He’s twelve and a half.
Not a young boy anymore, and not even close to a man. Stuck in that limbo of life, often riding a swinging pendulum back and forth to each side as he waits – not so patiently – for his mind and body to mature.
He’s independent and inquisitive in his ways, and his mind never stops. He reads everything he can get his hands on, learning more and more about the world around him. And with this comes a potential awareness of this world that I’m not quite sure I’m ready for him to know.
There is a culture working oh-so-hard to lure him one way. Oh Father, draw Him Your way. In You alone he’ll find true peace…
Protection.
Purity.
Purpose.
Help me teach him to fiercely guard his heart and mind. Continually teach me to guard mine.
Before the sun ever announces a new day, my mind is tempted to wander and feast on the distractions this world has to offer. The battle for my heart’s allegiance rages before my feet ever hit the floor. Where it lands – what I allow to enter in – will determine my choices, my attitude, my interactions with others, my obedience, and ultimately my effectiveness for the Kingdom.
So before the distractions bombard me and the world gets loud around me, I turn to the Source that will surely equip me for battle. His words fill my mind with truth. His Spirit invades with His confidence and strength far beyond what I could ever produce on my own.
And there, He prepares me to be an overcomer…
He makes me brave to obey.
“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
Where the rubber meets the road? In order to flee one thing, we must pursue another.
I tell my boy ‘no’ to a popular book that “everyone” is reading. At first his heart is heavy; he’s reminded once again that he’s a stranger in this world. Oh, sweet child, how I know this feeling all too well. Pursuing God wholeheartedly while living in this world won’t make us popular, that’s for sure.
But slowly, over time, it will make us more like Him.
And as that God-powered bravery wells up inside of him, he says the words that make the struggle worthwhile…
“Thank you.”
Even in the struggle, thank you Father that your way brings peace and life.
Thank you for a joy that exists in the midst of the hard.
Thank you that Your truth brings real contentment and identity.
Thank you, God, that You give stability and freedom that this world could never offer.
Thank you that when I fill my mind with Your Word, I find what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy.
I find everything that my heart longs for.
I find You.
Jesus, guard our hearts. Protect our minds before the day even begins. Help us to be brave to obey You, no matter the cost…
“You shall therefore love the LORD your God and keep his charge, his statutes, his rules, and his commandments always.” – Deuteronomy 11:1
At His feet,
*Let’s talk: What one step can you take to be brave to obey God this week?
Did you know when you purchase a Love God Greatly journal you are helping us:
1. Create more ongoing Bible studies.
2. Provide valuable leadership training to women who would otherwise not receive it.
3. Allow us to generously give God’s Word away around the world, equipping women, small churches and ministries who would otherwise not be able to afford these valuable Bible studies.
THANK YOU for your partnership and support! TOGETHER we are helping to change the world…one Bible study, one translation, one woman at a time!
Grab your Choose Brave journal today in our online store!
Awesome word Whitney – thanks for sharing! I love your articulation of the daily battle for our heart’s allegiance before our feet hit the floor – it is so very true! I am encouraged by your testimony and share your prayer request to be brave to obey. I think one step that I can take to be brave this week is to be more intentional about avoiding the things that I know will distract me (e.g. random, unfocused surfing on the internet).
LJones,
Thank you for joining us on the blog today and sharing your step for being brave to o ey Him! Social media and the internet can be do entertaining but also very distracting and addictive. I came to a place not so long ago that I had to limit my activity mainly related to this ministry and Bible Studies. I’m not where I need to be, but much closer than I was a d heading in a much more positive direction! Praying the same for you today. God Bless You!
Oh my! It is like God gave you a window into my world. Our 12 and a half year old bonus-soon-to-be-adopted son and I just had nearly this identical situation last weekend! Thank you for putting into words what my heart was trying to express. Love and prayers as you continue to bravely obey the Lord in the ministry He’s given you!
Tami,
Congratulations! Thank you for joining us and sharing on the blog today. God knows what we need to hear and when we need to hear it, doesn’t He? Praying for you and your growing family. God Bless You All!
Thank you Whitney! Great words. I even shared them with my hubby. I wish when my child were young that I had a blog like this to encourage to raise my children to walk closer to God.
Cindy,
Thank you for sharing on the blog and joining us today. I wish I had this ministry when raising my children also, but God was right there with us guiding us all the way! We can always use what we are learning now for the future to aid our grown children raise their children!! God BlessYou and your family.
Thank you for this! I am currently pregnant with my first child, a son, and reading this hit home for me. I find myself thinking about these things when he gets older and how we will work together as parents to help guide in in the direction that God wants us to go instead of the world. Thank you for these inspiring words!