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August 9, 2017 |
“But now, thus says the LORD, your Creator, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel, ‘Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine!’” Isaiah 43:1 (NASB)
I have vivid memories from my days as a little girl of my grandmother sitting quietly on the edge of her bed with tears streaming down her face.
I would tiptoe toward her room and watch as her lips moved while her words were void of sound. She never looked sad or mad, but she always looked serious, and I knew not to disturb her.
My initial response was concern, and I couldn’t wait for her to finish so I could check on her and make sure everything was OK. Without fail, when I asked if she was OK, she assured me that there was nothing to be concerned about because she was “just talking to Jesus.”
I never quite understood what she meant or why she chose to talk to Jesus. And despite her response, I knew everything was not OK. The truth is, my grandmother had a lot of things she could cry about. Outside the walls of our row home in the inner city of Baltimore, Md., was a community infested with drugs, violence and hopelessness. I recognized it as much as I could sense anything.
But not so with my grandmother.
I never once received even a hunch of despair in my grandmother’s countenance. I now know why. My grandmother was determined that the very present and tangible realities she faced would not be the point of focus for our family, but instead we would trust in the love of the One to whom we belonged. Day by day, she put our lives in His hands.
I will never know every detail of the conversations she had with Jesus, but I know her daily tears represented the hope and joy that rested in His love and the saving grace she received in her adult years.
She chose to talk to Jesus because she believed His promises in Isaiah 43:1 and throughout the Bible — that God not only called her by name, but He called her His own:
“But now, thus says the LORD, your Creator, O Jacob, And He who formed you, O Israel, ‘Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine!’”
Today, as a mom of four daughters, I reflect on my grandmother’s faithfulness, and I thank God for the traces of her trust in Jesus that run deep in my own life. I’m reminded that her conversations with God mattered and impacted my life. Her words and her commitment are a legacy that now serve as fuel in my pursuit of the Savior for me, my daughters and our family.
As a mother, wife and woman, if I’m not careful I can allow my circumstances to dictate my outlook. There are many days when it seems easier to throw in the towel and wallow in the mud. But my grandmother’s witness is a reminder to me that others are depending on my prayers. My children are watching and are following my lead in understanding what it looks like to live as God’s daughter.
So I’m choosing to talk to Jesus, following in my grandmother’s footsteps. I’m determined to focus on His goodness and rest in the fact that I am His.
Ultimately, I pray my conversations with Jesus guide my family’s focus and continually point my daughters to His love. Will your kids (or other young people in your sphere of influence) see you talking to Jesus?
Heavenly Father, there’s something so comforting in knowing that You know my name and that I am Yours. Oftentimes the circumstances around me look hopeless and overwhelming, but please help me to focus on You — on Your goodness and mercy, Your truth and faithfulness. May Your Spirit be my guide as I trust in You. Lord, may my conversations and walk with You speak of Your presence in my home. I pray that my relationship with and trust in You serves as a root of my family’s growth, and that we remain grounded in Your love. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
TRUTH FOR TODAY:
Hebrews 13:7, “Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.” (NIV)
Psalm 121:1-2, “I lift up my eyes to the mountains — where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.” (NIV)
RELATED RESOURCES:
Discover how to entrust your daughter (or a friend’s) to God, and raise her to develop a strong faith and healthy relationships with the book She Is Yours: Trusting God as You Raise the Girl He Gave You, by Jonathan and Wynter Pitts.
CONNECT:
Don’t miss For Girls Like You, a Christ-focused resource ministry for girls and the parents who raise them.
Enter to WIN a copy of She is Yours by Jonathan and Wynter Pitts. In celebration of this book, Wynter’s publisher is giving away 5 copies! Enter to win by leaving a comment here. {We'll randomly select 5 winners and email notifications to each one by Monday, August 14, 2017.}
REFLECT AND RESPOND:
Which area of your life do you need to talk to Jesus about today — trusting He hears you, knows you and calls you by name? Commit to making Him the focal point of your situation and your family’s identity.
© 2017 by Wynter Pitts. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 31 Ministries thanks Harvest House Publishers for their sponsorship of today's devotion.
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