Read

2 Corinthians 9:8

Reflect

Recently I’ve been reflecting on what it looks like to follow Jesus day-to-day. How can our relationship with Jesus bring life and sustenance to our lives every single day? What does that look like on a normal Monday morning when the house stirs for the first time that week, to the chaotic mid-week activity, or the meltdown before bed on Thursday when everyone is over tired!

We often learn to trust God for the big things, and we develop that dependence on him when times are really hard and there’s nowhere left to turn. But God doesn’t just want us to lean on him in times of crisis. These words in 2 Corinthians have brought deep comfort, hope and life to my spirit as I’ve sought to bring God into our everyday normal:

“God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all you need, you will abound in every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8).

All things at all times! Everything we need!

I know, it doesn’t always feel like that though, does it?

In her book ‘Unshakeable’, Christine Caine wrote, “When you receive from God all you need rather than striving on your own for all you want, you will know peace.”

It’s so easy to rush ahead and think we know what we want out of the day. But what would it look like if we paused over that first cup of coffee, or during those brief moments while we’re cleaning our teeth, and asked God to give us what we need?

In Philippians 1:6 Paul says, “Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion.”

Parenting has its ups and downs, and so often it can be a mixture of both at the same time! One minute we’re creating precious memories as we spend quality time together, and the next someone’s bumped their head, someone else is throwing a tantrum over which movie to watch and the rest of us are riding the waves of emotion in the room!

We are doing ‘good work’ when it comes to raising our children, both practically and spiritually. God trusts us to be their mum, dad or carer in this season and the next. Our role is significant, it’s challenging but it has the potential to influence our children for years and years to come.

Let’s help our children learn how to see each day as a gift from God. Together as a family, we can learn to trust that God will give us all we need, in every circumstance. Let’s ask him to make us more aware of his blessings, and trust him to bring these good works (these years of parenting!) through to completion.

“The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him” (Psalm 37:23).

Remember

“Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6

Family idea

Each take an A4 piece of paper and write or draw one thing that you are struggling with this week. Now make paper aeroplanes out of your pieces of paper and have fun flying them around your house or garden. Talk about how God helps to make our struggles feel lighter and easier to carry.