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Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Most Important Words

(Photo Source: Dreamstime)

Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter ... the most important thing. The most important words we speak. The words we speak to our Maker.

I, a mom of six and grama of nine, have not always known this. And I still forget. In the early hours this morning, as my mother-heart was carrying some concerns, the still small voice within, reminded me.

How do we forget? And why is it that the one thing that it is often the hardest for us to take time for is ... to pray? To talk to, to pour out our hearts ... to the One who made us, who made our children ... the One who loves us and our children, and grandchildren, infinitely more than even we do.

God has been schooling me in prayer for many years, and I am asking Him to continue. Pray is one of the three words I have chosen for this New Year. One of three main focuses. Important for everyone, and maybe especially important for us as mothers.

As mothers, the words we speak are of such high value, immeasurable value ... words of love for our children, words of encouragement, and yes ... gentle, kind words of correction, giving needed direction. But the things that we long for most of all, for our children, even ourselves ... come only from our holy, powerful, loving God. It is our words to Him, poured out to Him, that are the most important of all. It is to Him that our words should be spoken to first of all and most of all.

For we cannot control everything that our children experience, we cannot control all that enters their minds, we cannot control their hearts. We do our part, our diligent part, but we are messed up people, and we live in a messed up world. And we must depend on the only One who works in molding and changing hearts. 

Many years ago I read a book by Ruth Bell Graham that impacted me so greatly ... reminding me that as mothers we do "our part" of loving, caring for, training, etc., ... and we talk to God, and plead with God to do "His Part". His part of changing hearts and lives.

Gentle reminders this morning ... I am so thankful, and I am filled with joy. For this great God can do things much better than even our most noble efforts, our most eloquent words. And He tells us to pray without ceasing, to pray instead of worry ... and He will do the rest. May this be my daily habit this year, my moment-by-moment way of life.

"Don't worry about anything; 
instead, pray about everything.
 Tell God what you need,
 and thank Him for all He has done. 
Then you will experience God's peace, 
which exceeds anything we can understand.
 His peace will guard your hearts and minds 
as you live in Christ Jesus."
 (Philippians 4:6-7 NLT)

"Intercession ... that wonderful interaction between heaven and earth. There is a world with its needs, entirely dependent upon and waiting to be helped by intercession. And there is God in heaven with His all-sufficient supply for all those needs, waiting to be asked." (Andrew Murray)

Loving Lord, may this be a year of words, spoken to You ...



5 comments:

  1. Thank you for your encouragement!!! Love, Traci @ Ordinary Inspirations

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  2. I love that verse in Philippians! I need to be reminded of it and of the moment-by-moment prayers. Thanks Cherry for this inspiring post! I like how you change the look of your blog through the seasons. :)

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  3. Every bit of this spoke to me...I so very much appreciate you and think everything you say is wise and I see the life you've lived up until the words you write...

    praying for you all in NE, don't know if you are near the school with the shooting...so, so hard and sad...praying, praying...

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  4. This is so good, Cherry. I love all three of your words: Listen, Pray, Courage. And they all are related to each other. May God give you many blessings through them this year!

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