Matthew 28:30, “For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

When God told the Israelites about the new home He was taking them to, He said, “The land, into which you are entering to possess it, is not like the land of Egypt from which you came, where you used to sow your seed and water it with your foot like a vegetable garden. But the land into which you are about to cross to possess it, a land of hills and valleys, drinks water from the rain of heaven, a land for which the Lord your God cares; the eyes of the Lord your God are always on it, from the beginning even to the end of the year.” (Deuteronomy 11:10-11 NAS)

They could not rely on the rain from heaven in the land of Egypt. They had to do all their irrigation by hand, or I should say, by foot, for this is how it was done. They dug man-made channels for the water which they forced along by wheels operated by their feet. It was hard laborious work. It was a daily grind. They didn’t have to do this in the Promised Land. They relied totally upon God to send the rain to water the crops.

Egypt is a type of the world. It is a type of walking in the flesh and doing things by our own energy. This contrasts to our new life in the kingdom of God where we walk in the Spirit and trust God instead of our own resources.

How are you living each day? Are you still living back in Egypt, or are you basking in the rest of the Lord? Often mothers feel that their life is a daily grind, with no joy or hope. They are living like the Israelites were when they were slaves in Egypt. But we are no longer slaves. We are free people, saved by the suffering and shed blood of Jesus Christ upon the cross. He died to deliver us from relying upon the flesh.

“But don’t you realize the financial difficulties that we are going through. I have to work this extra job to help my husband pay all our bills.” Has God asked you to take on your husband’s responsibility? Or are you taking on this yourself?

 “But don’t you realize how many things I have to do? I’m pregnant! I’m homeschooling my children. Plus I am involved in this Ladies’ group at church and I’m also helping with the Sunday school.” Who told you to get involved with these extra activities? Was it God, or was it pressure from people? Many times our life becomes a daily grind because we take on things that God hasn’t told us to do. We cannot live our lives by what everyone else wants us to do. We must be led by the Holy Spirit.

God promises in Isaiah 40:11 that “He gently leads those who are with young.” If you are pregnant or have little children, God does not expect you to be involved in anything else, apart from your mighty and divine calling of nurturing and raising your children for Him! He doesn’t expect you to be involved in extra church and other activities (except for your commitment to meeting with the saints each week.)

 “But don’t you realize that I have to take Susie to ballet lessons, Grace to violin lessons, Johnny to soccer and Brian to baseball, as well as keep up with the home and everything else.” Who told you that you have to take your children to all these lessons? Did God? Or are you trying to keep up with the Joneses who think that their children should be involved in everything that is going? We often think that our children will not make it in life unless we take them to all extra lessons and sports. That is not true. God is able to make a way for your children without putting extra pressure on your life and gadding about in the car everywhere.

“But don’t you realize? I have to make my children finish the lessons I have given them for the day. I have to get this done and that done.” Who said you have to do this? Is it what God has planned for the day or what you are setting? Are you teaching your children what God wants them to be taught, or what you think others expect of you?

Life is hard work, but it does not have to be a grind. It will seem drudgery when we do it in the energy of the flesh. God wants us to live according to the Spirit. The Israelites worked in the Promised Land, but they enjoyed their work, because they were cast upon God’s resources, not their own energy. They no longer irrigated they way they did in Egypt. They had to rely on God to send their rain.

Jesus said, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

Love from NANCY CAMPBELL

Prayer:

“Father, I thank you that you have brought me into a new kingdom, a kingdom where I cannot rely on my own strength, a kingdom where I must trust you wholly. Please show me where I am doing things in my own energy for I want to be led by your Holy Spirit. Thank you that you are watching over my life and your eye is upon me from the beginning of the year to the end of the year. I can trust you to lead me. Amen.”

Affirmation:

Exodus 14:14 Knox, “It is the Lord that will do battle for you; your part is silence.”

God blessed us with a voice to communicate and fellowship with Him and to communicate with one another. However, there are certain times when we need to keep silent! Let’s look at some examples in Scripture.

IN TIMES OF UNBELIEF

After God delivered the Israelites from their slavery in Egypt, they camped by the Red Sea. But soon the Egyptian army pursued them! Now they were hedged in with no way of escape—the sea in front of them, the Egyptians after them. Their song of victory soon turned to doubt and fear and they turned against Moses with bitter complainings. Isn’t that what we often do when things are going wrong? We complain and grumble!

But what did Moses say? “It is the Lord that will do battle for you; your part is silence.” (Exodus 14:14 Knox) If only we could take these words to heart in the situations that we face! I grew up with the saying, “If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all!” I think we should add this adage too, “When faced with insurmountable problems, if you can’t speak faith and trust in God, don’t say anything at all!”

