Colossians 3:17,23-24, “Whatsoever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him… And whatsoever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men; knowing that of the Lord you shall receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ.”

What do you have to do today? Is it the same old thing as yesterday? Clean the house, make the beds, cook the meals, do the laundry, school the children! Does it seem monotonous? Dear mother, you are not doing these things just for the sake of doing them, or just because they have to be done. You are doing them for the Lord! Shift your mind into a new gear! Instead of complaining about the daily grind, being to think of what you are really doing. You are making your home a resting place for God. You are keeping your house clean for God. You are training your children for God and His purposes.

This understanding changes your whole attitude. You certainly wouldn’t want to be a slubberdegullion for the Lord, would you? (Forgive me! I had to pop that word in which I read recently.  It is an old English word that means ‘slovenly’ and I think it sounds like a slovenly person, don’t you?) No, you will want to work with all your heart.

Dear mother, you are working for the highest employer in the universe. Act as though you are. When you get up in the morning, don’t lounge around in your robe (we call it a “dressing gown” Down Under!) No one goes to work in his or her robe. They dress appropriately.

Get dressed as soon as you get up. You will feel more like work when you are dressed for it. You are going to work for the Lord today. Everything you do will be for Him. You will do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus. You will do everything with a thankful heart. You will do everything to the best of your ability.

I love The Message Bible translation that says, “Work from the heart for your real Master, for God, confident that you’ll get paid in full when you come into your inheritance. Keep in mind always that the ultimate Master you’re serving is Christ. The sullen servant who does shoddy work will be held responsible. Being Christian doesn’t cover up bad work.”

Now read these words in Ephesians 6:5-8, TMB, “Don’t just do what you have to do to get by, but work heartily, as Christ’s servants doing what God wants you to do. And work with a smile on your face, always keeping in mind that no matter who happens to be giving the orders, you’re really serving God. Good work will get you good pay from the Master…”

Oh yes, I have to share this Scripture with you too. 1 Thessalonians 1:2 says, “your love has meant hard work.” Love is not just a happy feeling. Love means hard work. You prove your love for your children by working hard to care for them. You prove your love for God by working heartily with joy as you serve in your home

Dear mother, it’s not all in vain. On the days when it seems too tough, look beyond the moment to the reward ahead.

God is watching. He is keeping His records. You will receive your reward. Your ultimate reward will be an eternal reward. God will not forget your labor of love toward Him as you lovingly, faithfully, heartily and happily keep your home and train your children for Him. 

Love from NANCY CAMPBELL

PRAYER:

“Lord, please help me to remember each day who I am really working for – the King of the universe. Help me to remember, Lord, that I am working for an eternal kingdom, and that I will receive an eternal reward. Amen.”

QUOTE:

Jeremiah 23:35 NLT, "You should keep asking each other, ‘What is the Lord’s answer?’ or ‘What is the Lord saying?’"

Recently a dear friend came to stay with us for a couple of weeks. On her arrival, she caught up with all the family news. Serene told her of her recent miscarriage at three months pregnant and she responded with, "And what did you learn through it, Serene?" Serene told me later that Sally’s question really provoked her to think more about what she learned from this experience and of all that God taught her.

It was a growth question. Too often we ask negative questions of ourselves and even of others. "Why should I have to go through this experience?" "Why has this happened to me?" "What have I done to deserve this?" "Why do I have to live in this cramped house, I deserve a better one?" These are negative questions that come from a root of self-pity or a misunderstanding of the nature of our God.

When the children of Israel came into the wilderness, God miraculously and daily provided them with manna. But they soon got tired of it and longed for the food they ate in Egypt. Numbers 11 tells us that they wept tears as they cried out, "Who will give us flesh to eat?" God was displeased with their complaining question. He said He would answer their cry and send them flesh, not just for one day, but for a whole month, so much that it would come out their nostrils! But He sent judgment upon them at the same time. Complaining displeases God because it undermines His faithfulness.

Don’t you think it would be a good idea to get into the habit of changing our questions to a positive level? Instead we could ask, "Lord, what are you trying to show me in this situation?" “Lord, in what way are you wanting to change me and enlarge my understanding of you.” Not one of us can avoid going through difficult times in our lives. However, if we sulk and groan in these circumstances, we’ll never grow.

We mature through adversity. Maybe God wants to expose something in our lives that is not pleasing to Him. Maybe He is stirring up our nest in order to lead us in a different direction. This is often the only way God can get us to change. Maybe we have been trusting in our own abilities and possessions and this situation will cause us to seek His face and learn to trust Him.

It is not easy to go through hard times, but it is always for our good. David wrote Psalm 4 while he was going through one of the most heart-wrenching times of his life. His very own son, Absalom had risen up against him and was seeking to take his crown and kingdom from him. I am sure there could be nothing more grieving than to be betrayed by your own son. But as he was fleeing for his life from Absalom, he wrote the words, "Thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress." (Psalm 4:1. Read also Psalm 18:19; 31:8 and 118:5)

The Psalmist also confesses in Psalm 119:67,71,75, "Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word." "It is good for me that I have been afflicted." "Thou in thy faithfulness hast afflicted me."

Many years ago I remember reading in one of Watchman Nee’s books about a woman who noticed another lady crying profusely. She went up to her and instead of the usual, "What’s the matter, dear?" she asked her, "Who are you crying for?" Was she crying for herself or were her tears for another? Many times our questions lead to self-pity, rather than growth. Often we use all our tears upon ourselves so that we have no emotions left to pour out in intercession and care for others.

May God help us to change our questions to those that will help to bring us into growth, rather than leave us in the rut, or the pit of despair. God loves us too much to leave us where we are. He is not content with letting us stay the same. He wants to lead us on. He wants to change us into the likeness of Christ, from one degree of glory to another. If God did not allow difficulties to come to our lives, we’d stagnate instead of grow.

Let’s ask this question continually, "Lord, what are you saying to me? I am listening as I read your precious Word. I want to hear you speak into my heart. What are you telling me through these circumstances I am going through?"

Love from NANCY CAMPBELL

PRAYER:

"Oh dear Father, I pray that you will lift my eyes off myself and how things affect me. Lift up my eyes to see what you are doing in my life. Help me to hear what you are saying to me. Help me to see what you are doing. I know that your ways are higher than my ways and your thoughts are higher than my thoughts. Please, lift me up to your ways and thoughts for I want to move on with you. I don’t want to stay in the ditch of despair. I don’t want to crouch in complaining corner. I want to lift up my eyes, my soul, and my hands and praise you in the midst of my affliction. Thank you, Lord. Amen."

Ephesians 2:4-6, “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love  wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened (made us alive) together with Christ, and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.”

We read last week of how God comes right down into our situations. The reason He comes down is to bring us up! God said to His people, “I am come down… to bring them up.” (Exodus 3:8).

God always leads us upwards and onwards. The devil leads us downwards and ultimately to destruction. In the Word of God we read of going “down” to Egypt (which typifies the flesh and the world, e.g. Isaiah 30:1-2 and 31:1) and going “up” to Jerusalem or Zion (which speaks of the ways of the Lord, e.g. Isaiah 2:3). Even when you are in the north of Israel, people still speak of going “up” to Jerusalem. It is interesting that the Hebrew word for Jews immigrating to Israel is ‘aliyah’ which means ‘going up.’

God lifts us up when we are bowed down. He holds us up when we are about to fall. He causes us to mount up with eagle’s wings when we are weary.

God also raises motherhood to a great height. In Ezekiel 19:10-11 God gives an allegory about motherhood and says that it is “exalted” above everything else round about. This word in the Hebrew is ‘gabah’ and means ‘to soar, to mount up, to raise up to a great height.” The devil deceives you to think that motherhood is an inferior role and that you will accomplish more out in a career. God wants you to know that He has lifted motherhood to the highest status of all careers. He wants to lift you up to walk in the fullness of your role – to embrace it, to rejoice in it, to give your life to it and to realize its powerful influence. 

But wait  - here is the greatest revelation of all. God wants to lift you up to where Christ is! And where is Christ? He is seated at the right hand of the Father “far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion… and hast put all things under his feet…” (Ephesians 1:20-23)

Jesus who was equal with God came down to the lowest when He submitted to the cruel death on the cross for our sins and was buried. But, praise God, He rose again and ascended to heaven. But the most astounding revelation is that when Jesus died, we died with him; when He was buried, we were buried with Him; when He rose from the grave, we rose with him; and when He ascended, we ascended with Him and are now seated in heavenly places in Christ Jesus! (Romans 6:3-4)

We generally think of Christ living in us. This is true – and a glorious truth. But it is also true that we are in Christ, living in Him where He lives. Can I urge you to lift your sights? God has raised you up to this place. You are joined with Christ in His dominion over all.  By faith, begin to picture yourself in Christ in heavenly places far above all. Far above all the pressures and problems that weigh you down. Principalities and powers of the evil one.

From what position do you run your home? Groveling under the deception of doubt, depression and defeat? Weighed down by worries and weariness? Or do you govern your home from the position where God has placed you? In this heavenly position in Christ, you can look down upon your problems. You can see them as Christ sees them. From this position, you’ll walk in victory over the enemy and every subtle evil force that seeks to creep in and destroy your home. From this position, you will overcome. From this position, you will see clearly and have wisdom to know what to do.

When your children squabble and get on your nerves, instead of blowing your cool, you will handle the situation from your truthful position of “in Christ”! Instead of screaming at them, you can take your authority in Christ and pray unity and harmony into their lives. (Of course you’ll need to use godly discipline when necessary too!) When things get on top of you and you feel overwhelmed, you will remember that you are above the situation – in fact far above all. You can stop what you are doing, pray out loud, and release God’s peace and rest into your home.

Dear mother, there’s no need to stay down in the dumps. There’s no need to feel a failure and that you can’t do it! It’s futile to come down from your position in Christ. Come up, dear mother! Come up to where God has placed you and stay seated in your heavenly place.

Love from NANCY CAMPBELL

PRAYER:

“Oh dear Father, I am totally amazed at your love for me and for the exceeding greatness of your salvation. You not only saved me from my sin, but you have lifted me up to live in Christ in the heavenlies. It is hard for me to understand, but by faith I receive your truth. I thank you that this is where I am in Christ. Lord, please help me to constantly live in this heavenly place. Help me to govern my home from this conquering position. Help me to remember that in Christ, I have all power over the enemy and that I am far above all his insidious attacks. Thank you, Lord. Amen.”

QUOTE:

Confess this powerful statement out loud many times during the day.

If you know others who would be blessed by these devotions, you can tell them to send a blank email to sThis email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

To unsubscribe from the Above Rubies email list please send a blank email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

P.S.

Here are some Scriptures for you to look up that tell you that God is…

THE LIFTER OF YOUR HEAD

Psalm 3:3; 28:9; 69:29

THE LIFTER UP OUT OF THE DUNGHILL

Psalm 113:7

THE LIFTER UP FROM THE GATES OF DEATH

Psalm 9:13; 71:20

THE LIFTER UP ABOVE THOSE WHO PERSECUTE US

Psalm 18:48; 27:6; 30:1;

THE ONE WHO LIFTS US UPON A ROCK

Psalm 27:5; 40:2

THE ONE WHO HOLDS US UP

Psalm 17:5; 18:35; 71:6; 91:11-12; 94:18; 145:14

Exodus 3:8, “I am come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land unto a good land and a large, unto a land flowing with milk and honey…”

Oh what blessed words. Although God is high and lifted up above all, yet He comes down to where we are.  Psalm 113:6 tells us that He “humbles himself to behold the things that are in the heavens and in the earth.” David the Psalmist is in awe as he asks the question, “What is man that you are mindful of him, and the son of man that you visit him? (Psalm 8:4) God wants to become personally involved in our lives.

When God came to deliver the children of Israel, He “came down” to them. He came right down to where they were suffering and made bare His mighty right arm on their behalf. God will also “come down” to you, into the midst of your life, your home, and your circumstances. Yes, dear mother, He will come down to you, right there in your kitchen.

Are you feeling despair, frustration and helplessness? Cry out to the Lord. He will come down to you. He will manifest Himself to you. He wants to fill your kitchen and your home with His Presence and His glory.

There is no situation too low to which God will not come down!

How far will He come down?

• He comes down to the dunghill for the needy and beggar. 1 Samuel 2:8; Psalm 113:7

• He comes down to the dust for the poor. 1 Samuel 2:8; Psalm 113:7

• He comes down into the horrible pit to those who are stuck in the slimy mud of despair. Psalm 40:1-2

• He comes down to the broken-hearted. Psalm 34:18; 51:7; 147:3, Isaiah 61:1; Luke 4:18

• He comes down to those who are held captive by Satan. Leviticus 26:13; Psalm 68:6; 107:13-14; 146:7; Isaiah 42:7; 61:1

• He comes down to those who are mourning. Isaiah 57:18; 61:2-3; Matthew 5:4

• He comes down to the lonely and forsaken. Psalm 68:6; 46:8

• He comes down to those are bowed down and overwhelmed. Psalm 145:14

• He comes down to those who are hungry and need food. Ruth 1:6; Palm 146:7

• He comes down to those who are infertile. Genesis 21:1; 29:32; 1 Samuel 2:21

Why does God come down? God said in Exodus 3:16-17, “I have surely visited you, and seen that which is done to you in Egypt: and I have said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt unto… a land flowing with milk and honey.” He came down to the children of Israel to deliver them out of their bondage and bring them into a large place. God comes down to your need, not to grovel there with you, but to lift you up! To bring you out! To set you free!

Love from NANCY CAMPBELL

PRAYER:

“Oh Lord, I thank you that you come down to meet me in my need. I thank you that you are such a wonderful and personal God. Lord, please help me to keep a soft and humble heart before you, because even though you dwell in the high and holy place, you promise to come down to revive the heart of the contrite ones. Thank you, Lord. Amen.”

QUOTE: