Growing in Patience

Update: Jessica, congratulations! You won the drawing for the 100 Days of Blessing devotional book. Please email me your address (cheryl@momsinneedofmercy.com), and I will order that for you.
 
This weekend, we celebrated Easter. The Resurrection offers tremendous joy and hope for believers in Christ, as we know: 1) Christ is who He says He is--the Son of God, 2) what He said is true, and 3) He overcame sin and death and gives us the power to do the same. We know we will live forever with Christ and loved ones in a beautiful place after this life is over.

The Resurrection also provides hope and joy for us as mothers.

"Do you need more of God's power in your life? Do you need more of His power to help you mother each day? I have wonderful news for you. As you allow Him, God's power is working in you mightily. Not ordinary power, but the dunamis power of God, the power of God which releases miracles. It is the dunamis power of God which was poured out upon the disciples when they received the Holy Spirit to take the Gospel to the uttermost part of the earth. This is where we get the word dynamite--explosive power!...

Do you have trouble being patient? Are you plagued with anger? You do not have to be defeated any longer. Jesus died on the cross to give you the victory. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, did not die in vain. He died to not only save you from your sin, but to deliver you from your 'self' nature and to change you into the image of His Son. His dunamis power is working in you mightily to reveal God's nature and character in you and through you--to your husband, your children and to the people you associate with in your life.

Let Him work in you mightily. Jesus' blood has been shed to give you a new life. You can have patience because Christ lives in you and He is patient! You can have long-suffering, because Christ in you is longsuffering. He does not fly off the handle! He does not scream and shout! He has long patience and forbearance. And His wonderful life is living in you!...

Not only is Christ living His patient and longsuffering nature in you, but He enables you to do it with joy and thankfulness. Christ in you is joy. In the flesh, you live in defeat, but in Christ, you can bear your burdens with joy. You can put up with those who would naturally drive you mad. You can be patient with your children. You can endure as the power of God works in you mightily!"--Nancy Campbell, 100 Days of Blessing: Devotions for Wives and Mothers

Here are some of my favorite posts that share some practical ideas for growing in patience:
(I realize there are several here. I encourage you to read through them this week as you have extra time. I hope they will bless you.) 

• Change "Clothes" Several Times a Day (Getting Out of Bad Moods)
• Schedules and Sin (confronting the misdeeds and sometimes ugly attitudes of our kids)
• On Being Pleasant
• The Noodles of Wrath (lessons from mischievious acts)
• If Momma Ain't Happy, Ain't Nobody Happy (how to "snap out of it")
• Fighting Discouragement
• Motherhood: It's Stressful Sometimes (but what legacy do we want to leave?)
• Take a Hike (enjoying your family)
• Staying Calm (practical strategies when you feel like you're going to lose it)
• The Good, the Bad, the Ugly (and God's grace in motherhood)
• The Grouchy Ladybug
• A Day With No Sin
• Conquering Anger with Kindness and Goodness
• Leave it Outside 
• The Topic of "Me" Time

Because I have been so blessed by Nancy Campbell's devotional book, I would like you to be encouraged by it, too. As an Easter gift, I will order a copy for one of my readers. Please leave a comment on this post if you would like to be entered. The winner will be posted next Monday.

Sharing with:
Raising Homemakers
Women Living Well