Putting on the Display of Christ

One day I woke up, dreading to meet with Jesus. 

Your jaw prolly dropped reading this and you are curious as to why.

And if you know me personally, it probably shocked some of you. Quite frankly, it shocked me too. 

But I was. I was dreading waking up early, 5 o’clock early, to meet with Jesus. 

My heart sank to the pit of my stomach even to think I’d feel this way after years of being with Jesus. 

But if I am being honest. I was tired. Tired of trying to get my kids to tag along (of course not that early like me) with none of them wanting to hear the Word. 

I was tired of my mind playing this perfect family gathering scenario that I’d see all over those squared pictures only to see mine struggling to even read one sentence as it bore them out. 

“Is this even worth it Lord, what I am doing to help my family? Do my kids even see?”

Selfish, I know. It sounded so selfish of me to even ask the Lord this when I was dreading to wake up early in the morning to be with my Lord and Savior. 

As I began to take a step back, pause and scope, I began to see other mothers feeling the same way. Dreading and wondering if their kids see the wonderful Jesus we know and desperately want them to know too. I saw them too, wanting this picture perfect scenario. 

It isn’t a bad thing to want our family, our kids and spouse especially, to meet and know Jesus too. I believe it’s our hearts’ intentions for good, wanting them to find salvation and a relationship with Him as we found Him too. 

And they will. 

By our character. 

By displaying Christ in our day to day life. 

If we lash out in anger. If we become so bitter and impatient. If we gossip about others or even show laziness, if we become envious and jealous, negative, boastful and proud, if we neglect prayer and bible reading, if we no longer find ourselves loving the Lord but pursuing the world, these show signs our character reflects nothing of Christ. And it is possible that they reflect that same character if they see it being portrayed. 

But if they see mama grabbing her bible to meet with Jesus downstairs or on the living room couch, with her pen and journal in hand, if they see those honest tears and those heart poured prayers, they too will imitate that soon. 

It’s true. 

I have witnessed both ways. I witnessed the fear I once was bound to which rippled onto my kids.

I’ve seen anger I once was bound to ripple onto them. 

But once I allowed Jesus to transform me, and break those shackles, I have also seen this…

One morning, out of the blue, my oldest daughter grabbed her bible and met me at the table. The other girls followed. 

They had their small journal, pens and highlighters in hand highlighting away and writing away.

Do I know what was said or highlighted? Not really, but the matter of it all was that they were meeting God too. It was a prime example of the love I have of the father which then planted within their hearts. 

Will it stay with them in the rough teen years? I don’t know. I sure hope so, and i believe more than likely it will. What I do know is as young as they are, so tiny yet imaginative they are… it planted that seed and one day, one day, they will go back and reflect on those moments and memories knowing they too can have that relationship with Jesus. 

(And just to note, it is possible they remember all that you have planted in them because not too long ago, my teen daughter remembered quite a bit of things we discussed as her being six, seven, and even eight years old of the bible talks we had. So it does indeed come back to the forefront of their minds, all by the Holy Spirit.)

They see everything we do mama. They may not show it right away. You may have a little chaos and loudness in the morning devotions with your kids. You may not have that “picture perfect memory” of reading together.. (who wants that fakeness anyway?? These are more memorable and fun in my opinion)… They see and it will happen to you too one day. 

Keep being intentional with the Lord. 

Keep pursuing Him. 

Keep coming to Him. 

Keep delighting in Him and His Word.

Keep reading the bible even if you are exhausted, because quite frankly, that exhaustion does vanish once that Word touches our souls. Keep going mama. You can get through this season. This season too shall pass, and one day, you will reflect back on it with laughter. 

Consider it joy now dear mamas. A joy to be in this season. No matter the circumstance.

Verse to Ponder

• Colossians 3:12–15 “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another, and if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other, as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.”

Self-Reflection

These questions are to help us know where our hearts lay, our minds think of, and where we lack Jesus in. They are hard questions but honest ones. BE honest with yourself sis.

• Who am I trying to live for? Christ or myself?
• What and who am I striving for?
• Why do I feel to burdened and the fire for the Lord wanting to burn out?
• What am I chasing? The dream or Our Lord and Savior?
• When I wake up in the mornings, what is the first thing I check? Turn to? Think of? (this displays where our hearts lay)