Lysa Terkeurst Facebook Post

I opened the anonymous letter and my heart sank. It was from a mom who wanted to make sure I had a list of all the ways one of my daughters was falling short. There in black and white she listed my daughter's mistakes, shortcomings and frailties.

And then just to make sure I took her nameless letter seriously, she informed me she'd be sending a copy to my pastor.

My initial reaction was figure out who sent this so I could call her. Talk this through face-to-face. Assure her my husband and I were not only aware of some struggles my daughter was having but also working diligently to help her course-correct.

But as I reread the letter, I discerned it wasn't sent from a place of love for my family or a heart that wanted to help.

I sat on the edge of my bed and cried.

It's so hard to have someone attack you in an area that's already rubbed raw with hardship. Her letter was like a bullet straight to my heart.

However, it was also a wake-up call to get more intentional in praying for my daughter. I thought about her struggles a lot. I talked about her struggles. I worried about her struggles.

But thinking about, talking about and worrying about something is not the same as praying about it.

I determined to turn this letter that felt like a bullet into a blessing by using it as a catalyst to ramp up my prayer life.

Through my tears I cried out to the Lord, “I will not sacrifice Your grace for my child on the altar of people’s opinions. Of course I want my daughter to walk the straight and narrow path of great choices. But I trust You Lord to write her testimony. My main goal for her is not behavior modification but total heart transformation. I want her to want You, Lord, and Your best for her life. Give me the courage to not just pray about my daughter, but to pray her all the way through this.”

Praying her through the ups and downs wasn’t easy. There were days I wondered if God was even hearing my prayers.

It’s tough to pray someone all the way through a messy, hard, complicated situation and not see answers. Maybe you’ve been there. Maybe you are there now.

Can I speak hope into your heart with 3 ways to press through unanswered prayers?

1. Know with confidence God hears your prayers.

1 John 5:14 reminds us, “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us” (NIV).

2. Trust that prayer makes a difference, even when you don’t see the difference.

It may take a while for you to see God answer your prayers. But don’t miss an “in the meantime answer” you can receive right away. Philippians 4: 6-7 reminds us of the immediate answer to every prayer: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (NIV)

Did you catch it? It’s the peace of God that will guard your heart and mind in the process while you’re waiting for God to reveal His answer to your request. When you pray, you can trust you are doing your part and God will certainly do His part.

3. Tell fear it has no place in this conversation.

These prayers are your gateway to feel an assurance you don’t see yet. But fear will beg you to focus on the problem more than God’s promises. Isaiah 41:10 says, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (NIV).

It’s been a year and a half since I got that hard letter that prompted more frequent prayers for my daughter … that bullet that turned into a blessing. I recently visited her at college and could hardly believe my eyes.

She’s a completely different girl.

At one point during our time together, I asked her, “What finally made following Jesus wholeheartedly click for you?” She said, “Mom, I’ve made friends who love Jesus. I saw a joy in them that I wanted. So, I started doing what they do even when I didn’t want to. At first I thought getting up to do devotions was unrealistic, prayer meetings were boring, and listening to praise music, excessive. But as I kept doing these things, the Lord started changing my thought patterns. And when I started thinking about life from the standpoint of truth, I had so much more joy.”

She then paused and said words I’ve longed to hear and prayed to hear for so long, “Mom, I’ve just completely fallen in love with Jesus.”

I can hardly type those words without crying.

I pray this infuses your heart with hope to keep praying. I pray you believe God can take the things others intended to harm you or the ones you love, and use them for good to accomplish His purposes as Genesis 50:20 reminds us.

Read more from my Proverbs 31 Ministries Encouragement for Today devotion by clicking the link: http://bit.ly/11jAVp7

"The Moments We Don't Capture With Pictures" by Lysa Terkeurst

In need of refreshment today...I pray this is a cup of cool water to your heart and blesses your soul.
Click the link below.....

http://proverbs31.org/devotions/devo/page/2/

The Perfect Parenting Formula

Ever feel like reading a vast array of parenting books and soliciting advice from everywhere left you feeling confused...like you were messing up your kid? Follow the link below to read an insightful blog by Lysa Terkeurst of Proverbs 31 ministries. 

http://proverbs31.org/devotions/devo/the-perfect-parenting-formula/

Imperfect Progress

We can be so hard on ourselves. As moms, we strive to do things well, knowing little eyes are watching and ready to imitate without any given warning. It is a healthy thing to evaluate, look at ourselves, and see what challenges the Lord places before us so we can better reflect His image. 

As we sit in His presence, and allow His Word to do a work, there will always be change...it's ok. It's good. It's healthy. 

Tuesday night I was at a small group Bible study which was so refreshing. Every woman felt the freedom to be transparent and share. It was freeing to know I am not the only imperfect mommy there is. The Lord was hoping I would catch that! The study "Unglued" by Lysa Terkeurst, introduced us to "imperfect progress" - the process we go through here on earth. Imperfection getting wisdom, from the perfect One, and allowing us the grace to move forward. 

Moms, realize you are an imperfect progress! He is doing a work in and through you! You are not perfect. It's ok. HE is the only perfect parent! Breathe. You will see the fruit of your labor if you don't give up. 

Recognize your struggles, put some practical things in place that will help propel you into progress, and realize the journey isn't over...in fact it's just begun! Think of one mom you can share your struggle with, and ask her to check in once a week on your "imperfect progress." Journal it. You may be surprised at how much God does when we submit and hold each other accountable to change.

