PROCLAIMING MOTHERS

“The Lord gave the word: great was the company of those that published it”
(Psalm 68:11).

This is the seventh and last point in our series of PURPOSEFUL mothers.

7. PROCLAIMING MOTHERS

Psalm 68:11 (NASB) says: “The Lord gives the command; The women who proclaim the good tidings are a great host.” The Young’s Literal translation calls the women “female proclaimers.”

Let’s look at it a little more closely. The word “company” is the Hebrew word tsaba and means “a mass of persons, especially organized for war, an army, battle, soldiers.” Therefore, those who proclaim the word of the Lord are a great army.

The next question we must ask is who is this great army? The participle “those who announce the good tidings” (hammebasseroth) is feminine plural in the Hebrew. Therefore, female proclaimers or heraldresses is correct according to the original.

But now we are in a state of tension. Does this Scripture release women from the home to be pastors and evangelists? What about Scriptures on the other end of the scale that exhort women to be “keepers at home” and embrace their mothering role?

We often come across the “tension of truth” in the Bible. We notice paradoxes—two apparently contradictory things, and yet because God’s Word is divinely inspired, both are true.

Tozer writes: “Truths that are compelled to stand alone never stand straight and are not likely to stand long. Truth is one, but truths are many. Scriptural truths are interlocking and interdependent. A truth is rarely valid in isolation.”

Another commentator writes: “No matter how much two teachings of Scripture may appear to be contradictory, they are not. They may be paradoxical, but they can never be contradictory . . . Denial of one set of biblical truth in order to affirm another is never an option for the faithful student of Scriptures.”

Therefore, as we pursue the fullness of God’s truth it all becomes clear. The Bible clearly states that God ordains women to embrace motherhood, home, and family. He created them for this purpose. Without mothers, the world stops. Without godly mothers building strong families the nation weakens. Mothers in the home are the foundation of a strong and great society.

But women do not have to be silent. It is a known fact that women talk more than men. We are the teachers of our children from the day they are born and onwards. We talk to them from morning ‘til night. When we go out to the supermarket and to the many activities we become part of as our children grow, we can take every opportunity to proclaim the good news—the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ, a word of cheer to someone who is cast down, or encouragement to a fellow mother. We pray for those who are sick and need uplifting.

You don’t stop proclaiming because you are a mother. You open your mouth and proclaim God’s truths wherever you are, in the home or out and about. You drop the seeds of God’s truth all day long. The opportunities are constant and endless.

The word basar from hammebasseroth means “to be fresh, rosy, full of cheer, to announce, to bring good news, to tell glad tidings, publish, to be a messenger.”

What does it mean to be a female messenger? To be fresh with the presence of the Lord. To be healthy and happy, both spiritual and physically. To be full of joy as we mother our children. The anointing of joy upon our lives as we go out into society with our children is our greatest testimony to the world. The enemy has no argument against a joyful and cheerful mother.

We should always be ready with a new testimony of God’s goodness, His provision, and leading in our lives. We don’t proclaim sad news. We announce good news! The goodness of God. The salvation of our God.

Isaiah 52:7 and Nahum 1:15 talk about “the feet of him that brings good tidings." You drop God’s words of truth wherever your feet take you—in your kitchen and trotting off to get groceries.

Psalm 96:2: “Sing unto the LORD, bless his name; show forth (basar) his salvation from day to day.” Every day you show forth the salvation of God to your children. It’s a daily thing.

You are both mother and proclaimer! They fit together like a glove. You don’t have to leave your highest calling of motherhood to be God’s messenger. You are His messenger in the midst of your mothering. IT’S ALL PART OF YOUR MOTHERING CAREER.

Blessings from Nancy Campbell

PRAYER:

“Thank you, dear Father, that You make Your purposes clear in Your living Word. Thank You for giving me a realm where I can nurture and train my children and daily be a messenger of Your truth and revelation to my children and all the people I meet. Help me to be a faithful and anointed messenger. Amen.”

AFFIRMATION:

I am a Mothering Messenger from the Lord.

PROTECTING MOTHERING
Part 3 with Protecting and Praying Mothering

“Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth
as touching any thing that they shall as,
it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven”
(Matthew 18:19).

We continue looking at the Ps of Powerful mothering.

5. PROTECTING MOTHERING

As we meditate on the aspects of purposeful mother, we remind ourselves that we need a vision. Without a vision we are aimless. It is as important to have a vision and goal for our motherhood as we would for any career. When raising our children, I took the prayer Paul prayed for the Thessalonians believer as my mothering goal.

