Your Kingdom Come, Your Will Be Done: Intermission

My friend, Renee Swope, invited me to post a story on her blog that would encourage mothers on their journey with God. If you are visiting my blog today because you read my story, I am so glad you stopped by! And for my sweet blogging friends who visit so faithfully, you can find my story posted below.

Renee and I work together at Proverbs 31 Ministries and serve together on the Proverbs 31 Speaker Team. Renee is doing this series in preparation for an event she will be speaking at in September in Dallas, Texas (my second home – we moved here from Dallas 10 years ago). It is the D6 Conference for Parents. To learn more, please visit Renee’s blog at http://www.reneeswope.blogspot.com/.

If you have been following my blog the last few days, God’s timing is perfect. The truths in the story I sent to Renee speak directly to my last post (and the post to come) on the power and authority of standing on and praying God’s Word. The story testifies to the Truth that the power of prayer and the authority of God’s Word not only can but will change hearts, yours and those of your children.

Never forget our God is a God of change. Although He is unchanging, He desires change for us. His plan is for us to become more and more like Him. It is His promise that when we submit our hearts, our homes, and our families to Him, lives will be changed. We will find rest, peace, and contentment. We will become the mothers He desires for us to be.

Enjoy my story below…and if you know me and my sweet Lauren you know God has changed us much! All praise, glory, and honor to God!!

Do you need an extra measure of Patience today? Do you need Peace in the midst of your hectic routine? Do you need Kindness because your tongue speaks otherwise?

One day after church our family took a drive to the lake. Moments into our ride, my two children (Lauren and Bo) morphed into creatures I did not recognize. It began as simple bickering that exploded into an all out brawl. As the volume increased, the distance between the creatures decreased, and they began to push and shove each other.

When the female (older by four years) flicked the male creature, my husband completely lost his patience. He gave the female creature one and only one opportunity to apologize and forbid her from speaking another word until we arrived at our destination. She, of course, would not apologize and began to whine and complain why everything was not her fault.

With no warning he pulled to the side of the road and ordered her out of the car. I thanked the Lord we were on a deserted road, near the top of a mountain, away from any other human life.As I saw what was going on between them escalate, I prayed. At that moment, John 10:10 came to me: “The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

I jumped from the car and asked my husband if I could take a walk with Lauren. He reluctantly acquiesced.We walked over to a swing overlooking the lake. I began to share with her the verse God had given me. I spoke of Satan’s name, “Diablos,” meaning divider. I explained how Satan desires to divide families, and he commits his life to bringing all out assaults against families who love God and seek to make Him the center of their homes.

I did not want to frighten her, but I warned her how Satan goes after those who love God. I shared how I believed at this moment he was going after her. But then I spoke Truth to her. I shared that her heart belonged to God and had since the moment she accepted Christ as her Savior. I began to pray, praising God for who He is and for our family, standing in the authority we had in Jesus’ name and rebuking Satan and His power in Jesus’ name. As I was praying, I opened my eyes and saw the anger and pride pouring out of my daughter. Her stiff-necked, arched-back body went limp as tears cascaded in a continuous flow down her cheeks. She was broken, humble, and tender. Before my eyes, she morphed back into the beautiful young woman I knew.It was an incredible moment in our relationship.

How did this happen? ABIDING. I had recently committed my mothering to God. I had spent significant time in His Word, praying and studying, claiming promises and claiming Truths. As I invited Him into our family, my mothering changed. I was truly able to speak Truth in Love into situations without raising my voice, without “losing it.” Our home, our family began to change because God first changed me.