Pearls of Encouragement for Christian
Working Moms
September Edition
Welcome
Online Bible Study
Blog Comments
Article – A Prayer for Troubled Times
Welcome
I’m still amazed at the number
of Christian Working Moms that find our site. Many
remark they having been looking a long time for support
and finding none. So, welcome to all Christian Working
Moms. We now have over 1100 women who have filled
out the Christian Working Mom Survey. Unbelievable!
Again, if you have not filled out the Survey go to
www.christianworkingmom.com
and click on Survey on the home page. Please tell
your friends as well.
Online Bible Study
You asked for it and it is here. For
a long time I have been thinking of writing a Christian
Working Mom’s Bible Study. Several women on
the blog discussed wanting to be part of a Bible Study
and support group. My plan is do a lesson about every
2 to 3 weeks. That gives people plenty of time to
look at the material. We will have a discussion forum
for people to post comments and answers to questions.
The first lesson is on our Identity in Christ. If
you want to join the online Bible Study send an email
to Kimberly@kimberlychastain.com
and put Bible Study in the subject heading. I will
then send you the information of where to log in for
the Bible Study materials and forum. Hope to see a
lot of you there. We can all learn from one another.
Blog Comments
I had a lot of fun reading, on the blog,
the inventions you would love to have as a mother.
The current question is what advice would you give
to a new Mom? A lot of women come visit the Christian
Working Mom site in anticipation of becoming a new
Mom. As always you can post your own comments or questions.
To visit the blog, go to http://kimberlychastain.com/my-journal.
Article – A Prayer for
Troubled Times
Do you sometimes cry out to God? Do
you wonder where he is and how is acting in your life?
You are not alone. David in the Psalms often cried
out to God. We can learn a lot from David in how he
prayed during troubled times.
If you have a moment I would encourage
you to read Psalm 13, it is a short psalm, only 6
verses. This psalm is called a lament. David is pouring
his soul out to God.
I want us to look at 3 things that David
did, that we can learn from as well.
First, in the first 2 verses of that Psalm David poured
out his heart to God, he didn’t hold anything
back or sugarcoat things. David felt forgotten by
God and that God was not there. Are you afraid to
be honest with God, do you hide your true feelings?
I often think in some ways it is funny when we try
to hide our feelings from God. He knows what we are
feeling and thinking all ready. David was not afraid
to tell God how it was for him. We need to come to
God with our bare emotions and lay them out to him
and honestly cry out for him.
The second thing we see is David, in
verse 3 and 4, petitions God for what he wants. But
there is one important point we need to notice. David
says God if my enemies overcome me, then my enemies
will say they prevailed over God. David clearly says
God do not just help me, help me so you will have
the victory and you will be glorified. I find this
point eye opening and convicting for me. How often
do we pray God help me with this, protect my children,
help my husband, make my boss nicer, etc. and then
we stop right there. How different would our prayers
and lives be if we said, God for your glory and to
show who you are to others protect my children, help
me, and so on. We need to learn to pray not just for
our relief, but for God to be glorified in our circumstances.
That kind of prayer has a totally different perspective.
The third thing David does in verses
5 and 6 is he focuses on God’s loving kindness
and mercy. David recalls how God has been faithful
in the past and trusts that God will continue to be
faithful. He then starts praising God. In the midst
of his trouble he still praises God. I have found
the best antidote to worry or a depressed mood is
to begin praising God. When I remember who he is and
what he has done for me then my mood and worries go
away. Why, because my God is big enough to handle
and take care of all my problems, the big ones and
the little ones. He cares about them all.
In conclusion, we can learn a lot from
David about praying during troubled times. We need
to pour out our heart’s desire to God and know
that he can and will listen. It is okay to question
God. But, we must remember coupled with questioning
God is trusting that he is in control of our lives.
We need to ask for God’s direction in our lives
so he will be glorified not just so we can get out
of a jam. We need to remember how God has been faithful
in the past and praise him for all his wonderful mercies.
Can I encourage you to pray differently
this week using David as an example of how to share
our requests with God? May we glorify God in everything
we do.
Till next time,
Kimberly Chastain
Kimberly Chastain, MS, LMFT is the Christian Working
Mom Coach and a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.
She is the founder of CWMU and author of 2 ebooks
that can be found at www.christianworkingmom.com.
For a free, initial coaching session send an email
to Kimberly@kimberlychastain.com
with free coaching in the subject heading.
