PADDLING OR SWIMMING?

“Deep calls to deep in the roar of You waterfalls;
all Your breakers and Your billows have swept over me”
(Psalm 42:7 (HCSB).

Do you like to swim in shallow or deep water? In our spiritual life many of us play around in the shallow puddles. We never go any further. However, God wants to take us out into the deep with Him. Do you long for deep waters?

Ezekiel 47 is an amazing picture of the waters flowing from the sanctuary of the temple, also speaking of the anointed, healing power of the Holy Spirit. Read the whole chapter. The picture begins with waters to the ankles, but that’s not where they end. The final picture shows us waters to swim in. What’s your destination?

Let’s have a look at these waters, shall we?

TO THE ANKLES

The waters start at the ankles (v. 3). This is where we usually start when we get into the water. We stand in the water up to our ankles to feel the temperature. If it’s cold, we muster up courage to brace the cold waters and go into the deep.

We’ve got our feet on the ground and we’re standing. This is where we first start in Christ. Little by little and day by day we learn the ways, the principles, and the promises of God and learn to stand upon them. We learn to stand and keep on standing.

Ephesians 6:13, 14 says: “Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to STAND. STAND THEREFORE.”

TO THE KNEES

But there’s more. God wants to take us further. Up to the knees (v. 4). The knees speak of kneeling in prayer, although we can pray in any position. If we are moving on in Christ we will become women of prayer. Unless we communicate with God awe will not get to know our God. Our prayer life shows our dependence upon God. Without prayer, we show an independent spirit and that we can manage quite well on our own, thank you.

When we come to the place of knowing we cannot accomplish anything in our own flesh, we become desperate to pray. When we are brought to a place of humility, we will pray. When we are touched with the needs of the people around us and the great needs of the world, we will pray.

We know that everything is impossible without prayer because prayer confesses our own need and draws on God’s power. Nearly every day I quote Zechariah 4:6 before the Lord: “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit saith the LORD of hosts.” I am cast upon God, for I cannot make anything happen on my own. It is only by the power of the Holy Spirit through the vehicle of prayer.

I must be a mother of prayer. It was my most powerful weapon as I nurtured our children. I could not have raised our children without prayer. I cannot even survive today without prayer. Currently we face a huge challenge in our family, so what are we doing? We have nightly prayer meetings as a family and call upon the Lord.

TO THE LOINS

God continues to bring us through the waters. This time the waters are to the loins (v. 4). The loins are the area of the body from where procreation occurs in both the male and female. Not many want the Holy Spirit to have full control of this area of their body. They offer their feet to God to go wherever He sends. They offer their hearts to praise Him, their arms to reach out to people, and their tongues to speak of Him, but they don’t offer their loins. Strange isn’t it? However, the Holy Spirit wants to pour out His anointing on every part of our bodies. He wants to be Lord over all (Romans 12:1, 2; 1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19, 20; and 2 Corinthians 6:15-18).

WATERS TO SWIM IN

Now the waters are overwhelming. Over our heads. Ezekiel 47:5 says: “Afterward he measured a thousand; and it was a river that I could not pass over: for the waters were risen, WATERS TO SWIM IN, a river that could not be passed over.”

God’s ultimate plan is to bring us into the fullness of His Spirit, the fullness of His love, and the fullness of His blessed ways. He could not plunge us in immediately. We would not be ready. He brings us little by little. As we learn to trust Him in the little things, we learn to trust Him in the bigger things. In these waters we can’t put our feet on the ground. We have come to the place where we can do nothing in our own strength. Without God we’re finished. But with God all things are possible. We are totally cast upon Him to hold us up in the waters.

We cannot rely on our own strength and wisdom to mother the children He has given us. We can’t rely completely on our husbands for provision, only God. We can’t work out the answers to our challenges on our own. We can no longer put our feet on the bottom. It’s God or nothing else.

In the swimming waters we no longer rely on what we can see with the natural eye; we see by the eye of faith. Hebrews 11:1 (Moffat) says: “Now faith means that we are confident of what we hope for, convinced of what we do not see.”

Blessings from Nancy Campbell

PRAYER:

“Oh God, please save me from being satisfied to splash around in puddles. Please take me to the deep waters where I have to trust You completely. It is scary with my weak faith, but God, I thank You that I can trust You wholly. Take me into the adventure of swimming in the river of Your Holy Spirit. Amen.”

AFFIRMATION:

I will never be satisfied with anything less than waters to swim in.

STANDING AT OUR POST
Part 3

“I have learned how to get along happily whether I have much or little. I know how to live on
almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of contentment in every situation,
whether it be a full stomach or hunger, plenty or want; for I can do everything God asks me to
with the help of Christ who gives me the strength and power”
Philippians 4:11-13 (TLB.