Quieting the Voices in My Head

 Finally, brothers and sisters, 

whatever is true, 

whatever is noble, 

whatever is right, 

whatever is pure, 

whatever is lovely, 

whatever is admirable

—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—

think about such things. 

- Philippians 4:8

Last night, as I painted the kids' bathroom, I listened to a webcast by Lysa Terkeurst called, "Inside Chatter." The whole message was about quieting those negative voices in our minds and remembering truth instead. I think this happens so often in life... especially as a mom. 

Many times we question who we are, what we are doing, and how will others see me. Instead I need to  allow the Lord to define who I am. After all I am now a new creation in Christ. Forgiven. He throws my sin into the depths of the ocean and remembers them no more. Unfortunately we have an enemy that likes to remind us of our past failures with the hopes of stifling ministry the Lord has planned.

A few summers ago, at a pool playdate, a friend shared how she felt like a "failure as a mom." I could SO relate to her feelings, because I too had thought that at times. It was so refreshing to hear another mom express that. At that moment...I knew I was not alone. The Lord allowed me to see the friends He placed around me were ones that were a safe haven to share in. 

Lysa, during the webcast, shared how we need to find at least one friend we can confide in. To quiet the "inside chatter" that goes on in our heard. Satan wants to paralyze us by those polluting thoughts. If we get the courage up to share it with a friend, we allow opportunity for them to stand in the gap and pray for us in this area. As we tell another, it also gives room for encouragement and hope from the friends Christ has placed in our life. 

Do you have a friend you can confide in and pray with?

If not, pray for one. Ask the Lord to bless you with a godly friend who you can grow together with. 

Remember that the "inside chatter" that is negative, condemning, and hopeless is not from the Lover of Your Soul, Jesus, but instead from the enemy who hopes to stifle what God has in store for you.

From Overpowered to Empowered by Lysa Terkeurst

January 10, 2013 From Overpowered to Empowered By Lysa TerKeurst

"But He said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV)

It was one of those days. I was driving to the airport in the pouring rain. The skies were grey. The day felt a bit gloomy. And honestly, so did I. 

There were just a lot of little things swarming my thoughts. Feelings of inadequacy stinging. "There are so many things I'm responsible for and never enough hours in the day. I do enough to keep things from sinking. But I just wonder if I'm doing anything well. I don't think I am ... doing anything well."

The more I focused on these thoughts, the more overpowered I became. The more overpowered I became, the more withdrawn I felt.

I pulled into the parking space and started the fight with my luggage. My suitcase has two wheels missing. And of course I keep intending to do something about this. But I don't have time. So I make do with a crazy suitcase and a crazy life and a crazy sense I should just pack my family up and move out west somewhere. Live on a ranch where we grow our own food and I cook beans in a black pot over an open flame.

Surely that would fix everything.

Except that I know it wouldn't.

Because the chaos isn't from my circumstances. It's inside me.

I boarded the plane. I stared out the window. I watched the grey clouds envelop us.
And then the grey broke.

Suddenly, we rose above the clouds and the sun was shining brightly. The sky was fabulously clear.

The clouds were just a temporary covering. They didn't stop the sun from shining. They just prevented my eyes from seeing the sun. And it wasn't just the sky that appeared a little brighter. My mood did as well.

I started to shift from feeling overpowered to empowered as I realized three things:

Just because I feel it doesn't make it real.
Just like I felt the sun was gone but it wasn't, I might feel like I'm not doing anything well, but it doesn't make it true. The fact that I have weaknesses doesn't make everything about me weak. I have plenty of strengths.

All I have to do is ask a couple of my friends or my family members to help me see what I do well. I can celebrate those, and then get a plan for bettering things that need improvement. I can start by identifying one thing to improve on this month. And do a little toward making that one thing better.

There are a lot of people who would trade their best day for my worst day.
Yes, I have a lot to manage. And yes, sometimes things get a little foggy. But that doesn't mean I have to stay swallowed up in the grey. That means I need to get my head above the clouds and see all the many places where the sun is shining brightly in my life. So, I can start making a list of things for which I need to be thankful.

My mind needs some space to think.
If I always run at a breakneck pace, I'm eventually going to break. My mind is a powerful tool, capable of seeing things that can be done more efficiently and effectively if I give myself time to think. When is the last time I just sat quietly with a pen and paper and asked the Lord to help me think?

As 2 Corinthians 12:9 teaches, God's power is made perfect in weakness. When I'm sinking in thoughts of inadequacy and plans to relocate out west, I remember that my ability is not based on what I can do. My ability and strength come from the One who can do all things. With the Lord working in me and through my weaknesses, I can feel the transformation from being overpowered to empowered taking place.

If the clouds have been looming close lately, maybe it's time to stop. Pause. Lift your eyes to an altitude that can rearrange your attitude.

Dear Lord, only You can provide all I need to stay the course. Please replenish me with a new attitude as I try to see above my grey clouds today. Help me to refocus my attention to You. In Jesus' Name, Amen.


Reflect and Respond:
1. Identify one thing to improve on this month.
2. Make a list of five things you are thankful for.
3. Commit 5-10 minutes today to sit quietly with a pen and paper and ask the Lord to help you think.

Power Verses:
Psalm 34:17-18, "The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." (NIV)


Related Resources:
God gave us feelings to experience life, not destroy it! If you're feeling overpowered by your emotions, add Lysa TerKeurst's Unglued to your reading list.

The accompanying Unglued Bible Study will also help you understand what the Bible says about better ways to react. To order your copy click here.

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