TOTALLY DESTROY THE CANAANITE CULTURE

“He that committeth sin is of the evil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning.
For this purpose the Son of God was manifested that he might destroy the works of the devil”
(1 John 3:8).

Did you notice in my devotion last week that I wrote the phrase, TOTALLY DESTROY THE CANAANITE CULTURE! Wow, that’s a rather strong statement, isn’t it?  But that was the exact heading of Deuteronomy chapter 7 in my Bible. And yes, that is exactly what God told them to do. They were to totally destroy it. Wipe out everything that breathed.

We read the story of Jael in our Family Devotions yesterday, a rather bloodthirsty story, where Jael, a wife in the home, hammered a tent peg through an army general’s temple and killed him? Let’s read what she did: “Her left hand reached for the tent peg, her right hand for the workmen’s hammer. She hammered Sisera, she shattered his skull, she smashed his head, she drove the tent peg through his temple . . .” And God’s words says: “Most blessed of all women is Jael . . .  most blessed of homemaking women.” You can read the whole story in Judges 4:17-23 and 5:24-31.

Why would Jael be honored for doing such a bloodthirsty deed? Every story in the Bible is a lesson for us. The enemy came right into Jael’s home, but knowing he was the enemy, she plucked up courage to annihilate him. It would have taken much courage. If she had missed with the hammer, he would have killed her.

We all face many subtle enemies that come into our homes. Satan, the enemy of our souls and our homes, lurks around waiting to bring his insidious ways into our family lives. He doesn’t do it blatantly, but little by little, so cunningly that sometimes we don’t even notice. That’s why we must be continually on the alert—and especially over all social media where Satan is winning his greatest victories.

Mother, we are the watch dog over our home and over the souls of each of our children. We are also the watch dogs of society. Our society is a reflection of the homes of our society. Sadly, today, we live in a worldly, godless, and deceived society. That’s why we must watch and pray and be more alert than ever. It is godly homes, adhering to God’s word and His truth that will change society.

We must be brave and courageous to stand against all evil in our homes and in society around us. We must take a stand. We can’t be silent. As Dietrich Bonhoeffer says: “Silence in the face of evil is evil itself.”

All God’s people, including mothers, should be part of destroying the “Canaanite culture” in our society. That doesn’t mean we have to get out of our home to war against it. No. We start facing it in our own home. Jael didn’t even have to go out of the home to conquer the enemy. And God honored her for dealing with it in her home. This is where it starts.

Ephesians 4:27 (BSB): “Do not give the devil a foothold.”

Ephesians 5:11 (BSB): “Have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them.”

James 4:7: “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

1 Peter 5:8, 9: “Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist steadfast in the faith . . .”

PRAYER:

“Dear Father, I want to remember that because You live within me that I have authority to resist the devil from my life and my home. Amen.”

AFFIRMATION:

I’m eliminating the worldly culture from my life and my home.

Blessings from Nancy Campbell

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YOU ARE GOD'S SPECIAL TREASURE

“"But as he which hath called you is holy,
so be ye holy I all manner of conversation:
Because as it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy"
(1 Peter 1:15, 16).

I am always amazed when I read Deuteronomy 7:6 where God describes His plan for His people. Of course, this Scripture is speaking directly to God's people, Israel, but the promise continues to His blood-bought people today: "For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth." This Scripture is repeated again in Deuteronomy 14:2. 

That is incredible, isn't it? This is God's heart for His people. What does it mean?

Some people think that to be holy we must be religious, but that is not the meaning of holy. It means "set-apartness, un-commonness, un-worldliness." It is being set apart from the secular "unto God." Did you notice those words? God has chosen us to be a special people "unto Him." We don't live unto the world system, but unto God. The word "special" means that "we are God's possession, His valued property, a special treasure to Him." And He wants us to be "above all" other people on the face on the earth.

That's why God told the Israelites in the previous verses to TOTALLY DESTROY THE CANAANITE CULTURE! Yes, that is the heading at the beginning of this chapter in my Bible. I was certainly arrested when I read that!

Verses 2 - 5 says: "Thou shalt smite them and utterly destroy them: thou shalt make no covenant with them, not show mercy unto them . . . ye shall destroy their altars, and break down their images, and cut down their groves, and burn their graven images with fire." And then it says: "for you are an holy people."

