Today we inaugurate a new president. Feelings, emotions and opinions are running very high in our country. There is a lot of fear surrounding our country’s future.
As parents, we have to remember that we are raising America’s future.
They are learning so much from what is going on in our world right now and how WE react!
Just one quick scroll through my news feed this morning and I am sad. Not for any political reasons, but because of the emotional state of our country. We can blame many things for the state of our country, but the reality is that we HAVE to take responsibility for how we allow circumstances to control us. Change starts with you and me.
What I see: boasting, arrogance, pride, sadness, fear, outrage, division, rebellion
What I hope for: humility, wisdom, hope, peace. love, unity, respect, stability
I wish I could say that Christians are rising above the fray to provide hope, but sadly they are just as swayed by the chaos. The enemy of our souls has us all right where he wants us… broken, hurting, confused, divided and paralyzed by fear. Guess what?
That is also a place where Jesus can do His BEST work… so let’s come to Him and let Him guide us back to fullness, confidence & stability.
There is only one thing that is unchanging, stable and secure in our world and that is… Jesus!
I want to raise kids that aren’t so easily swayed by their friends, by their circumstances, or by their emotions. I want them to be stable, secure and confident. This starts with ME! I can’t protect them from what they hear outside my home, but I can be intentional with what they hear inside my home. The only way that I know to do that is to ground them in the truth of God’s Word!
Galatians 5:25-26 says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.”
I love this quote from the book “Uninvited” by Lysa TerKeurst. “We must speak with honor in the midst of being dishonored. We must speak with peace in the midst of being threatened. We must speak of good things in the midst of a bad situation. We must be obedient to, trust, and believe God and let HIM boss around our contrary feelings.”
This is what Jesus did… this is the way He lived when He was on Earth! In Matthew 7:12 Jesus says, “So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you.”
How are we to be respected when we treat others with such disrespect? How are we to honor God when we can’t honor others? How are we to have peace if we only sow discord? How are we to build up if we only tear down?
Don’t misunderstand… this does NOT mean as Christians that we sit down and be quiet. In fact, it means quite the opposite.
We are called to handle this world as Jesus did!
We are called to speak out against injustices in our world and stand up for what is just and right, but we are called to do so with respect, love and hope. Acting out of bitterness, anger, resentment and fear only harm, rather than heal. This change starts with me.
We are called to be educated about what is going on in our world and take steps to activate change, but we are called to do so with respect, love and hope. Acting out of bitterness, anger, resentment and fear only harm, rather than heal. This change starts with me.
We are called to step out of our fear and step into making a difference in the world around us, but we are called to do so with respect, love and hope.
Healing can’t come through bitterness, anger, resentment and fear. Healing can only come through love, grace & the HOPE of Jesus Christ.
“The Lord is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid? – Psalm 27:1
If my feet are firmly planted in my identity in Christ and in His truth, then I am not easily swayed by the circumstances swirling around me. This does NOT mean that I don’t speak out against injustice. This does NOT mean that I don’t fight for what is right. It means that I DO those things from a confident, secure place armed with God’s wisdom, truth, respect and love!
My identity in Christ and my title as a Christian DEMANDS that I speak out against injustices with respect, love and wisdom! This is what I hope to impart to the two people in my house that are growing up to be world changers!
“When Pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.” Proverbs 11:2
If you have kids in your life, you are raising our country’s future, the change starts with you and me. They are watching our words. They are watching our actions. Let’s go out and raise our world changers to LOVE Jesus and to become more like Him!
What are you teaching your world changers right now? Share in the comments below. Let’s do this together!
Christy
Founder of The Praying Mom
This website was birthed out of Christy's passion to see women become intentional in their lives. She is passionate about helping moms discover their purpose in their homes, churches, communities & world!
