We have been discussing being a warrior mom this week. This concept has challenged me after reading the book, Girls with Swords, this year. Am I a soldier mom or a warrior mom?
First a warrior mom is called.
Second, a warrior mom is faithful.
Here are my last three observations as a warrior mom.
A Warrior Mom sees through God’s Eyes.
As a warrior mom I have to focus on what God is doing. I must desire to see the world through His eyes. Am I following His plan or I am fighting it? There are only two choices. When I spend time in God’s word, I know God’s heart, but it is impossible for me to know what He is doing if I am not connected to Him on a regular basis. On the contrary, the soldier only sees what the enemy is doing and follows the General out of duty.
When my kids were little, they wanted their own way. Do yours ever what that? During these seasons, I could only see what I thought the enemy was doing. Yelling ‘no’ at the top of their lungs. Our child was being drawn away and lashing out at me. I thought for sure I needed to “whip him into shape”. But if I took a moment to focus on what God was doing, I would have adjusted my expectations accordingly. Our child was just testing his boundaries. All of our children are born sinners and it is my job to help them find truth and to help train them in righteousness. But if I can take a moment and see God’s perspective, then I could still be his mom. Love him and not need to be his best friend. He argues and that is not okay. Setting boundaries and loving them is the best way to reach their hearts. Remembering God loves them and created them for greatness helps me see the my children through His eyes.
A Warrior Mom controls her thoughts.
I love the quote from Lisa Bevere, “All Warriors understand all victories begin in private.“ When we are all alone or just alone in our minds, here is where the true battle is fought and won. Here is where our character is tested.
As a mom, if the evil one can get you to:
Feel like a victim, instead of a mom
Feel like a servant, instead of a mom
Feel like a basket case, instead of a mom.
Feel like a failure, instead of a mom.
Feel like a prisoner, instead of a mom.
Then he has won.
I love what the books says, “Warriors learn to trust the whispered call deep within, while the soldiers feel pressure to respond to the noise that surrounds them.”
By capturing your thoughts and taking them captive, God voice comes through much clearer. There is less of an attitude of looking around at what everyone else is doing or listening to the voices around us. If we are taking our thoughts captive, then the small still voice comes through. I often miss it!
It takes the heart of a warrior to live up to the character God expects from us. What kinds of choices do you make in private? Do they live up to our love for God? Are we really sold out to him?
A Warrior Mom takes action in her home.
The book says “Warriors speak bold words of faith and take action; soldiers give status reports.”
I have a friend named Betsy who complains constantly about things that are happening in her home. She is upset at how her four year old daughter talks to her and is disobedient; yet, she continues to spoil her without any discipline. She complains about her marriage; how her husband doesn’t do this and doesn’t help her here; yet, she doesn’t spend her time taking care of him either. She complains about her house, her family (or lack of), her marriage, etc. She just gives status reports without EVER speaking words of faith or taking action.
I love mentors in my life that encourage me as a mom. I am the MOM. Say it with me. I am the MOM. It means I have the power to do anything in my home. I can make it life-giving or joy-sucking. I can create an environment of love or of exhaustion. I CAN. Everyone, your husbands included, are looking for your direction, your plan.
My dad used to always say. “Happy wife, Happy life.” While I agree that is a good saying for our husbands to adopted, we should be saying to ourselves “Happy Mom. Happy Home.”
I am also the protector of the home. I am a warrior for my kids in this culture. I am not always liked by them. I protect them from culture, from food choices, from media, from pornography. These are my areas to take action. I am the Warrior Mom – changing the world one child at a time!
What are you doing to be a warrior mom?
*Ideas taken from the book Girls with Swords: How to Carry your Cross like a Hero by Lisa Bevere
~Jeanna Young
When Jeanna is not writing, speaking, event planning, or homeschooling, she can be found scrapbooking her life, redecorating her home, loving on her husband, planning fun events for her kids or eating healthy to stay cancer-free!
