Pray and Pray - Being a Single Mom 14

Last week we considered a difficult topic – exasperating and difficult children. We all know they can be. And their difficulties can be fanned or calmed down depending on who their friends are.

The same is true for you. Who are your friends? As much as your children may be difficult, humility should encourage a quick addition – I know I am no different, I too can be exasperating and contentious. What can we then do to bring about as many opportunities for not only our own change, growth and nurturing, but that of our children too?

Please consider, there is no difference in our being discipled and the discipling of our children. We all need to learn to depend on the Lord, we are all in need of a Savior. We need to be sanctified, and we need fellowship. Most of the relational changes and growth we need to make can only be found in community. Either we seek out positive associations or we are left with negative ones. Which do you choose? What are you looking for?

Are you praying for your family – for yourself, and your children? Whom do you befriend to grow your family? Do you intentionally seek out friends who have children for the purpose of building relationships with – where your children can grow their characters through association and fellowship, and where you too will be grown? What do you pray for? Are you asking the Lord for this?

Your patterning of relationship building – who you associate with, what that looks like, sounds like, and how you interact with others will be copied by your children. Are you deliberate in building generational relationships? Ones that will influence you and your children too?

Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever (2 Corinthians 6:14-15).

How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments (Psalm 119:9-10).

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers (Psalm 1:1-3).

Take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children's children (Deuteronomy 4:9).

These words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes (Deuteronomy 6:6-8).

#prayer #singlemom