Dear mothers, are we seeking to be set-apart families unto God? Anything less is not God's will. I notice that many Christians today do not want to be set apart. They confess they are Christians, but they want to look like the world around them. They want to be right on the fence, saying with their lifestyle, "Yes, I love God with all my heart, but I don't want to look different from the world. That would be too embarrassing. I want to dress just like the world dresses and fit in as much as possible with their lifestyle, so I don't look too different." 

But this is the opposite to God's plan. Dear mother, are you teaching your children God's plan for them? How He wants them to live? Do they know that they are God's holy people, set apart for Him and His destiny? Knowing their purpose will make a huge difference to their lives.

1 John 2:15-17: "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world; the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof; but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever."

PRAYER:

Dear Lord God, please teach me what it means to be set apart unto You. Please draw me and teach me to live a life that is "unto" You and not "unto" every worldly thing around me. I ask this in Jesus' name, Amen." 

AFFIRMATION:

I have been chosen to be set apart unto God. I am no longer common but belong to a royal kingdom. 

Blessings from Nancy Campbell

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FURTHER SCRIPTURES

God did not give this message once to His people but many times: 

Exodus 19:5, 6; Leviticus 11:44, 45; 20:24-26; Deuteronomy 7:6; 14:2; 26:18,

19, 1 Kings 8:58; Romans 12:1, 2; Hebrews 12:14; 1 Peter 1:14-16; 2:9; and 1

John 2;15-17.

I CAN'T AFFORD TO GO TO WORK

“Trust in him at all times”
(Psalm 62:8).

I often hear mothers say, “I wish that this [being a stay-at-home mom] was the case for me, but we can't afford for me to stay home.” Why are these words such a common reply? I think it is because we feel we must take things into our own hands to make it work. We don’t think that God is able! That’s the bottom line.

That’s rather challenging, isn’t it? Especially when we read the words in Psalm 78:19-22: “Yea, they spake against God; they said, Can God furnish a table in the wilderness? . . . Can he give bread also? Can he provide flesh for his people? . . . Therefore the Lord heard this, and was wroth… because they believed not in God, and trusted not in his salvation.”

When we don’t believe that God can provide, we are really confessing that we don’t trust Him and that He is not sufficient for our needs. And yet, isn’t He God? The God of the universe. The God who owns the cattle on a thousand hills. The God who has promised to provide for the fruit of the womb.

I know it can be scary when you wonder where the next meal is coming from. And we all go through seasons, just as Paul did (Philippians 4:11-13). There were times when he abounded and times when he was abased. We’ve faced the same thing many times. I remember one time when we had no money coming in and I thought that I would help the situation! Help, Nancy Campbell didn’t trust God! Shame!

I could never imagine my getting a full-time job out of the home, but I thought I’d do a few cleaning jobs to bring in a little extra (my children were mostly grown by this time). I was dutifully doing this when a woman of God challenged me. She said I was blaspheming God’s Word and not being an example to the younger women. At first, I was indignant. “Who does she think she is?” I thought. “She doesn’t know our situation.”

But then the Holy Spirit used her words to speak into my heart. I realized she was right! I confessed my sin and unbelief and immediately stopped these little jobs that took me out of the home. The amazing thing is that it didn’t change a thing! I noticed no difference when I was trying to bring in extra money than when I trusted God! God could do better than what I could do!

Why is it we think we can do a better job than God? God doesn’t require sacrifice, but obedience. When we obey Him and trust Him, we experience His faithfulness. That doesn’t mean we will always be abounding, but we will never starve!

To the dear mothers who are still working and yet long to be home, I want to encourage you. You will need to take a scary step of faith and obedience. You will wait for the rest of your life for the circumstances to be right before you can come home! Your circumstances will never be perfect. You will never think you have enough money without your wage. It takes a step of faith. It takes an act of obedience. Give your notice and then you will see what God can do.

While you try to do it in your own strength, God steps back and lets you do it your way. He can only show you His faithfulness and His provision when you let Him take over! Try it and see! I love hearing the testimonies from those who have seen God’s provision as they have taken this step of faith.

Instead of “we can’t afford for me to stay home, “my husband always said, “I can’t afford for my wife to leave the home. Too much is at stake!”