1 Thessalonians 5:23: “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

This is a huge goal, impossible without the help of God. To stand one day before our God and present our children before Him, as we will do. How will we present them before Him? Will they be whole? Body, soul, and spirit? That takes more than giving food and clothing. This takes our whole lives as we guard our children. The word “preserved" is tereo and means “to guard from loss or injury by keeping the eye upon.” It’s not enough to watch over their physical lives. We guard their minds, their souls, and their spirits. We watch over what they read, watch, and see.

The word “watchmen” is not only for men. The Above Rubies woman who “looks well to the ways of her household” (Proverbs 31:27) is exactly the same word as “watchman.” We are as much a watchwoman over our home and family as the watchmen on the walls of Jerusalem.

Of course, it makes sense that you have to be in your home to be a guard. A watch dog cannot watch the home if he is not there. A mother cannot watch over her home and family if she is not present.

6. PRAYING MOTHERING

This includes praying grandmothers—and great-grandmothers. I knew a godly grandmother, who each time a new grandbaby was born, would set her alarm clock quarter of an hour earlier in order to pray for the new baby. She kept getting up earlier and earlier!

I don’t know about you, but I couldn’t get through mothering without praying. In fact, I don’t believe we can mother powerfully without praying powerfully over our children.

You will pray personally for your children, but I believe it is even more powerful for you and your husband to pray together. There is power in the prayer of agreement. And especially when a husband and wife pray together. And if you don’t pray for your children who will?

Matthew 18:19 says “if two of you shall agree . . .” Did you get those words? “TWO OF YOU”! Claim this marriage promise.

Perhaps you are not currently praying with your husband. Find the right moment to sweetly talk to him about it. “Honey, have you noticed that our children need prayer? My prayers are not enough. Do you think we could find a time to pray each day together for our children? I’ll fit in with your time. Can you let me know which time would be best for you?”

Set this time together and bring each child before the Lord by name. Can you imagine what God will release in your children’s lives because of your united prayers?

I would encourage you to go to the following links which will give you more encouragement in praying for your family.

https://tinyurl.com/HowToPrayForChildren
https://tinyurl.com/HowToPrayForHusband
https://tinyurl.com/OurPriestlyResponsibility

Blessings from Nancy Campbell

PRAYER:

“Beloved Father, I thank You for your powerful promise that “if two of you shall agree . . . it shall be done for them.” Please help us as a married couple to be faithful in prayer for our children that You have given to us. Amen.”

AFFIRMATION:

I am a watchwoman, standing guard over my home. Look out enemy!

PURPOSEFUL MOTHERING
Part 2 with Powerful and Positive Mothering

“That ye may know what is the hope of his calling . . .
and what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe,
according to the working of his mighty power,
which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead . . .”
(Ephesians 1:18-20).

We continue our Ps of Purposeful mothering.

3. POWERFUL MOTHERING

What is powerful mothering? It’s when we realize we have nothing good in ourselves. That we cannot do it on our own. That we are reliant upon the power of the Holy Spirit who dwells within in us.

We have no patience in our own nature, but we have the patience of Christ who dwells in us. Colossians 1:11 tells us that Christ strengthens us with “all might according to his GLORIOUS POWER.” What does He do this for? To enable us to have “patience and longsuffering with joyfulness.” It’s all in the same Scripture. He releases His power to us to give us patience! Isn’t that amazing?

Often our strength runs out, but the Word promises that “the joy of the LORD is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10). When we are negative we feel week. When we confess and walk in the joy of the Lord we experience strength.

It’s easy to love when being loved, but when bitterness and hatred stare us in the face, how do we love? Our love can run out, but God’s love never runs out. Ever. His love is agape love which loves in the face of hatred, bitterness, anger, and resistance. This love is “shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us” (Romans 5:5).

When we become fearful, negative, depressed, and despondent, we don’t have to stayi n those pits. We have the promise of 2 Timothy 1:7: “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” Dear mother acknowledge what God has given you—His powerful life living in you. It is dunamis power. That means miraculous, abundant, mighty power! You have God enabling to mother powerfully.

And you have a sound mind. It means you have clear understanding and sound judgment. Your judgment is not according to the fashion of this society, but according to God’s Holy Word. By the power of the Holy Spirit indwelling you, the faculties of your heart and soul are harmonized, regulated, and influenced to think, speak, and act rightly in all situations. God says He has given this sound mind to you. It is a resident, radical, supernatural possession to be manifested through your life.

4. POSITIVE MOTHERING

We mother positively when we lead our children forward. The Good Shepherd goes ahead of his flock, leading them to good pastures. We don’t sit by apathetically and let things happen as they will. We lead the way by our example, by our enthusiasm, by our teaching. We lead them into good pastures spiritually, emotionally, and educationally.

We mother positively when we encourage our children. Encouragement is the rich soil in which we grow our children to their full development. They thrive on genuine encouragement and affirmation.