I am also reminded of the battle of Jericho. The strategy God gave Joshua was for all the men of war to compass the city every day for seven days and seven times on the seventh day. Joshua commanded the people, “You shall not shout, nor make any noise with your voice, neither shall any word proceed out of your mouth, until the day I bid you shout; then shall you shout.”  (Joshua 6:10)

God had a good reason for this. If He had allowed them to talk, they would have doubted and complained, “How can we take a city by just walking around it? How dumb! We’ll be defeated. This is madness!” God did not one doubt to come forth from their mouths until the moment of victory! And this was the shout of deliverance!

Do you think you could make this a precedent in your life? When you face a situation where there is no hope unless God breaks through, instead of speaking negativity, fear and hopelessness, keep silent! Your part is to stand still, keep quiet and see the salvation of the Lord.

IN TIMES WHEN YOU THINK IT IS NOT FAIR

One terrible day, two of Aaron’s sons, Nadab and Abihu, offered strange fire before the Lord. God suddenly blazed forth fire from heaven and consumed them! Aaron was stunned! He could not understand God’s severity of punishment on his sons whom he loved. In his agonizing grief, Aaron must have complained bitterly until Moses told him what the Lord said, “By those who come near Me I will be treated as holy, and before all the people I will be honored.’ So Aaron, therefore, kept silent.” (Leviticus 10:3 NAS)

When God revealed His holiness, Aaron was reduced to silence. Many times things happen in our lives that we do not think are fair. Once again, we complain and argue with God. We must be careful that we do not reduce God down to our level and our puny understanding. God sees things from eternity. He is the Sovereign God. If we cannot confess our trust in God, then we should be silent!

I am sure Job did not think it was fair that he had to suffer in the way that he did. In one day his ten children were killed and all his sheep, oxen and camels were taken away. And then he was covered with boils, living in pain and misery. He had many arguments with his three friends and with God!

Eventually Job got the message that God is in control and that He holds us in the palm of His hand. God said to Job, “Do you still want to argue with the Almighty? …Then Job replied to the Lord, ‘I am nothing—how could I ever find the answers? I will put my hand over my mouth in silence. I have said too much already. I have nothing more to say.’” (Job 40:1-4)

It was when he became silent, instead of putting up his ideas and arguments, that God revealed Himself to him. Soon he was healed and God blessed the latter end of Job even more than his beginning.

David cried, “Lord, where do I put my hope? My only hope is in you. Rescue me from my rebellion… I am silent before you; I won’t say a word. For my punishment is from you.” (Psalm 39:9 NLT)

Arguing with God will never get us anywhere. We will do better when we see things from an eternal perspective rather than an earthy perspective. When we see things from God’s perspective, we will keep silent. We will have no more arguments.

IN TIMES OF PERSECUTION AND RIDICULE

When we are persecuted, or people say unkind things to us or behind our back, we want to answer back. We want to defend ourselves. This is the natural way. But God has a better way. Silence! What? You mean to say that I can’t even defend myself?” Do you mean to say I have to shut my mouth when my husband is accusing me?

Jesus gave us this example when he was accused.

Isaiah 53:7, “He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, ye he opened not his mouth.”

Matthew 26:62-63 NLT, “The high priest stood up and said to Jesus, ’Well, aren’t you going to answer these charges? What do you have to say for yourself?’ But Jesus remained silent.”

Matthew 27:12 NLT, “When the leading priests and other leaders made their accusations against him, Jesus remained silent.”

1 Peter 2:23, “Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously.”

David also shut his mouth in the face of accusers.

Psalm 38:12-15, “They that seek my hurt speak mischievous things, and imagine deceits all the day long. But... I was as a dumb man that opens not his mouth.”

Remember, there is a time to speak and a time to keep silent!

Love from NANCY CAMPBELL

Prayer:

“Father, please strengthen my trust in you, to know that you are the Sovereign Lord and nothing is out of your control. Take away all arguments from my mouth and please save me from speaking negative and complaining words that only bring destruction and do not help the situation. Amen.”

Quote:

Genesis 2:8, “And the Lord God took the man, and put him into the garden of Eden.”

Do you like to enjoy pleasures in your life? I am sure you do. Well, listen to this. God wants you to enjoy pleasures too. He wants your life and your home to be filled with pleasures and delights. When God created the first home for Adam and Eve, He called it Eden. The Hebrew meaning of this word is, “pleasures, delicates, delights.” Knox translates it correctly, “God had planted a garden of delight, in which he now placed the man he had formed.”

Everything God did in the beginning, He did as a pattern for the future of mankind. God made the first home a place of delight. This was his intention for all future homes. He wants your home to be a delight too.

Yes, it is true that God put Adam in the garden to work. This is the pattern of life. Work and pleasure. We have to work hard in our homes to keep them in running order. But God also wants them to be filled with joy and delight.

This should be a top priority in our thinking.

How can I make my home a more delightful place to live?

How can I bring more enjoyment into our marriage relationship?

How can I bring more pleasure into the lives of each of my children?

How can I make my home a treasure house?

