Delight vs Detest
"We used to want it all, now we just want to pee alone." I came across this quote about being a mom on pinterest and thought it was hilarious. On a more serious note, Being a wife and mom is one of the hardest jobs I could've asked for but it can also be one of the most rewarding jobs as well. And the challenge I face most often is my attitude.
The Holy Spirit brought me to a word study this week on the word Delight. Delight is used many times in the bible in different ways but the way that caught my eye this morning was in reference to the working in my home.
Proverbs 31:13 says, "She looks for wool and flax and works with her hands in delight."
Delight in this verse means that this woman takes pleasure in her work, is pleasant and purposeful, has a willing heart and is content with the work God has given her. I don't know about other moms, but I find all of these meanings of this word to be quite challenging in day to day life.
I love being a stay at home mom. It means I can do what I need or want to do on my time schedule. It is also challenging in the sense that I must battle my fleshly heart attitude of wanting some sort of award, money, or accolade that I can see or touch for my work.
A lot of my job includes things such as poop, making and cleaning up meals, straightening the house, and laundry laundry laundry. It is easy for me to have a heart that detests this type of work or gets bitter about all the things I do that no one sees or cares about, but this is where His word helps my heart like nothing else can.
His word says, "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as if working for the Lord and not for man." Colossians 3:23 These words give me a whole new perspective on my monotonous activities. The Lord sees all I do and if I choose to do my -stay at home mom- work with the right heart attitude it is pleasing to Him. I am convinced that what is most pleasing to Him is heartfelt obedience that is never seen by another person but is only noticed by Him.
This is not a guilt driven accusation this morning but a holy spirit inspired reminder and conviction for me. The Pulpit commentary says it like this: "Christ's ways are ways of pleasantness." In other words, if God's will is for me to stay at home and be a housewife and stay at home mom, than I am to have a heart attitude of pleasantness about my work. "His commands are not grievous, His yoke is easy." This does not mean the tasks at hand are easy or will always make me superficially happy but that if I am looking to Him to provide the grace I need for my work that day; I will not have a spirit of dreadfulness but I will find in Him all I need to complete my work joyfully.
The pulpit commentary continues to sum it up like this: This woman works "not through force, fear of punishment, or constraint, but in a heart of love for God and others- not viewing her work selfishly but all with the view of God's glory in mind."
I have heard it said so many times and in different ways that the woman sets the tone for the whole house. I have seen this to be true in my family. I choose joy and most everyone else is set on a path to joy; I choose bitterness and self pity and everyone's attitudes in my house began to go downhill. I want to choose to take pleasure my work, be pleasant and purposeful, and have a willing heart to serve and to be content. Most importantly, having God's glory always in mind. This should be my ultimate purpose and goal. My mind so easily wanders from these things and God's glory so today I am asking Christ to do through me what is impossible for me to do on my own.
I'm praying these verses: Lord today in whatever I do, don’t let selfishness or pride be my guide. Make me humble, honoring others more than myself. Help me not to focus or be interested only in my own life and what I want to do..... Philippians 2:3-4
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