn’t quite sure what to do with the words on it.
A friend challenged me to write out the fear that had its hook in my soul. She wanted me to name that lie, stop letting it dance in the shadows of my mind and confront it with something even more powerful: the truth of God’s Word.
I left the card with the lie sitting on my bathroom counter, unsure what to do now that I’d found words to describe one of my deepest fears. And that’s when my daughter, LexieBeth, walked into the bathroom and began reading those previously unspoken words …
I’m going to mess up my kids.
Hearing the words out loud sounded comical, but as she turned to me with confusion in her eyes, my heart dropped into my throat.
“Mama, what is this? Why would you write this?”
The look on her face said it all. She was appalled at the lie that haunted and gripped my mind. That made two of us.
The reality is I could have filled a deck of cards with lies I’ve believed about myself. Maybe you could, too. My fear whispers … I’m not enough. I’m not qualified. I’m too broken. I don’t have what it takes. I’m one hot mess and my kids will be, too.
Friends, fear has a nasty way of lying to us. That’s because fear removes God from the equation, causing us to envision a scenario where He does not show up, and that will simply never be the case.
Yes my children have a very fallible mother, but the greater truth is that God’s power grows in my weakness. “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me” (2 Corinthians 12:9). When my abilities, my patience and my love fails them, my God is enough for all of us. Maybe even more comforting is that He’s far more committed to how my children turn out than I am.
When fear whispers unqualified, failure and way past hope, we must flip that lie in our mind and remember exactly what our God says about our neediness for Him to show up in our situations.
Second Corinthians 9:8 tells us, “And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work”(NIV). We have to grab hold of this promise in our work lives, our parenting, even the moments when it’s hard to pick up our heads off our pillows. We must tell ourselves the truth.
My God is ready, willing and able to bless me abundantly in the things I face today. He will not fail me when I need Him. He has what I need to endure, persevere and be faithful. There is no moment where He’s not paying attention and able to supply. And walking with Him, empowered by Him, I will abound in the work He sets before me.
God is like a magnet to those who admit their weakness and need for Him. It’s a perfect setup for God to show up in power. With His help, I can put my finger right on the fear that has its nasty hook in my heart and tell it the truth today. That’s what I did in the bathroom that morning with my daughter. I flipped the card over and wrote the truth.
Heavenly Father, my fear has been lying to me, and I have believed it. The truth is there will never be a time I need You when You won’t show up. I praise You that the truth is You are my provider and strength. You are my help and the giver of wisdom, and the grace I need to face every day. Thank You that Your supernatural love and power is my reality. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
TRUTH FOR TODAY:
Psalm 46:1, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” (NIV)
Philippians 4:19, “And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” (NIV)
RELATED RESOURCES:
Brave Moms, Brave Kids: A Battle Plan for Raising Heroes sounds the battle cry for mothers who want to see their children gain spiritual ground for the kingdom of God. You’ll find confidence, guidance and tools as you embrace the all-important mission of discipling your children well.
CONNECT:
For more encouragement, guidance and tools to help you on your journey through motherhood, visit Lee’s blog at www.leenienhuis.com.
Encouraged by today’s devotion? Enter to WIN your copy of Brave Moms, Brave Kids by Lee Nienhuis. In celebration of this book, Harvest House will give away 5 copies! Just leave a comment here. {We’ll randomly select 5 winners and email each winner by Monday, April 30.}
REFLECT AND RESPOND:
What lies lurk in the back of your mind? What fears nag at your heart? What truth is God trying to speak to you today?
Write your fear on a notecard, then flip the card over and write God’s truth. Place the card on your bathroom mirror to remind yourself of God’s power and presence in your life.
© 2018 by Lee Nienhuis. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 31 Ministries thanks Harvest House Publishers for their sponsorship of today's devotion.
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Originally published Wednesday, 25 April 2018.
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