It's bigger than me
As we kicked off our new fall routine this morning at home, including starting to homeschool our oldest son, I feel like I've joined the wave of parents with kids in school. Wow! When did I get here? When did my 7lbs4oz baby boy turn into a rambunctious 4 year old?! The truth is that life is busy in our home with 3 small kiddos. It's cooking, cleaning, learning, playing, reading, napping. It's so easy to get caught up in the busyness that is the American family and fall into the trap of self-focused living.
But the truth is my family is just one family in a world of billions of people. We are one little facet of a world that doesn't revolve around my daily schedule. This life is actually not about me at all. No, this whole life is HIS story.
It's the story of God. It's the incredible story of redemption he has been writing since the beginning.
For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be the glory forever! Amen - Romans 11:36
The truth is that I exist to bring God glory in my life. My life is not my own and I need to remember that. When I live with my days centered around me, I don't need to think of others. But when I see myself as part of God's story of redemption, when I see myself as a child of God, purchased with his precious blood for a PURPOSE in HIS plan, then I realize I can't just focus on me, and my family. I need to keep it all in perspective. Yes, I need to care for my family, teaching and guiding my little ones, but not forgetting the billions of other people around the globe.
And guess what? If I forget about these people, I'm missing out on, not only seeing the GLORY OF GOD being displayed in this world's brokenness, but I lose the opportunity God has given me to be a part of it!
Therefore if you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any common sharing in the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and of one mind. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others. - Philippians 2:1-4
We bring glory to God by being faithful to God's commands. While we walk along this path of womanhood, let's overcome the temptation to limit our love, compassion and efforts to only our family. I know many of us can't pick up and head down to the inner city right now (during nap time) or fly over to Syria to help refugee children, but that doesn't mean God doesn't want us to care about those places. We can start with prayer, right now! We can start by asking God to soften our hearts and give us compassion for the hurting and lost. We can ask him to reveal to us ways we can help.
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” -Matthew 28:18-20
Will you join with my in prayer today:
- For the millions of children caught in the Syrian refugee crisis who will not have the opportunity to go "back to school"...
- For the millions of women and children trapped in human trafficking...
- For the kids in foster care who live in constant fear and uncertainty...
- For the poor needing food, clean water and basic medicine...
I could go on and on. What is God leading you to pray about today?