A Prayer for the Mothers of the World….

It is hard for me to believe that today is the last day of vacation bible school. Wow, the week just flew by. We won’t have to say goodbye to the kids until Sunday, which is a good thing since I am not ready for that!

We served dinner in two of the villages this week. The children are so precious… so polite and so thankful for every little thing. I gave a boy about 11 years old a pen. You know the kind of pen that has multiple colors of ink in it…. He was so thrilled and surprised that I thought he would bust with excitement. He is an artist, you see and loves to draw and create but this simple little thing meant the world to him.

They asked me to talk with and encourage the mothers of young children who live in the village. I had no idea of what to say to women who have absolutely nothing… no work… no livelihood… dirt floors… no electricity… no plumbing… the only clean water source a half mile away… a few dishes and the clothing they were wearing. What to say… since I work with mothers at home, it should have been an easy task…

All mothers around the world want to do the very best for their children. Mothers in the states ask me, ‘how should I prepare for my baby?’ Should I do this or that? What things do they need the most? What products or crib should I buy?

My answer to them is two parts…

The greatest gift you can give your child is the love of God. This world is mean. This world is dangerous. It is not fair. Justice is not given to all. Our children need to know they have a future and a hope.

Money and wealth can’t buy happiness or a bright future. Riches will not give you hope. The only hope and true foundation for the future is Jesus Christ. He alone is our hope!

In the bible, there is a story about a prophet of God and his name was Jeremiah. Jeremiah’s job, as Gods prophet was to say all that God wanted him to say. God did have a message for the people of his country and time and the message was simple. God wanted the people to turn to Him. Return to me was all that God said. And if they would return… repent God would make them a promise.

“I know the plans that I have for you, declares the LORD. They are plans for peace and not disaster plans to give you a future filled with hope. Then you will call to me. You will come and pray to me, and I will hear you” (Jeremiah 29: 11-12).

This is the promise god wants for you and your children. Gopd has a special plan for you and you’re your children. He wants to give you peace, a future and a hope. He wants to take your worry, anxiety, your pain, fears… God loves you and wants you to trust Him but to do this, we must first return to Him and ask His forgiveness for rejecting Him. Our God is mighty. Our God is lovely and tenderhearted, full of grace and mercy. Our God will forgive us if we ask. He is a God of second chances. He will give us mercy if we return to Him.

“We are plagued by our past and our past choices. Jesus offers forgiving love. Our God can redefine us as a new creation… His creation. You may be stuck in yesterday’s choices We try to forget the past but sometimes we get stuck. Jesus invites us to Himself and offers His rescuing love… And our God is big enough to take these things onto his shoulders. This is the same God who walked on the water… He is the creator of the Universe. [He created the sun and moon and stars]. He loves us. He loves you. He loves your sweet, precious children and wants to be their Advocate… to be their best friend” (Thomas April 15, 2012). God can rescue you, if you will turn to Him.

The second gift a mother can give her children is the gift of prayer. Pray for your children. Pray the bible over your children. Pray for them while they are still in the womb. Pray that God will give them Himself, making them as strong and mighty as the mango tree. Pray that God will strengthen them and make His home in their hearts. Pray that they will grow roots in God’s love so that they will know how wide, deep and high it is (Eph 3: 14-18).

Father, God bless these women and their children. You love them more than they know and you so desire for them to let you gather them up like a hen gathers her chicks. Draw these families unto Yourself and give them your favor, your presence, your special attention. In your holy and precious name, Lord Jesus. Amen