We mother our children positively when we lead them to God’s infallible Word. His Word is our blue print for life. It is the light to guide our way. True positive mothering does not rely on our own good ideas, but what God says, for what God says is final!

If Jesus said, I believe it,
His Word cannot lie.
If it’s written in the Bible,
I’ll believe it ‘till I die.
Though the mountains be removed,
And cast in to the sea,
God’s Word will last forever,
Throughout eternity.

We mother positively when our children see us trust God even in difficult circumstances. They don’t see us giving in to depression, despondency, or self-pity. They watch our faith grow. We live by confession in God’s promises rather than our feelings. They see us keep on loving when people treat us contemptuously. They see us blessing them rather than being bitter. We live a faith-filled lifestyle before them.

Love from Nancy Campbell

PRAYER:

“Thank You, dearest Heavenly Father, that I do not need to rely on my own resources. By the power of the Holy Spirit You have given me an anointing of Your power, Your love, and a sound mind to mother and train my children for You. Thank You that I am able for the task because of Your life living in me. Amen.”

AFFIRMATION:

I am leading my children forward, onward, and upward in the ways of God.

PURPOSEFUL MOTHERING

“Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might”
(Ecclesiastes 9:10).

It’ a sad thing to go through life without purpose, isn’t it? We all need purpose to keep is going, to keep us focused, to keep us persevering through difficult times.

It’s the same with our mothering. If we don’t have purpose, we’ll feel useless and insignificant. Many mothers feel this way. The reason is that most mothers have been programmed that motherhood is inferior. They have not been informed of the truth that mothering is the highest career God has given to women. In fact, it’s the one career He mandated. He didn’t mention any others.

He divinely created us for this purpose, both physically and innately. The whole purpose of our creation is for mothering and nurturing the next generation. And it certainly isn’t inconsequential. Without mothers the whole of civilization would die out!

Let’s look at how God wants us to see motherhood. He wants us to be . . .

1. PURPOSEFUL MOTHERS

Purposeful mothers not only love their children, but love motherhood. Every mother loves her children. She would die for them. But a good majority of mothers don’t love motherhood. They have never embraced motherhood. They survive it. They do what’s necessary but desert it mentally.

Dear mother, it is a fact that we only come into the joy, anointing, and fullness of motherhood when we embrace it. When we accept it as our mandated career from God. When we love it. Yes, whether we feel like it or not, we confess that we love it. Can you say these words now? “I love motherhood.”

You don’t feel you can say that? Well, say it anyway. Don’t worry about what you feel. As you confess the truth, your feelings and attitudes will line up with your words. You’ll soon get into gear. You’ll get into the middle of the road of motherhood where God wants you to be, rather than standing in the gutter on the side of the road.

Missionaries fulfilling the will of God expect to face challenging times. The don’t give up because it is hard. Nor should we. Just because we face tiredness and overwhelmingness doesn’t mean that we are in the wrong career. Anything worthwhile takes sacrifice!

2. PASSIONATE MOTHERS

When we are purposeful mothers, we become passionate mothers. Not pathetic, but passionate. “Do I have to get this enthusiastic?” you ask. Yes. Aren’t we passionate about whatever we care about? This is the way we are meant to live. Following Jesus’ attitude.

1 John 2:6 says: “He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also to walk, even as he walked.” How did Jesus walk? With zeal. We read in Psalm 69:9 “The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.”

Do you remember the time Jesus went into the temple and saw the moneychangers taking over His house? Anger rose within him. He made a whip, ,drove out the moneychangers, the sheep, the oxen, turned over the tables, and cried out: “Get these things out of here.”

The disciples then remembered that it is written about Him, “The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up” (John 2:17).

Corinthians 15:58 exhorts to “ABOUND in the work of the Lord.” The work God has given us to do is mother and train the next generation to be godly young men and women who will fill this earth with God’s glory. How do we do this work? The word "abound" is perisseuo and it means “to EXCEL more than, to exceed, to superabound, to be over the top, over and above, overflowing, abundance.”

Don’t stand for the status quo. Go beyond the necessary as you become the greatest wife your husband could ever dream about. As you mother and train your children. As you stand watch over your home and guard it from the sneaky entrances of the enemy. As you manage your home efficiently. As you prepare meals for your family. Do it with passion. Do it with a smile on your face.

Love from NANCY CAMPBELL

PRAYER:

“I thank you, Beloved Father, that I do not need to flounder. You have shown my purpose in this life, a mighty purpose that impacts the nation, the generations to come, and eternity. Please help me to mother with passion instead of passivity. Help me to be full of zeal for Your kingdom work of mothering. Amen.”

AFFIRMATION:

No longer aimless, but purposeful;
No longer passive, but passionate.