Count others more significant than yourself? Really? I mean, who does<\/i> that?<\/p>\n
Mothers. Mothers do that.\u00a0 Or, at least they should do that.\u00a0 If you haven\u2019t had a mother who sacrificed and loved you the way she should have, I\u2019m sorry.\u00a0 But there is Someone who has filled her role. There is Someone who counts you more than He counts Himself.\u00a0 There\u2019s Someone who died to save you from your sin so that you can live forever with Him in Heaven.\u00a0 That Person is Jesus, and He loves you unconditionally. \u00a0I love this quote by Jerry Bridges, a notable Christian author.\u00a0 It reminds me of a mother\u2019s love for her children:<\/p>\n
\n\u201cGod\u2019s unfailing love for us is an objective fact affirmed over and over in the Scriptures. It is true whether we believe it or not. Our doubts do not destroy God\u2019s love, nor does our faith create it. It originates in the very nature of God, who is love, and it flows to us through our union with His beloved Son.\u201d — Jerry Bridges, Christian author<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Right in suit with caring more about others than yourself falls our friendships with other women.\u00a0 Do you have those? How are they? Can you think of a girlfriend who you know would be there for you if you needed someone to talk to, cry to, receive godly advice from, or just goof around with? If you don\u2019t have a friend like that, I encourage you to seek one.\u00a0 My mother told me that when I was a toddler, she didn\u2019t have many girlfriends.\u00a0 When I entered preschool, she had been praying for a good friend to come into her life.\u00a0 God was faithful! Through a fun course of events, He placed another family into my family\u2019s life, and our friendship continues to this day.\u00a0 Not only did we gain a friendship, but this family led my family closer to God.\u00a0 Our faith was strengthened through that friendship.<\/p>\n
Do you have a friend who causes your relationship with God to deepen?\u00a0 Does she encourage you to grow and walk closer with Him daily?\u00a0 If not, I pray you seek, invest, and spend time with godly women in your church, Bible study, or even with this group online! \u00a0Proverbs 27:17 reminds us that “iron sharpens iron.” \u00a0Do you have an \u201ciron\u201d friend in your life? Friendship with like-minded women is crucial to your spiritual growth, and I\u2019ve seen it create accountability and a safe place in my own life.\u00a0 If you already have your \u201ciron\u201d friend or two, then don\u2019t forget to nurture those friendships with love and attention.<\/p>\n
Praise Him!<\/p>\n
Carissa<\/p>\n
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Let\u2019s Pray:<\/strong><\/p>\n
Heavenly Father, thank You for our innate desires to mother, care for, and encourage those in our lives.\u00a0 I pray that we will apply these desires in the lives of our children, future families, marriage, friendships, and even acquaintances.\u00a0 I pray that Your love that dwells in each of us will overflow to those around us.\u00a0 Father, thank You for the gift of girlfriends and friendships.\u00a0 Lord, I pray that our friendships will grow as we all seek to know You and serve You better each and every day.\u00a0 In your Holy Name we pray, Amen.<\/p>\n
Your Assignment:<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n
Do you like kids as much as I do? I can\u2019t be the only creeper out there! What does your heart desire with regard to children and a family?\u00a0 Do you feel the desire to \u201cmother\u201d as our authors discuss? \u00a0 In the past, what has held you back from forming friendships with other women? How do you plan on changing that for the future?<\/p>\n
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