Monday, November 6, 2017

Baby Shower devotional

I recently shared this devotional at a baby shower for a friend and thought I would share it here in case it might be helpful to anyone else.


Today I would like to share a few thoughts that I pray will be helpful and encouraging as you embark on this journey of motherhood once again.

As you know, being a mom brings many cares and concerns.  We care about making sure our babies are safe and healthy and well-fed.  We are concerned about whether they are growing and developing properly – physically, mentally, and emotionally.  Most of all, we are concerned about how they are doing spiritually, whether they are seeking and loving God with all their hearts.

All of this can be very draining and stressful.  It can tempt us to worry and fret and try to keep things together in our own strength.  It can rob us of our peace.  But Isaiah promises that God will keep us in perfect peace if our minds are stayed on him. (Isaiah 26:3)

To help you keep your mind on God, I have five words for you to remember.  They make up the word PEACE.  They are Prayer, Eternity, Alone, Consistency, and Enjoy.

The first is PRAYER.  1 Thessalonians 5:17 says, “Pray without ceasing.”  With a little thought and practice, we can use our various tasks throughout the day to prompt us to pray.  For example, as you are feeding your baby, you can pray that God will give her a hunger for God.  You can pray, as 1 Peter 2:20 says, that she will crave pure spiritual milk, that by it she may grow up into salvation. 
Use the scriptures that you read or hear as a basis for your prayers. 

When you are tempted to worry and fret, remember Philippians 4:6-7 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

The second word is ETERNITY.  Keep in eternity in view.  It is so easy to get caught up in the cares and concerns of this life.  It is easy to let our minds focus on the here and now – especially when you are in the midst of diapers and nighttime feedings; toddler tantrums and teenage worries.  But while these things need our attention, let us not lose sight of the long term… of eternity. 

Many things that we fret and worry about won’t matter much in 10, 20, or 50 years, much less in eternity.  As Paul says in Colossians 3:1-4,  “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.  Set your minds on things above, not on things that are on the earth.  For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.  When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.“
And remember the encouragement that Paul gives us in Galatians 5:9, “Let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”

The third word is ALONE.  Remember that you are NOT alone.  You have a husband who loves you.  This is his child too.  Remember to ask him (sweetly) for help.  Don’t try to do everything by yourself. Even if he doesn’t do things the way you would do them, let him…no, ENCOURAGE  him to be involved in the care of this baby.  

You also have a capable daughter, who I’m sure will be eager to help with her baby sister.  It will be good for establishing a strong relationship between them as sisters, and it will be good practice and training for a future day when God may bless her with children of her own.  And you have a church family who is here ready and willing to help you in any way that we can. 
Above all, remember that Jesus promised, “Behold I am with you always, to the end of the age.”  And “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

The fourth word is CONSISTENCY.  This word can be applied in many different areas.  I encourage you to try to have a consistent routine in your family and home life.  I’ve found that a strict schedule doesn’t always work and sometimes just increases the stress.  But a consistent routine helps everyone (baby included) to know what to expect, and this provides a sense of security and peace. 

Make sure your routine includes time for Bible reading and prayer – both for yourself personally, and as a family.  And be consistent in your discipline.  Let your yes be yes and your no be no.  And strive to make sure that you and your husband are on the same page – so that his “no” is also your “no” – and vice versa.

The last word is ENJOY.  Take time to enjoy your baby, and your family.  This may mean setting aside your to-do list in order to play or read for a few minutes when your daughters ask you to.  It may mean laughing at the mess on the floor when you’d rather cry, scream, or lecture.  It may mean choosing to be thankful when you’d rather complain.  As Paul says in Philippians 4:4, “Rejoice in the Lord always, again I will say rejoice.”

So, remember:
PRAY without ceasing
Keep ETERNITY in view.
Remember you are not ALONE.
Be CONSISTENT in routine and discipline.
ENJOY every moment.


And may “the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body.” (Colossians 3:15)

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