Today we look at the last three descriptions of the watchmen who fall down on their job. These Scriptures also challenge us as mothers because we are the watchmothers of our homes.

5. THEY ARE NEVER CONTENT

“Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough.” When wives and mothers become greedy for more and more things--better things for the home, better clothes, a better car, a bigger house, and so on, they turn away from the contentment God wants them to enjoy in the home. 1 Timothy 6:6 says “Godliness with contentment is great gain.”

It is very easy to want more. Sometimes we think it is absolutely necessary. Everywhere I look in my home I see something that needs renewing. But I dare not dwell on it. I cultivate contentment. There’s nothing like it. It’s an enjoyable life.

God reminded His people in Nehemiah 9:21 that when they lived in the wilderness for 40 years that “they lacked nothing!” God provided them with daily food, but they didn’t have any of the conveniences we think are necessary today. Why do we think we have to have “things”? It’s amazing how little we can survive on if we have to. May God help us to truly be content.

Proverbs 15:27 says: “He that is greedy of gain troubles his own house.” Greed and discontentment go together.

“Dear Father, I do not want to bring trouble to my home. Please help me to be delightfully contented with what I have. Help me to realize that my children need me in the home far more than all the things I think I need. Amen.”

6. THEY DO NOT UNDERSTAND

“They are shepherds that cannot understand.” The HCSB says: “They are shepherds who have no discernment.” The mother who vacates her home cannot truly watch over her home. A watchdog is not watching if he is not at home. A true watchmother has to be at her post. Mothers who vacate the home do not understand the importance and necessity of their watchdogging career. They do not understand that there is more to mothering than feeding and clothing their children. We can do that part time. But it takes full-time mothering to faithfully pray and watch over the souls and spirits of our children.

“Dear Father, please teach me Your ways. Help me to see my role of mothering the way You see it. Help me to understand that You have given me the task of guarding and watching over the souls of my children on Your behalf. It is not something I can take lightly. You hold me responsible for this great task. Amen.”

7. THEY GO THEIR OWN WAY

“They all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter.” The NLT says: “All following their own path and intent on personal gain.”

Isaiah 53:6 reminds us that “we have turned every one to his own way.” We are prone to doing this, aren’t we? Especially when we are surrounded by a humanistic society and everyone else who wants to go their own way. It seems normal. But true watchmothers seek to find out God’s way.

As we are faithful to seek God’s truth and His plan for us we find that He doesn’t want us gadding about. He wants us to be watchmothers--standing at our post, guarding the souls and spirits of our children, resisting the devil, standing against all deception, and building a godly family and dynasty as we minister in our homes. Can you say Amen?

Blessings from Nancy Campbell

PRAYER:

“Dear Father, please speak to me when I begin going my own way. I truly want to know Your ways and walk in Your ways. I want to be a responsible watchmother for you in my home. I ask that You will strengthen me and anoint me for this great task. Amen.”

AFFIRMATION:

I’m standing at my post. I am listening and watching for any deception, deceit, or evil the devil tries to bring to my home. I will send him running in the power of the name of Jesus!

STANDING AT OUR POST
Part 2

“As my beloved sons I warn you”
(1 Corinthians 4:13).

We continue checking out the description of the watchmen who vacated their post from Isaiah 56:10, 11:

3. THEY CANNOT BARK

“They are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark.” What an insult. This is just about too much to take, isn’t it? But let’s not get upset. Let’s take the warning for the blessing of our families.

If a watchdog does not bark, it is not a watchdog. I currently have two dogs, both picked up from the road near our home. We live in the country and it seems to be a dumping place for stray dogs. Sad to say, neither of them are watchdogs. The little poodle is so shy, he would freeze or run away if a thief came. The other dog is so friendly, she wags her tail at everyone and would never dream of barking at anyone!

A true watchmother is always alert to anyone and anything that would taint the presence of God in her home. She will not be silent at any evil or deception. She opens her mouth and stands up for truth. She never compromises. She “barks” at the devil and resists him in the name of Jesus. 1 John 3:8 says: “For this purpose the Son of God was manifested that he might destroy the works of the devil.” Christ now dwells in our hearts and He still wants to destroy the works of the devil through us. He wants to have preeminence in our home, not the devil or his evil works.

