Encouragement for Today
“The Single Mom Praised”
Sharon Glasgow Proverbs 31 Ministries Speaker
Key Verse:
Galatians 6:8, “And let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” (NKJ)
Devotion:
It’s hard being a single mom. I grew up in a home without the support of a father. He didn’t help financially or emotionally to the well being of our family. Mom was not only mom, but also dad, breadwinner, plumber, mechanic, fix it person, doctor, cook, and everything else.
Many days I saw her cry, she didn’t know how we would survive financially, plus not having companionship left her lonely. She battled hard with depression and anxiety.
However, no matter what was going on in our life she always listened to us as if it were her only job in the world. When we grew out of our clothes and shoes she never rolled her eyes and complained that we needed too much. She always heard our needs and graciously said she would see what she could do to meet them. She made a family dinner every night no matter how bad the circumstances of the day were. We always sat together talked and asked for God’s blessings over us and the food. At Christmas she would work over time to make extra money to give us gifts. She never seemed to resent having to work so hard for us.
Mom struggled, and we had many dark days. But every night she would set aside time to pray for us. We knew she was praying and felt the protection all the time. God blessed her obedience to pray for us.
Being a single mom has got to be one of the hardest jobs, but I know first-hand that God will give you the ability that you need as you need it. Rely on Him and love your kids with all your heart even when it’s hard. They’ll grow up one day and know what sacrifices you made to raise them and remember how God helped your family. I do.
My Prayer for Today:
Dear Lord, Help me to have Your ability when I have none of my own to be the woman and mother You want me to be. Help me to keep my eyes on You and not on the circumstances of the day. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Additional Resources:
Mining for Gold in the Heart of Your Child by Renee Swope
The Bathtub is Overflowing, but I feel Drained by Lysa TerKeurst
Finding Joy in Your Strong Willed Child, ETC Corner
Application Steps:
Get in the habit of reading the Bible for your wisdom and your hope.
Teach your children about God and His requirements for a successful life.
Every time Satan whispers hopelessness and defeat, know where the lie is coming from and return the lie to him by praising God.
Get involved at a church.
Reflection Points:
Are circumstances dictating your parenting skills?
What are you depending on for your daily strength?
Power Verses:
Colossians 3:12-15, “Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering, bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body and be thankful. “(NKJ)
Deuteronomy 6:6-9, “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” (NKJ)
Originally published Thursday, 11 January 2007.
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