Proverbs 15:6 says, “In the house of the righteous is much treasure.” I believe this treasure is more than beautiful furnishings and wealth. I believe it is the true treasures of love, joy, peace, harmony and the richness of fellowship. I have walked into homes with beautiful décor and felt unmoved. And yet I have dined in humble homes where the atmosphere was rich with the joy of fellowship.

Isaiah 51:3 says, “For the Lord shall comfort Zion… he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the Lord; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of melody.” Maybe it’s like a wilderness in your home. It doesn’t have to stay like that. If you will let Him, God wants to help you make your home a place of joy and gladness. He wants you to fill it with thankfulness, instead complaining; songs of praise instead of grumbling.

He wants you to take care of the relationships in your home too—with your husband and your children. Eden also means, “delicate”. Relationships can easily be broken or damaged. A few hurtful or negative words or a mean look and the relationship is weakened. We must handle each one delicately, considerately and with loving care.

What about children? I think they are the greatest treasures we can have in our homes. They are eternal treasures. They are the treasures we don’t have to leave behind. We can take them with us into eternity. Isn’t it unbelievable that many families have more TV’s in their homes than children? This is in the case of Christian homes too!

No wonder the CJB translation says, “The home of the righteous is a storehouse of treasure.” What do you have stored up in your home? Are there lots of “things”? Or is it filled with children and the delights of joy, thanksgivings and praises?

Love from NANCY CAMPBELL

Prayer:

“Lord, you had a plan for the first home and you have a plan for my home. Please fill my home with your presence that it will become an Eden. Help me to see that one of my greatest roles is to bring pleasure and delight to everyone in my home. Amen.”

 

Quote:

Genesis 2:18, "And the Lord God said, It is not good that man should be alone: I will make him a help meet for him."

Last week we wrote about the powerful influence we have as women, especially negatively. God created us with enticing charms that can sway the hearts and thinking of our husbands. But He did not give us this power to use negatively, but positively.

God created us to be a helper to our husband. We are to make his life great. He can't do without us. God said that it was not good for man to be alone. He cannot survive without a helper! If we think that we can just look after ourselves, we are missing out on the purpose for which God created us. If we think that we have the freedom to influence our husband to do what we want him to do, we are on the wrong track. If we think that we can say what we like and put our husband down with negative words, we are at cross purposes with God!

Let's get it straight. We were created to help him in the great task that God has given to both of us to be fruitful, multiply, replenish the earth, subdue and take dominion for God in this world. (Genesis 1:28) We have been given a powerful mandate. There is no room for pulling down or leading our husband on a deviant path. To fulfill this world-encompassing Genesis command we cannot be anything else than positive, uplifting, encouraging supporters!

God uses the word "help meet" to describe his purpose for us. The word meet is the Hebrew word neged and means 'part opposite, counterpart, mate, in front of.' In other words, she is opposite to man, but fits him perfectly like a glove.

The word help is the Hebrew word ezer which means 'helper, to come to the aid of'. The amazing thing is that it is the same Hebrew word that is used when it speaks of God being our help! Here are just a few examples:

"God is our help and shield." (Psalm 33:20)

"O God, thou art my help and my deliverer." (Psalm 70:5)

"Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth." (Psalm 124:8)

How wonderful to have God for our help. God is always available to help us when we cry out to Him. Are we the same kind of help to our husband? Are we always available to help him? The psalmist proclaims, "Happy is he that has the God of Jacob for his help ." (Psalm 146:5) If we walk according to God's plan, we will have a happy husband! What about your husband? Does he confess, "Happy am I because my wife is my companion and help."?

Even more amazing is that this word ezer is first used regarding a wife, before it is used regarding God! In "the law of the first mention" the word help is given to a wife! This puts much importance on this issue. We reveal the image of God when we help our husband.

How can we help him?

We help him by being alongside him to help him as he need us.

We help him by speaking sweetly, kindly and positively into his life.

We help him by fulfilling the role that God has given to us rather than competing for his role of provider of the home. We don't help our husband when we seek to take his responsibility of providing. This undermines his manhood.

We help him by caring for the children and making our home a place of joy and sweetness.

We help him by making life easier for him to do his work.

We help him by caring for him physically and nutritionally.

We help him by having an aroma-filled nutritional meal ready for him when he returns to home at the end of the day. This is one task of our great motherhood career on which we cannot slip! It is more important than we realize!

We help him by having the home ready for him when he arrives--toys and mess cleaned up and thrown out of sight!

We help him by being excited to see him when he arrives--even if we have had a lousy day! It is a strong woman who can put aside her self-pitying spirit and by faith put on a smiling face. Greet your husband with joy and talk about the troubles later on--after the evening meal and time with the children.

We help him by being his counter-part--the part that he hasn't got that he needs!

Love from NANCY CAMPBELL

Prayer:

"Father, please help me to fulfill the purpose for which you created me. Help me to use my feminine influence to support my husband in the work you have given him to do. Please help me to understand how to help my husband just as you come to my aid to help me. Amen."

Quote: