Note: I dug this post out of my blog draft archives. I’ve since had TWINS, so you know, that’s grown me even more spiritually…but I just love this reminder and wanted to go ahead and share, even if it was from a few years ago. Hope this reminder is a good one for you, just as it was for me.
Nothing has grown me more spiritually lately than having my third child. She is a smiley baby, laid back, as third babies must be, with a sweet disposition.
But her entrance into this world, fast and furious, not waiting on anyone (including the nurse or doctor!), birthed also a new type of chaos I’d not yet experienced in my mothering journey.
With two kids, I could generally handle whatever daily challenges arose…at least I thought I handled them pretty well on my own. Add a third to the mix and my introverted, planner, type A self-starter to crash and burn.
All of a sudden I realized I couldn’t do this – this job of loving and training up my children in the Lord while working full time, being supportive of my husband and his business, and being a good wife, sister, daughter, blogger, friend – it was all too much for my perfectionistic tendency self to handle.
I found myself overwhelmed with no action plan for change.
But friends, there is hope!
Once my eyes were opened to the truth that I truly cannot do and be all that I desire to do and be on my own in this life, I found hope.
While reading in Romans, I was reminded that the same power that raised Christ from the dead lives in us. Did you catch that?
You and me, we have the POWER when we live in step with the Spirit that lives in us!
5 Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.
6 The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.
7 The mind governed by the flesh is hostile to God; it does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.
8 Those who are in the realm of the flesh cannot please God.
9 You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ.
10 But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness.
11 And if the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead is living in you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies because of his Spirit who lives in you.
12 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to it.
13 For if you live according to the flesh, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live.
14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God.
15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba,Father.”
16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.
17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
Today I encourage you with the reminder to live in step with the Holy Spirit and God’s desires for your life, not your own. The peace and joy that follows in the midst of our chaos is God’s blessing to us as His children. Embrace it!
With you on the journey,
