“My love for you makes me desire your highest good. How can love desire less? Anything that desires less is selfishness, not love. You may have others who will be more demonstrative but never who will love you more unselfishly than your mother or who will be willing to do or bear more for your good.”
Catherine Bramwell Booth
My Mom sends what I call ‘a mother’s blessing letter’ at the beginning of a new year. In it she affirms her love for me, who I am, and how proud she is of me. It’s a great start to a new year and gives me encouragement to be all who God has created me to be. For this year’s first blog post, the Lord directed me to write you a mother’s blessing. Even though I may not know you personally, I hope your heart will be encouraged and your walk with God called up higher as you focus on these truths.
A mother wants her children to go farther than she has gone. I desire my biological kids as well as my spiritual sons and daughters, to stand upon my shoulders and to reach beyond my spiritual and emotional maturity. I agree with the Apostle John when he wrote in III John 4, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” Prayerfully read the following Scriptures and ask the Holy Spirit to illuminate those He desires growth in regards to your speech, thoughts, actions and emotions this year.
Do not imitate what is evil but what is good. (III John 11)
Avoid godless chatter. (II Timothy 2:23)
Put no confidence in the flesh. (Philippians 3:3)
Do everything in love. (I Corinthians 16:14)
Be very careful, then, how you live-not as unwise but as wise. (Ephesians 5:15)
Forgive as the Lord forgave you. (Colossians 3:13)
Be holy in all you do. (I Peter 2:1)
Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. (Colossians 3:2)
Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt. (Colossians 4:6)
Live in peace with each other. (I Thessalonians 5:13b)
Do not love the world or anything in the world. (I John 2:15a)
Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to become angry. (James 1:19b)
I encourage you to take the exhortation the Holy Spirit highlighted and prayerfully focus obeying it this month or take one for each month of the year. Abiding by these Scriptural principles will cause you to look more like your heavenly Daddy and make this momma proud!
“The loveliest masterpiece of the heart of God is the heart of a mother.”
St. Therese of Lisieux
Relevant Reflections:
1. Which spiritual truth are you to spotlight this month? Ask God for His help to obey.
2. Give a mother’s (or father’s) blessing to someone this week.