The Better Mom Devotional

by Ruth Schwenk

  Moses said, “Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else.”

  —EXODUS 4:13

  I can empathize with Moses. I don’t blame him for feeling a little overwhelmed and unqualified to go to Egypt. God commanded Moses to go to Pharaoh and tell him to let the enslaved Israelites go. The assignment seemed simple enough, except for the fact that Pharaoh was the leader of the most powerful empire on the planet. And Moses? He was a runaway Hebrew, a shepherd.

  But God promised Moses that He would go with him (Exodus 3:12). You would think that would be enough to satisfy Moses, but it didn’t. After a little more back-and-forth with God, Moses came up with the excuse that he wasn’t gifted enough for the job. “I am slow of speech and tongue,” Moses explained to God (Exodus 4:10). That didn’t get Moses out of the mission either.

  Finally, Moses made the biggest mistake of all. He suggested sending someone else! Exodus 4:13 records his words, “Pardon your servant, Lord. Please send someone else.” Up to this point, the Lord had been gracious and patient with Moses. God had reassured Moses with His presence and strength. But Moses’ last request changed everything.

  Exodus 4:14 says the “LORD’s anger burned against Moses.” It wasn’t until Moses tried to sidestep something God wanted him to do that God grew angry. As the story unfolds in Exodus, Moses did go to Pharaoh, and God worked powerfully through Moses to deliver the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. But don’t miss the importance of God’s reaction to Moses’ attempt to get out of going!

  Is God calling you to do something that you feel unqualified to do? Learn from Moses’ experience. Trust that you are exactly where God wants you! Don’t tell God to send someone else to do what He has called you to do.

  Father, I know that You love and accept me because of what Jesus has done for me. I want to honor You in all that I do, even when I feel as if the task is too big. Show me areas where I’m resisting Your call on my life, and give me strength to obey You. In Jesus’ name, amen.

  • In what area of your life do you feel overwhelmed by what God is calling you to do?

  • How is the story of Moses an encouragement to you?

  A Twist on Holiday Giving

  Command them to do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.

  —1 TIMOTHY 6:18

  Living on mission doesn’t have to be complicated. Each day is filled with ordinary opportunities to love and serve those around us. But the holidays are also a great opportunity for our families to have an impact on the world in simple, tangible ways.

  I love what my in-laws used to do every Christmas. Instead of buying presents for one another, each family member would donate a certain amount of money. Then they would give it to a family, a widow, a college student, or a neighbor—someone they knew who was in need. This was a practical and powerful way for their family to share the love of Christ with others around the holidays.

  Our world is full of opportunities for us to do good, and we are commanded “to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share.” The holidays are a great time of the year to intentionally reach out to friends, coworkers, neighbors, or someone from church who is in need. We don’t have to travel the globe to have an impact on the world. Hurting people all around us are waiting to hear about the God who loves them and to experience the hope of Christ.

  Think about what good you and your family can do together. Is there something you can do without so that you can help someone else? Get creative. Be generous. Do good. And just see what God does with one simple act of obedience!

  Father, You have given me far more than I deserve. Thank You for Your rich blessings in my life. You have saved me, forgiven me, and given me hope and peace. You have been so generous to me. Help me see my world differently. Give our family an opportunity to do good, be generous, and show Your love in a practical and tangible way. In Jesus’ name, amen.

  • What is one idea you have to bless someone else over the next holiday?

  • What can you begin doing without right now in order to be generous to someone else?

  Choosing Patience

  Love is patient.

  —1 CORINTHIANS 13:4

  Patience and parenting sometimes feel about as compatible as oil and water. As moms, it feels as if we are always hurrying somewhere and hurrying someone. Our impatience, though, reveals far more about our hearts than our hurried lives.

  I’ve found that my impatience is often a reflection of my own selfishness. I get upset and impatient when things don’t go my way. It creeps in when nothing is going smoothly or as planned—and it’s evidence of a me-centered life. Thankfully, the new heart God is creating in us through the Holy Spirit is marked by patience (Galatians 5:22).

  But the real reason we are to be patient with our kids is because God is patient with us. As much as we hurry in motherhood, God is in no hurry with us.

  The Bible describes God as patient: “The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love” (Psalm 103:8). God was not only patient for you to come to Him, but He is also patient for you to grow up in Him. The apostle Paul said that’s what true love is: “Love is patient.” It takes its time. It slows down. It waits. God’s love is patient, not pushy.

  In faith, be patient today, trusting that God is at work even when things don’t go the way you want. And be reminded that God is not in a hurry with you. He, in His love, is patiently and persistently changing you from the inside out. He takes joy in you, knowing that the work He started in you will be brought to completion.

  Lord, You are slow to anger and abounding in love. Thank You for being patient with me and for allowing me time to grow. Help me be a mom who reflects Your patience to my kids, showing them the kind of love You have for each of them. In Jesus’ name, amen.

