EquippedMama

 Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day. ¹⁷ For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, ¹⁸ while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

2 Corinthians 4:16-18 New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. All rights reserved.

This has been a busy season for our family. We run a non-for-profit in central Texas and the last few months have been punctuated with visiting friends, countless hours of mowing and weed-eating, obstacle course making, spreadsheet preparing, and chaos ordering (to check out what we do, check out our ministry here).

By the time the peak of our busy season had passed I was ready for a nap. Or a vacation. And then this week I am celebrating a “big” birthday. The limitations of my own energy and the welcoming of a new decade have reminded me of how finite I truly am.

Scripture speaks to this; reminding us that our beings are fading away, but our inner man is being renewed every day. As we go about our mothering journey, this should be great news. What a powerful mindset change if we can learn to embrace the grace that God offers us as we are daily renewed in His Word.

Do we take time for this, though?

Sometimes we just need a little encouragement to be praying, or to be in the Word or committed to a local Church body. These are all necessary spiritual disciplines, but can be so difficult if you are in a busy season of mothering. Sleep can feel more necessary than getting up early for a quiet time. Resting at home and watching a church service can be so appealing after a late night with a little one and their bad dream.

Situations can give good reason that we skip investing in our relationship with the Lord, but they cannot keep us from developing a rhythm of being renewed by the Holy Spirit.

In my home, the only plants that survive are the ones that are made of plastic or that my husband takes care of. Coming from up North, the concept of daily watering seems so foreign, but it is needed for a fragile plant to survive the blistering sun. A succulent can get by with a few days of negligence, but even the most hearty plants require attention and care.

So do we.

Mamas, we cannot change the fact that mothering is a demanding task and requires much of us. But the Lord has given us the tools we need to not merely survive, but flourish in this season. Take advantage of the resources made available to us in Jesus.

P.S. Not sure where to start? Here are a few practical resources to jump start a habit of daily devotional time.

Val Marie Paper Prayer Journals: These journals are a wonderful and simple way to organize your prayer time. They are divided by month and encompass the broad categories of prayer (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving and Supplication) as well as areas for praying habitually for broad categories. These beautiful, accessible journals will encourage you to try (or try again) to make prayer part of your daily routine.

The Well-Watered Woman: Looking for encouragement to dive deeper in the Word? This book is for you. Such a wonderful reminder of our need to be rooted in Christ and dwelling in His Word.

You Version Bible App: Not sure where to start? The You Version Bible App offers great suggestions for reading plans, devotionals, daily verses and more. And the App is free! Its daily reminder setting helps provide a gentle nudge to incorporate reading the Bible into your daily routine.

Women of the Word: Jen Wilkin offers practical tools for in-depth Bible Study. Her book is an easy and engaging read, rich with doable tips for studying the Bible well.

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