When the mother is out of the home, the enemy and destroyer of souls has a chance to influence the children. As mothers, we are watch dogs of our children and our homes. A watch dog is of no worth if he is not at home. We can’t leave our post. Our children, the nation, and future generations are dependent on us!

PRAYER:

“Dear Father, I thank that Your plan is perfect even though it takes faith to walk in Your plan. Your word says that “Whatsoever is not of faith is sin.” Please increase my faith and help me to trust You more. I want to be obedient to Your ways. Amen.”

AFFIRMATION:

I am no longer a “Can God?” believer but “I trust You Lord” believer!

Blessings from Nancy Campbell

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GOD IS IN ALL YOUR MOTHERING

O that there were such a heart in them,
that they would fear me and keep all my commandments always,
that it might be well with them, and with their children forever!”
(Deuteronomy 5:29).

I am sure you know the Scripture, Proverbs 3:5, 6: “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”

Do you notice that it says that we are to acknowledge the Lord in all our ways? Not only in the ways we feel comfortable with but in all our ways. This means in all the practical ways of our lives, which of course means all our mothering ways.

The word “acknowledge” is the Hebrew word yada which means “to know intimately.” We can often feel very close to God when we are on our own with our Bible and no distractions. In fact, we can feel very spiritual. But what about when we get back in the fray? In the midst of babies, toddlers, tantrums, teens, frustrations, and overwhelmingness! How can we know God then?

Dear mother, God wants you to experience Him in all your daily mothering. He wants you to experience Him intimately even in our daily motherhood.

Let’s get to the reality of life. God is the One who created our bodies. He wondrously, intricately, and amazingly created them to carry and nurture life in our wombs, to give birth, to pour out life and sustenance from our breasts, and to mother and teach our children.

We are created, called, chosen, ordained, designated, and destined—physically, emotionally, and spiritually for this purpose. Therefore, as we realize this divine truth (and can I please interrupt my sentence here—it is a divine truth even if our humanistic society does not embrace it) we will come to understand His ways.

Because it is God’s plan, the enemy wants to rob us from it. When he robs us of this truth, he robs us of our full understanding of God. As we embrace this divine truth, we come to find out more and more who God is like. And the more we embrace His ways in our roles as wives and mothers, the more He reveals to us and leads us in His paths.

Seek with all your heart to know God in the way He created you. Don’t be dumbed down by the foolishness of our feminist society. Discover all the amazing hormones He gives to you when you are pregnant. Experience the beautiful, blissful and calming hormones He gives to you while you nurse your baby. God is wrapped up in all your mothering. You miss knowing much of who God really is when you discard your mothering ways for the ways of the world.

We understand how He wants us to mother even as we read these negative Scriptures about animals and birds:

Job 39:13-16: “The ostrich . . . which leaveth her eggs in the earth, and warmeth them in dust, and forgetteth that the foot may crush them, or that the wild beast may break them. She is hardened against her young ones, as though they were not hers: her labor is vain without fear; because God hath deprived her of wisdom, neither hath he imparted to her understanding.”

Lamentations 4:3: “Even the sea monsters draw out the breast, they give suck to their young ones: the daughter of my people is become cruel, like the ostriches in the wilderness.”

Jeremiah 8:7: “Yea, the stork in the heaven knoweth her appointed times, and the turtle and the crane and the swallow observe the time of their coming:  but my people know not the judgment of the Lord.”  Read also Jeremiah 5:3, 4; Deuteronomy 5:29; and Psalm 81: 12, 13.

Let’s be those who know God and know who He created us to be and how He created us to function. We not only learn of God’s ways listening to a message in church but in the nitty gritty of life in our homes.

PRAYER:

“I thank You, dear Father, that Your ways are the best ways. They are higher than my ways, but I want to come up to Your ways. Please teach me Your ways so that I can walk in them for my blessing and Your glory. Amen.”

AFFIRMATION:

As I embrace mothering I understand more and more of the character of God.

Blessings from NANCY CAMPBELL

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www.aboverbies.org

P.S. Here are some links you may like to check out:

http://tinyurl.com/PreservedThroughMotherhood

http://bit.ly/PreservationTestimonies

http://www.thealphaparent.com/2014/06/how-breastfeeding-changes-your-brain.html

www.nationalrighttolifenews.org/news/2014/02/the-amazing-interplay-between-mother-and-unborn-child-2/#.VcI5m_nlY4I