Do you ever feel powerless? Powerless to be the Christian mom you know God wants you to be. Lacking the momentum to move your life in the direction of your calling. In the past, I have felt too overwhelmed to push forward on anything beyond the basic tasks of working, housekeeping and childcare. My longing was for my life to be more than just the essentials. I just could not seem to get things moving on my own.
As a Christian, I acted out my religious activities, but there was little power. It has only been in the last few years, as my relationship with Christ has deepened, that I have been filled with the power of the Holy Spirit. It was always available, but I lacked the faith to embrace it. Where I needed to be stepping out in spiritual power, I was paralyzed in shame. The Holy Spirit was waiting for me to take action so He could supercharge my efforts. In His embrace, I finally found the power to move forward.
Power to be a Godly Mom
Most of us desire to be godly mothers and a spiritual example to our children. In our own power, this can be overwhelming. Only through the power of the Holy Spirit can you embrace holiness and radiate the love of Christ into their lives. In I Peter 1:3, we read that “His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him…” The Lord will equip you to be the example you want to be. The tools are already available to you. Step out in faith and trust to embrace them.
It is not just an act of nature that you are mother to your children. It is not a surprise to God that you are raising them without a husband. God knew your story before you were born. He has prepared you to parent your children. Now, the Holy Spirit stands ready to breathe strength and energy into your work. The Spirit knows the hearts of your children even better than you. He will guide you in how to minister to their needs and bring them into their place in the kingdom.
Power for Your Mission
The Lord has called each of us to a specific mission in the kingdom. We can only fully accomplish that mission through the power of the Holy Spirit. You might have enough talent or knowledge on your own to push something out there, but the earth-shaking missions are powered by the Holy Spirit.
In the first chapter of Acts, Jesus leaves His followers with the promise that the Holy Spirit is coming. For three and a half years, these disciples had traveled with Jesus. They had eaten with Him, listened to His messages and were witnesses to His miracles. Even with all this knowledge and experience with Jesus, when the moment of trial came, they ran. But, when the Holy Spirit came, they were transformed. I like to think that Jesus spent three and half years stuffing them with kindling. When the Holy Spirit came at Pentecost, He lit that kindling, and it roared into a raging fire.
Before Pentecost, the disciples lacked the courage and strength to launch the message of Jesus out into the world. We see the example of Peter denying Christ three times during the crucifixion trial. Peter’s failure is spotlighted to show us his transformation. He was the preacher at Pentecost proclaiming to the crowd in Jerusalem that the resurrected Jesus was the Messiah. Before he was filled with the Spirit, Peter was afraid of common people gathered around a fire in the high priest’s courtyard. Afterwards, he did not care who heard him.
Lighting the Power of Transformation
When you accept Christ, the Holy Spirit comes into your life and transforms you. II Corinthians 5:17 tells us that “if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come. The old has gone, the new is here.” That new self “is being renewed in knowledge in the image of the Creator.” (Colossians 3:10) When you dig into the Word and dedicate yourself to prayer, these actions fan the fire of the Holy Spirit. You are inviting Him deeper and deeper into your life. The Holy Spirit is filling you with revelation to understand His Word and deepen the love you have for Him.
It is just so amazing how the Holy Spirit takes a common person and transforms them into a powerful child of God, an effective intercessory prayer warrior, and a light that draws others to the Savior. He can take a single mom, with a heart for God, and strengthen her to face all the trials of making a living and raising children alone in this world. He can take your life and transform it into something that brings glory and honor to His name.
Darling Daughter, God wants you to have this power. The Lord is waiting for you to step out in faith and embrace this gift He has for you. Let the Holy Spirit ignite the power of God in your life.
