A Homemaker’s Devotional Life
What, really, is our devotional life? Is it only the private time we spend in Bible reading and prayer each day? Or is it more than that? Webster's dictionary defines devotion as religious worship, prayers, loyalty, faithfulness, & deep affection. From these definitions we see that our devotional life can, and should, be an all day experience.
To function properly as a Christian and a homemaker we need to feel close to God. That closeness, the worship, adoration, and prayer that it comprises, should feed and nourish our soul just as we provide proper physical nourishment for our families.
Out of that closeness, the love that flows between God and us, will come a desire to stay in this warm relationship and give ourselves in service to Him. When we are over-anxious about our daily schedule, or a pressing problem, it will hinder our communication with God. We need, then, to practice 1 Peter 5:7, "casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you."
Just as we express our devotion to a marriage partner, so we should express our devotion to God. Sometimes it should be verbally, sometimes it can be silently.
The Psalmist did this often. Psalm 8:1 is a good example. "OLord our Lord, how excellant is thy name in all the earth." We should, throughout each day, have some experiences that move us to express our love and appreciation to God for all He has done for us.
In the formative years of a child's life repetition plays a big part in their learning process. It's a challenge to Continually feel an attitude of worship as you prompt a little one to pray, "Now I lay me down to sleep " or "God is great and God is good without putting— our ".whole After heart about into theit 8. th But timeit itis isan easier opportunity to mouth tothe worship words , and it can be made meaningful by the attitude we take toward it.
Thankfulness is a must. Thinking about parents in Third World countries whose children go to bed hungry, if they have a bed at all, should spur us to thankfulness and worship and give meaning even to a child's repetitive prayer.
A devoted life issues forth in song and service. Sing as you work, even though you may feel you can't carry a tune. God hears the praise and I am sure, since He gave our talents, He does not mind if we are off key.
Each season of the year has fresh and lovely reasons to praise God.
Spring, with it's new life bursting forth, reminds us of God's faithfulness year after year.
Summer. A time of fulfillment and harvest. A time for praise for the earth's bounties. Or, a time to think of an unsaved friend and Jeremiah 8:20. "The summer is ended, and (she is) not saved."
Fall is a good time,'as we are hanging wash, or gathering late harvests, to lift our eyes unto the hills, or just to a single tree, and worship.
The gentle drifting of pure, white snow covering up the earth's drabness and turning it into beauty reminds us that our sins, though they were scarlet, are now white as snow.
God literally showers us with opportunities to worship and express our devotion to Him. But we must be alert or they will slip by disguised as a routine day.
As we worship God in church or other services, sometimes a phrase or verse will stick with us that will act as a spur to other devotional experiences. Approx. 12 years ago in a service the minister used the phrase, "The path of God's approach."
That has stayed with me all these years. In difficult situations I find myself asking, "Is this the path of God's approach to me?" It helps me to look at trying times in a more objective way and praise God as I see His hand at work.
As homemakers we have ample opportunity to pray throughout the day. Many of our
tasks take little mental effort. It is surprising how many more things we can thank God for, how many more people we can remember, using some of our work time as prayer time.
During everyone's life there come times of stress. Times when our daily routine falls to pieces and we struggle to maintain close communication with God. It could be illness for us or one of our family. It can drain a mother's physical and emotional strength to have a small child very sick, or in the hospital. Or perhaps death touched our family with it's stark, cold hand. It can be a different experience for each of us. Staying close to God every day will help to prepare us for the times when we need to say, "I'm tired, Lord. And hurt. But I want to stay close to you."
God will honor our desire and be close and strengthening at such times.
Family worship is another good time to express our love and devotion to God. The capstone of our daily devotional experience should be our private time alone with God. There is no one time of day that is right for everyone. We must each choose the time of day that works best for us. However, it should not be a time when we usually feel pushed to start the laundry, sit down at the sewing machine, or give the baby his breakfast. Our time should be consistent, so that as that time of day approaches we look forward to our fellowship with God.
Above all, be watchful, and looking for our Lord's return. Last Friday evening after a day of rain, the sun broke through the clouds and reflected on one lovely, fluffy cloud bank. It was so beautiful I caught my breath and asked, "Now, Lord?" But it was not to be. But someday He will come for us. And the more we love and feel close to someone, the more we anticipate His coming.
As mother, grandmothers, Sunday School teachers, we want to touch the rising generation, and those outside of Christ, with a contagious love and zeal for God that will help them to want to walk the same path. We can do this only as we maintain such love and zeal in our own lives.
Our Lord's command, in Matthew 22:37 is to ' 'love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind." That is the ultimate devotional life we should all be striving for, with His help.
Rachel Martin