  • How can God’s patience with you help you to be more patient with your kids?

  • How can knowing that God is patient with you be an encouragement in your spiritual growth?

  God Is with You

  The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

  —JOHN 1:14

  There we were, standing in the Home Depot parking lot and staring at the van. Then we turned and stared at the stack of lawn chairs we had just purchased. I was doing the calculations in my head. It was going to take a miracle for this big stack of chairs to fit into our van! How could something so large be corralled into such a tight space? I always seem to underestimate the space needed to fit such purchases in the car, but believe it or not, we made it work.

  In many ways, this is the story of God coming to us in Jesus. The disciple John wrote that “the Word became flesh.” The greatness and bigness of God the Son squeezed into time and space and a human body. That’s a far greater miracle than managing to get a massive stack of lawn chairs packed into a minivan. The glory and power of God are beyond measure, yet He humbly chose to become small enough to come to us.

  I love this reminder. I need this reminder. My children do too. God is not so big that He would ever forget us. God was and is and always will be with us. While God is holy and great beyond imagination, He made Himself small. He came near us to love us, to save us, and to allow us to know Him more deeply. No need or concern is too small to take to God. From start (Matthew 1:23) to finish (Matthew 28:20), Jesus is God with us. He has not, and He will not, leave us. He is big, but not so big that He would ever forget us.

  Lord, You are worthy of all of my praise. You are King of kings and Lord of lords. There is no one like You. And yet You care about me. You know me. Thank You for not being too big to forget about me. In Jesus’ name, amen.

  • Where do you need the reminder that God is not so big that He will forget you?

  • What are one or two ways you can help your children to know that God will not forget them?

  When Anxiety Is Overwhelming

&nbs
p; When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.

  —PSALM 94:19

  It’s comforting to me to know that many of the men and women of faith in the Bible wrestled with fear. “Anxiety was great” within them, just as it can be within me.

  As moms, we know exactly what it means to console a frightened or anxious child. Sometimes the anxiety is for good reason: a child is overwhelmed with homework or is worried about making new friends. Other times the anxiety is unwarranted, such as a fear of the dark. Whatever fuels it, the anxiety can feel “great” within our kids, just as it can within us. So as a mom who has experienced anxiety, you know what it means to console. Your calming, reassuring, and encouraging words and presence brings comfort where there is anxiety.

  I love Psalm 94:19 because it reminds me we have a Father who offers His consolation to us. He replaces our anxiety with joy. He quiets our fears with His presence. He whispers to us His words of truth and encourages us with His faithful promises. And most of all, He gently turns our eyes back to His own Son, as if to say, “I didn’t forsake Him; I won’t forsake you. If you are in Him, I am with you.”

  Is anxiety great within you today? Do your circumstances seem impossible? Does the future seem overwhelming? Has fear stifled your faith, stopping you in your tracks? Whatever you’re facing today, be encouraged that in Christ, God is with you. You have a Father who is good. Whatever feels as if it is spinning out of control is in His hands. Be reminded that He is wise, loving, and faithful! Let your anxious thoughts be turned to joy because of God’s consolation.

  Lord, You are my Father, but You are also my King. You reign and rule over all things. Take my anxiety and turn it into trust. Replace my fear with faith. Console me with Your promises. I know that there is nothing in my life that has not first passed through Your love. Help me rest in that truth today. In Jesus’ name, amen.

  • Why is anxiety great within you right now?

  • What are one or two things you can do today to allow God’s love and truth to console you?

  Every Friend Needs Encouragement

  Encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness.

  —HEBREWS 3:13

  When I opened the envelope, I had no idea what was inside. But I love gifts, so just the mention from my friend that she had something for me made my heart swell with anticipation and joy. A beautiful note awaited me, and her kind and thoughtful words provided tremendous encouragement during an especially stressful season. Not to mention she included a gift card to my favorite coffee shop!

  Encouragement is a powerful weapon against weariness. It’s no wonder that the Bible so often tells us to encourage one another. I love that Hebrews 3:13 tells us to encourage one another “daily.” Why? Because we need encouragement every single day. But biblical encouragement is unique in that our kind, thoughtful, and uplifting words are meant to lead someone closer to the Lord. In the Old Testament, Jonathan didn’t just encourage or strengthen David; Jonathan helped his friend “find strength in God” (1 Samuel 23:16).

  Biblical encouragement can express love, show gratitude, and remind someone of God’s promises or truth. Encouragement fills others with the faith to keep going, to persevere in a challenging season. It can come in the form of a handwritten note, a conversation over lunch or coffee, a quick text, or a card like the one I received. Whatever form it takes, encouragement is sure to fill a friend who is running on empty.

  When is the last time you encouraged someone? Have you recently texted a friend, written a note, or sent a message to affirm her as a mom? Don’t let another day go by—today, right now—let someone know you are thinking of her and how grateful you are for her!

