As You Think…So You Are

“Her mouth speaks from that which fills her heart.”What a simple statement this is…but as you think through and process those words and the implications behind them; oh what conviction it brings and yet encouragement as well. As a mama to little ones, many little ones or busy and challenging ones, we know firsthand this is a true statement. We may not like it some days; those days when exhaustion is all we can “speak”, when the tired and worn is what comes out, when the frustrations with life around us is so evident in our words and actions. We long to be that mama, with sweet and encouraging words ready for the right moment, with quiet and peaceful countenance, the joyful heart and smile but I know, and I suspect I am not alone here, that this is hard, this is an ever-challenging aspect of motherhood. However, the more we can immerse ourselves in God’s Word and allow Him to direct our thoughts, our hearts, our minds; the more this will show in our words and actions.

Read these words from Psalm 119…

Blessed are those who keep his testimonies,

who seek him with their whole heart,

Oh that my ways may be steadfast

in keeping your statutes!

With my whole heart I seek you;

let me not wander from your commandments!

I have stored up your word in my heart,

that I might not sin against you.

I will meditate on your precepts

and fix my eyes on your ways.

I will delight in your statutes;

I will not forget your word.

How sweet are your words to my taste,

sweeter than honey to my mouth!

I rise before dawn and cry for help;

I hope in your words.

My eyes are awake before the watches of the night,

that I may meditate on your promise.

Hear my voice according to your steadfast love;

O LORD, according to your justice give me life.

Consider how I love your precepts!

Give me life according to your steadfast love.

The sum of your word is truth,

and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.

Let my cry come before you, O LORD;

give me understanding according to your word!

Let my plea come before you;

deliver me according to your word.

My lips will pour forth praise,

for you teach me your statutes.

My tongue will sing of your word,

for all your commandments are right.

(Psalm 119:2, 5, 10-11, 15-16, 103, 147-149, 159-160,169-172 ESV)

For me, pursuing this isn’t something that comes naturally – it must be intentional. I must pursue it on purpose and be incredibly conscious about creating the time and space needed to allow God to mold and make me into HIS woman and mama to these sweet children. For me personally, this has looked different over the course of my years, but I have found that when I spend time in the Word, when I can find that few minutes of quiet to slow down and read a Psalm, work through a short Bible study, read a couple chapters of an encouraging, teaching, mentoring style of book aimed at women, wives or mothers; to take that time to re-focus myself on what my true goals are, what the aim of day should be, this goes a long way in helping that ‘flow of my heart’ to be good.

I have also found, these quiet moments are hard to come by! Early mornings, before the kids wake up is wonderful for this. I have so appreciated the ministry of Hello Mornings in helping give me ‘accountability and structure’ to making the mornings start off right. But I also am very familiar with those seasons of life when sleep is really important and after being up multiple times in the night with babies, getting up before the kids just can’t happen and that’s okay….find the time later in the day while the kids are playing, napping or watching a movie to slip away and find a couple minutes of quiet. Or just take the time in the midst of the loud, while little ones play at your feet. And there are days when simply turning on encouraging praise music or listening to an audio Bible or sermons is what is going to work best. But sweet mama, the more I experience the truth of allowing God’s word into my heart so that it’s HIS WORD that is filling my heart and His Words that are flowing out, the more I realize that this is of utmost importance in our mothering.

As I was thinking about this concept and how it so impacts our lives, I realized once again, “God, I cannot do this”, so often in life and especially in mothering, I realize I have come to the end of “me” and when we get to that point, all we can do is say “God, I cannot do this, I need Your help, your empowering to make this time, to immerse myself in Your Word, I need YOU to fill me up so I can turn around and pour myself out to those around me.” As a these thoughts were running through my head last week (while driving, of course, cause I do my best thinking and writing in my head then; I really wish some days I could just hit “print” from my brain!) But this song came on, it is one of my all time favorite songs and as I listened to the words, I realized it says exactly what I was thinking and wanted to express. Read these words…..

“You Raise Me Up”

When I am down and, oh my soul, so weary,

When troubles come and my heart burdened be.

Then, I am still and wait here in the silence,

Until you come and sit awhile with me.

“When I am down and, oh my soul, so weary” ….. yep, sounds like a mama to me!.…

“When troubles come and my heart burdened be” ….. this is life, there is trouble and our hearts are heavy, heavy for the situations around us, the struggles with our kids, our marriage, the ‘to-do’ list, it goes on and on…..

“wait here in the silence till you come and sit with me” ….allow Him Mama to sit with you and take the silent seconds as you can get them to seek Him.….

“when you come and I am filled with wonder” …… look around you, look at His creation, look at the sweet faces of those children…be filled with wonder….

“You raise me up” …….Do you see that? …. YOU – the Lord, the God of the universe, Your savior – HE IS THE ONE who raises us up…. we cannot do this in our own power….it’s Him, it’s HIS power that raises us up……to stand on those mountains, to walk the stormy seas, to be strong……

“You raise me up to more than I can be” ….isn’t this the cry of our hearts? To be more than we can be on our own?

Dear Lord, as we go about our day today, would you give us the strength to rest in Your power. To infuse our lives with your words, your heart and your grace and mercy. We so long, O Lord, to give that grace and mercy, that love and kindness, those encouraging words and actions that bless and build up but God, we cannot do it in our own strength. Show us the moments in our days where we can be still, to read and soak in Your words that it would be Your words and Your love that flow through our lives and into the lives of those around us.To You be the praise and glory, in all that we do and say. Amen

Did you miss a post in our 30 Days of Bible series? Check them all out by clicking the image below.

Jennifer has always had a heart for women and encouraging others in their motherhood journey. As mama to six growing and rambunctious little ones, Jennifer has her days and hands full but still manages to find time to blog, photograph and help grow the businesses she and her husband have created together.

Jennifer and her family feel privileged to live in the beautiful state of Idaho, are blessed to home school, do daily life and living together and make memories together as a family.

You can follow her on her blog at www.claffs.com – Don’t miss checking out the shop page there full of encouraging photo quotes for moms and others. You can also keep up with her on Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest, where she updates things as often as life allows!