Something just happened today that has burdened my heart to pray for all our children!
A sister in Christ, who is a single mother, lives in my neighborhood and my heart truly hurts for her right now. I can't imagine how difficult it must be for her to raise her children in the Way they should go....alone. I know she's not alone, and that our Lord is always with her, but I do know that God allows challenges in the lives of single parents (different challenges), just as our gracious and good Father allows challenges and trials to take place in families with both parents in the home.
She is going through a very difficult thing, expressing "tough love" with one of her boys and truly, my heart hurts for her. I completely agree with her and support her, but I still can't help but want to just hold her for a bit and let her cry......or something. She's such a tough lady, and I imagine you'd have to be, as a single parent, but I know that she's hurting and I so much want to give her a safe place to just "let go" and rest. I'm sure she's doing that with God and I know His lap is a much better place than my arms so I'm grateful for that! BUT, that doesn't mean that we are not Jesus' hands and feet and should just say, "Well, God's got her, so I guess I don't need to do anything." I know that's just from the enemy who would LOVE for her to be kept alone so he can get to her....but I won't let him do that!
So, I'm going to reach out to her and see if maybe I can take her out to dinner or just sit with her in a quiet place and listen.
A sister in Christ, who is a single mother, lives in my neighborhood and my heart truly hurts for her right now. I can't imagine how difficult it must be for her to raise her children in the Way they should go....alone. I know she's not alone, and that our Lord is always with her, but I do know that God allows challenges in the lives of single parents (different challenges), just as our gracious and good Father allows challenges and trials to take place in families with both parents in the home.
She is going through a very difficult thing, expressing "tough love" with one of her boys and truly, my heart hurts for her. I completely agree with her and support her, but I still can't help but want to just hold her for a bit and let her cry......or something. She's such a tough lady, and I imagine you'd have to be, as a single parent, but I know that she's hurting and I so much want to give her a safe place to just "let go" and rest. I'm sure she's doing that with God and I know His lap is a much better place than my arms so I'm grateful for that! BUT, that doesn't mean that we are not Jesus' hands and feet and should just say, "Well, God's got her, so I guess I don't need to do anything." I know that's just from the enemy who would LOVE for her to be kept alone so he can get to her....but I won't let him do that!
So, I'm going to reach out to her and see if maybe I can take her out to dinner or just sit with her in a quiet place and listen.
"What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, 'Go in peace, be warmed and filled,' without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead."
~ James 2:14-17
In the same way, it's wrong for me to tell my neighbor that I will pray for her, yet, not attempt to do anything to bring her any comfort from her trials.
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too."
~ 2 Corinthians 1:3-5
Please pray for my neighbor, her family and for all our children! Pray that Satan be stripped of his influence on our children! And ask our Sovereign, and good Father God, who IS in Heaven to give us strength and endurance to battle for our kids on our knees; and to give us wisdom so that we may quickly recognize the schemes of our enemy so that our children are not deceived and led astray to do Satan's will.
Holy and gracious Father God, You know how my heart hurts right now for my sister. I don't know what she's going through as I am not in her shoes. But You Savior, understand and intimately know all things in her life...in ALL our lives. I thank You for that! I am so grateful that You meet with us in a place that Satan can not enter, nor have any influence. I thank You that You speak with Your children with holy words that Satan can not understand. Bless Your good and awesome Name Father! Help us Lord! Equip us Father so that we can fight our adversary, the devil on behalf of our children! Bless Your Name, Father! Be glorified as we march into battle in the Name of Jesus Christ.