  Father, thank You for the gift of friendship. Show me today which of my friends needs to be encouraged. Help me be aware of people in my life who are running on empty or feeling discouraged or alone. Let my words be a simple way to give them strength and joy in this season. In Jesus’ name, amen.

  • When has the encouragement of another friend or family member filled you with strength and joy?

  • Who is one person you can encourage today?

  Open Your Home and Your Heart

  Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling.

  —1 PETER 4:9

  One of my favorite things about the city we live in is the food. We have cuisine from all over the world. Eating out and trying new food is something we do often. But I also enjoy having people in our home. We love to open our home and share our favorite foods—and our hearts—with people we love.

  Have you ever noticed that Jesus seemed to love food too? How often He broke bread with someone? He frequently went to someone’s home, shared a meal or a drink with people, and engaged them in conversation. Jesus gave us great examples of how God can use the ordinary act of eating together to make a difference in the world.

  Jesus ate with tax collectors at the home of Levi (Luke 5:27–31). He shared a meal in the home of Mary and Martha (Luke 10:38–42). He even invited Himself over to Zacchaeus’s house for dinner (Luke 19:1–10)! For Jesus, sharing a meal was a key opportunity for mission to happen in God’s kingdom. Over and over again we see Him loving and serving those around Him through the act of hospitality.

  Think about that for a moment. We can live on mission, have an impact on the world, right from home. Throughout the Bible, hospitality was seen as a primary way for Christians to open their hearts to others. Following their example, we can open our homes not to impress others, but to serve them.

  As we open our homes and our hearts to neighbors, friends, or coworkers, God may use us to help them open their hearts to Jesus. This ordinary act can allow God to do extraordinary things!

  Father, help me be willing to open my home to love and serve other people. Give me the peace and reassurance that my home doesn’t have to be perfect in order for Your presence to be felt by others. Please use the simple, ordinary act of sharing a meal to make an extraordinary difference in the lives of those who join us. In Jesus’ name, amen.

  • Why is it important to remember that hospitality is not for impressing people, but for serving them?

  • In what ways does hospitality provide a great opportunity to love and serve someone else?

  Discipline, Not Punishment

  No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

  —HEBREWS 12:11

  What do you think of when you hear the word discipline? For a lot of people, the word discipline evokes memories of being grounded for two weeks, getting sent to your room, or worse yet, spankings. Whatever you think of, it’s usually not good!

  Maybe that’s because when we hear the word, we generally think of being punished instead of teaching and training. There is a big difference between the two. Being punished focuses on penalizing a child. A child does something wrong and is immediately scolded, lectured, or dealt a series of consequences. Such punishment is designed to change a child’s behavior. But biblically, discipline is far more than just penalizing a child.

  Discipline is designed to be carried out in a loving relationship. While there are still consequences for the child, discipline focuses more on corrective teaching and training. It might feel painful at the time, but in the long run, biblical discipline sets up our kids for growth and maturity in the years to come. When we slow down, are patient, teach, instruct, and hold our kids accountable, we are doing far more for them than penalizing them for bad behavior. We are helping to shape their hearts.

  When God created the family, He gave us as parents the authority and privilege of loving and leading our children toward a growing relationship with Christ. Ask God daily to help you train and teach your child, focusing on loving and godly discipline rather than on punishment.

  Father, Your Word says that You discipline me out of Your love for me.
You lovingly teach me, train me, and correct me in order to grow me. Help me not to parent out of anger or frustration. Give me Your heart for my kids. Teach me to be a mom who disciplines by lovingly correcting and instructing them toward a relationship with You. In Jesus’ name, amen.

  • Do you tend to punish or discipline? What are the differences between the two?

  • What can help you focus more on discipline instead of punishment?

  Choosing Wisely

  Jonah ran away from the LORD and headed for Tarshish . . . to flee from the LORD.

  —JONAH 1:3

  I’ve run from God a time or two. Fortunately, I have yet to be swallowed by a fish. Jonah is one guy who wasn’t so fortunate! If you’ve ever read the Old Testament book of Jonah, then you are familiar with his story.

  God told Jonah to go to Nineveh and preach there. He wanted Jonah to call the people of that city to turn away from their sins and turn to God. Instead of heading to Nineveh, though, Jonah decided “to flee from the LORD” (Jonah 1:3). He got on a boat and sailed for Tarshish, a city in the opposite direction from Nineveh. Along the way, Jonah was thrown from the boat and swallowed by a large fish. Not exactly what Jonah was expecting when he walked through the “open door” of that boat sailing for Tarshish!

  Jonah’s story is a good reminder for us that not all open doors are opened by God. God could have easily closed the door to Tarshish, making it impossible for Jonah to run, but He didn’t. He allowed Jonah to choose. Jonah saw two options: Nineveh or Tarshish. And he picked the wrong one. Jonah quickly found out that not every open door is God’s calling. Sometimes those open doors are actually opportunities to run from God instead of toward God.