..::Nehemiah Moms::..

In the last entry I wrote about walking uprightly before God and being passionate about having a clear conscience before Him.  What does this look like in a mom's life?  Here are some examples:

A friend asks you to watch her little one for the morning.  You had planned to meet with another friend at the park so you ask if you can bring this extra little one along too.  The mom says sure, but then forgets to leave the carseat with you when she leaves.  What do you do?  You were really looking forward to being with that other friend!  And your kids are begging to get going.

Or here's another one.  Your kids were especially slow in getting dressed and into the car and now you're late for MOPS.  You HATE being late and you notice that you've exceeded the speed limit.  What do you do?  Will you respond as many in the world do?  

These are the little opportunities to practice righteousness, to strengthen our spiritual muscles.  We are children of the King of the Universe, so we are held to a much higher standard of conduct.  But we also have access to the Throne.  So we have power, through prayer, to meet these situations differently.  For instance, in the first example, instead of saying, "Oh, it's no big deal, the park's only a couple miles away, I'll even have my child be the one without the car seat," choose righteousness!  Turn to the Lord and say, "Lord, I'm really looking forward to meeting at the park, but I don't have an extra car seat.  What can I do?"   Or in the second situation, choose righteousness!  Take your foot off the accelerator!  Then talk to the Lord, "Lord, take captive my impatience.  I won't speed, it's illegal."  

 I believe God actually puts us in these kinds of situations to see where our hearts will turn: to Him to work out the situation, or to unrighteousness.  God delights to show Himself strong if we will turn to Him when we're perplexed or tempted to sin.  He LOVES to show us how He brilliantly can solve a sticky situation.  But we must turn our hearts to Him in prayer: "Lord, what should I do?" That's when God will step in.  Maybe He'll remind the mother, and she'll bring back the carseat for you.  Or He'll remind you that your oldest is now old enough for that booster seat in the back of the garage, leaving the other seat for the friend's child.  Or maybe even, you trust God and concede to stay home, knowing it would be illegal to take the children without enough carseats, and while staying home you receive an important phone call you would have missed and you praise God profusely that your friend didn't leave the car seat.   See what I mean?  

God is faithful.  He not only commands us to walk uprightly before Him, but He helps us do it when we turn to Him.  With each intentional act of righteousness, not only are we strengthening our spirits, but we are maintaining a clear and sweet relationship with God, and allowing Him opportunity to show Himself strong for us. 

Be brave, choose righteousness.