Mama’s Faith, Either You’ve Got It Or You Don’t

It’s quiet and the world is wet with the April showers of downpours. As I look out the window into the dreary mist, I feel the restlessness rise up in my spirit once again. Suddenly, I know what it’s like to be like my five-year-old and struggling to ‘nap’. Breathe in…breathe out…the seconds tick by. And then I hear Him.

“You will find rest in Me.”

More silence, followed by another whisper.

“You will find trust and peace once again.”

I melt into the moment. Being in God’s presence is more than I can stand. It’s like standing at the edge of the ocean, as the tide rolls forth, crashing in and over me. So powerful, so consuming, so terrifying, so wanted. This is what I have been missing. This is what faith is about. Being in His presence, surrendering all, asking to be filled up and poured out. It’s a new life.

It Isn’t About Me & It’s Not a Routine

This is what I want to teach my children. I want to teach them that following Jesus isn’t just going to church on Sundays, saying prayers before we eat, and slapping a fish shaped bumper sticker on my suburban. It isn’t about shopping in the christian-only section, listening to K-Love or My Bridge Radio. Nor is it about interpreting the Bible to fit what we believe or making His word work for our lifestyles.

It’s about following Him when life gets tough. It’s about following Him on the straight and narrow–even when no one else is. It’s about making our relationship with God above all. There’s no room for compromise. There’s no room for the promise of comforts. There’s only room for walking side by side with Jesus for a lifetime.

So how did I get here? To hunger for Him and realize my restlessness is because my spirit isn’t connected to His. How did I get to the point where my relationship is seemingly was a string of Sundays instead of Jesus being on the throne in my heart?

Do you know what I’m talking about? Have you been there? Your first love was Jesus and you wanted to shout to the world you were His. Suddenly the days begin to blur together as you get married, have kids, have more kids, raise those kids, find a career, balance your passions and the PTA. In the drama of life, Jesus gets forgotten–left on the shelf within the pages of your Bible–not your heart.

Tips To Keep Your Flame Bright

• Church isn’t just something we do on Sundays. Remind yourself and your children that its a place to worship with other believers. Its a chance to meet with God and rejoice.
• Start and end your day with your thoughts centered on Him. We awaken our kids with the phrase, “Get rolling, it”s the day God has planned for you.”
• Pray. Start your day, dedicating and surrendering it to God. His plans are better than wiping crumbs off the counter-tops–trust me.
• Find a Scripture, focus on it for the day. Zero in on a particular word of that Scripture, it’s your catch phrase that will help remind you of the Scripture and bring your thoughts back to God.
• Ask God for a deeper relationship, pray in front of your children. This will teach them its not just empty words and that God does answer prayer.
• Take your children with you on a missions trip. It can be something as simple as gathering old clothes and taking them to Goodwill or to a family you know in need. Take meals to an elderly resident. This step alone with teach you and your children that we are all in the body of Christ, we are His hands and feet.

In today’s world, everyone is searching to fill that restlessness in their hearts. I’ve been there one times too many. Everyone has a different perspective on faith and that’s okay. Rejoice in the difference but ask God for the truth. Ask God to show you what His word says, ask Him for the difference of what someone says and what He means. Faith isn’t a religion, it’s a relationship and it begins with you.