Release: 10 Days to Embrace God's Plan for Your LifeExemplo

Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. I CORINTHIANS 16:13 NIV

When God called me to be a stay-at-home wife and mom, I really didn’t know what to expect. I had a semi-idea of what it would look like, but for the most part, this was the biggest leap of faith I had ever taken. As someone who had worked in some capacity since age twelve and who came from a working-parent household, this was a very unfamiliar area for me. I started getting the feeling to “come home” full-time after my daughter was born. Being a first-time mom of a newborn made me see life in such a different way. It was no longer just about me and my husband. I had a human depending wholly on me. Her tiny self and the health issues I experienced early in her life made me long to be with her at all times. I cried when I dropped her off for her first day of daycare and knew that my season of working full-time was coming to an end.

It took two-and-a-half years and one more child before I would transition home. Over the course of those years, God increased my desire to be home to a point where that is all I wanted to do. I just wanted to be a homemaker and create a peaceful, loving environment for my family. After speaking with my husband and watching God shift my life so this could happen, I had a memorable first day at home. I heard God say, “Do the dishes.” He said that to me because I woke up saying, “Okay God, it’s Your plan now. How am I going to reach the nations for Your glory?” For some reason, it hadn’t dawned on me yet that the purpose of that season was to be at home. A little confused, I thought, Is this what being a homemaker is all about? God, I need a plan to be a mompreneur! He said, “Go do the dishes.” Perplexed and a bit confused, I went to do the dishes. As I was doing the dishes, I heard my phone buzz. It was an opportunity I never even sought out. I thought to myself, I simply did the dishes and God provided. That is when I first learned to be on guard, stand firm in the faith, and be courageous.

Being on guard meant not being distracted by worldly things or what society says I should be doing but instead keeping my mind focused to think of Him and what He tells me to do. I woke up every day to pray, to read my devotional and Bible, and to meditate on His Scripture. That was a part of the reprogramming of my mind. Standing firm in the faith became an action word based upon my response to His direction. Being courageous was simply about knowing. Knowing that He is God and that I can trust Him in all circumstances.

Prayer:

Father, I don’t know what the future holds, but You do. Release my need to do things my way and my need to know the plans. Lead and guide me every step, and give me courageous faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.