If we abhor evil as we are commanded in Romans 12:9 we will not be silent, but speak against it. God said to Ezekiel: “Son of man, I have made thee a watchman unto the house of Israel: therefore hear the word at my mouth, and give them warning from me. When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor SPEAKEST TO WARN the wicked from his wicked way, TO SAVE HIS LIFE; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but HIS BLOOD WILL I REQUIRE AT THINE HAND” (Ezekiel 3:18-21 and 33:7-9). God also speaks this word to us watchmothers because He wants us to save the lives and souls of our children. It is because our children are “beloved” to God and to us that we open our mouth and warn.

“Dear Father, please fill me with boldness to bark at the devil, to bark at all evil, and never to be silent in the face of any deception or sin that creeps into my marriage or home. Amen.”

4. THEY DREAM AND SLEEP

“Sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber.” They may not do this physically, but spiritually. Mothers can physically work, rushing here and there, and yet be asleep to God’s purposes for their children. Mothers have many dreams. Many dream of what they could be doing with their lives, apart from their home and children. They have great dreams for all the things they long to do, but are asleep to the truth that they are in the very perfect will of God right in their home!

Blessings from Nancy Campbell

PRAYER:

“Dear God, please help me to awake to righteousness and to the true purposes you have for my life. Save me from wasting time on transient dreams that are for my own selfish gain. Help me to understand that I am in Your perfect will as I embrace motherhood and watch over my family. Help me to see that only what I do in the light of eternity is worthwhile. Amen.”

AFFIRMATION:

I am watching on all sides and I will bark at the devil if ever he shows up!

STANDING AT OUR POST
Part 1

“Can the blind lead the bind? shall they not both fall into the ditch?”
(Luke 6:39).

Sweet wives and mothers, do you mind if I give you a strong devotion today? It’s so much nicer to receive loving and comforting devotions, isn’t it? But sometimes it is good for us to get something that doesn’t just “tickle our ears,” but really challenges us to the core of our hearts. You won’t mind, will you?

I was very challenged as I read God’s words about the watchmen who fell down on their job. This relates to us too, because we are watchmothers on the walls of our homes. God has given us the task of watching over our homes and the bodies, souls, and spirits of our children. The word “watchman,” or perhaps we could say, “watchmothers” is also given to us in Proverbs 31:27: “She looks well to the ways of her household, and eats not the bread of idleness.” The Hebrew for “looks well” is tsaphah and is the same word that is used for “watchmen.”

Can you come with me on this challenging journey to see what God says in Isaiah 56:10, 11 about watchmen and “watchmothers” who vacate their post?

1. THEY ARE BLIND
“His watchmen are blind.” These watchmothers are oblivious of what is happening to their children. They may see the obvious, but are they aware of what is going on behind the scenes, of what is going on in their souls and spirits? Mothers, we must guard that we do not become conditioned to the compromises and worldliness all around us so that we no longer see from God’s standard.

Jesus described the Pharisees: “They be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch” (Matthew 15:14). We must know where we are going in order to lead our children in the right way. Read also Matthew 23:16, 24, 26; Luke 6:39; and 2 Corinthians 4:6.

Have you ever heard the expression, “Don’t pull the wool over my eyes”? As we shepherd our children, we must watch over them intensely to make sure they do not pull the wool over our eyes. We look beyond the “wool” that covers over their eyes to any festering things that may be underneath.

When talking about this subject with my father (who shore over one million sheep in his lifetime), he said, “Don’t forget to tell the ladies about eye-wigging.” Eye-wigging is something the shepherds need to do constantly. If shepherds do not clip the wool, it grows over the sheep’s eyes and they become wool-blind. Watchmothers consistently eye-wig their children. We clip from their lives the things that cause them to become blind to the things of God, that lead them into deception, and the humanistic philosophies waiting to deceive them.

What about your marriage relationship? Do you have unbroken love and communication between you and your husband or are you blind to what is going on behind the scenes?

Psalm 27:23: “Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds.”

“Dear Father God, please save me from being blind. Open my eyes to what is really happening in the hearts and minds of my children. Amen.”

2. THEY ARE IGNORANT
“They are ignorant.” We are not very happy if someone slights us by saying we are ignorant, are we? However, mothers cannot afford to be ignorant. We must be versed in the truth, especially the truth of God’s Word. It is imperative for the sake of our children. We cannot truly watch over the souls of our children if we don’t know what God says in His Word. We need to be Word-filled mothers training Word-filled children.

Blessings from Nancy Campbell
I will continue with the seven points in this series.

PRAYER:

“Dear Father, please give me a love for Your precious Word. Open my eyes as I read it daily. Fill me with Your words. I want to be a Word-filled mother, daily pouring your truth into my children. Amen.”

AFFIRMATION:

I’m standing at my post--eyes open, ears attune, and spiritually alert to every sly attack of the enemy.