A Prayer for Flexibility in Our PlanningBy Laura Bailey "You can make many plans‚ but the Lord's purpose will prevail." – Proverbs 19:21 NLT My phone buzzed‚ and my children's school appeared on the caller ID. My initial thought was to send it to voicemail with only thirty minutes left in the day; this couldn't be anything of major importance– probably‚ just one of those automatic dialers. But something told me I should answer‚ "Mrs. Bailey; your child has a fever; you need to come to pick her up." My heart sank‚ but not for the right reason. Yes‚ I was concerned that my child was sick‚ and I hated to think of her sitting in the nurse's office‚ pitifully waiting for me to come and rescue her. I was upset because her sickness meant that our weekend plans were out the window. I know; I probably won’t win any mother of the year awards with that admission.  The last few weeks had been incredibly busy for our family. My husband and I barely got a chance to speak most days‚ surviving off a peck and a few text messages to sustain our relationship. We needed a  date night‚ and just that morning‚ a relative offered to keep the girls so we could have dinner sans three rambunctious kiddos. On the way to school‚ I became more agitated‚ thinking about the numerous times illnesses or something else with the kids thwarted our attempts at some mommy and daddy alone time. Spending time with my husband is a good thing‚ and working on our marriage is vital‚ so why did it seem that something always came up every time we planned to go out? In Proverbs 19: 21‚ Solomon understood the importance of having a good plan. He most assuredly ascribed to the "those who fail to plan‚ plan to fail" mentality. Maybe his reason for stressing the importance of a good plan was that he oversaw all the intricate details involved in designing and building the temple and other important structures in his kingdom. Whatever the reason‚ in Solomon’s wisdom‚ he reinforced throughout Proverbs the importance of consulting with godly counsel‚ seeking God’s will‚ and all the vital parts of the planning process.  However‚ Solomon also warns us that we mustn't hold our plans with a tight fist but rather an open palm. Humans can provide the perfect plan‚ outline the right roadmap for success‚ or perfect their proposal‚ but only the Lord's intentions will come to fruition.   That doesn't mean we should neglect to make any arrangements‚ abandon thinking about the future‚ or squash excitement for an upcoming event. However‚ we do have to remain flexible in our planning because sometimes our plans don’t work out the way we hope. Sometimes we need the reminder that God’s will trumps our plans (James 4:15). After I got my daughter home and settled‚ I updated the sitter that we wouldn’t be coming tonight and canceled the weekend plans‚ and instead of annoyance‚ I felt relief. More than we needed date night‚ God knew our family needed to rest and relax. The unforeseen illness and canceled plans resulted in a cleared calendar and reminded us how God works all things‚ good and bad‚ out for our good and His glory. May we approach planning humbly‚ learning to adjust and adapt when things don't work out how we'd hoped. Because God is all-knowing and loves us dearly‚ we can trust His plans are always better than anything we orchestrate. May this truth free us to hold our plans loosely and adapt quickly when things don’t work out the way we hope. Let's Pray Dear God‚Thank you for your sovereign control over all areas of our lives. Please guide us as we seek to do Your will by leaning on Your words in the Scriptures. Help us to be flexible in our planning‚ approaching planning with humility and surrender.  May we not rely on our own ability‚ leaning on godly wisdom and trusting that You’re always working for the good of your people. When our plans fail‚ give us the grace to adjust and adapt‚ finding an opportunity to be joyful in our circumstances. Let us be encouraged not to boast about tomorrow but take great delight in serving you today in everything we say and do.  Thank you for your salvation plan‚ sending your Son to redeem your creation from this fallen world. We love you. Amen. Photo credit: ©GettyImages/ChainarongPrasertthai Laura Bailey is a Bible teacher who challenges and encourages women to dive deep in the Scriptures‚ shift from an earthly to an eternal mindset‚ and filter life through the lens of God's Word.  She is the author of Beyond the Noise‚ and loves any opportunity to speak and teach women of all ages. She is a wife and momma to three young girls. Connect with her on her website‚  www.LauraRBailey.com‚ Facebook and Instagram. Teach Us to Pray is a FREE prayer podcast hosted by iBelieve writer Christina Patterson. Each week‚ she gives you practical‚ real-life tips on how to grow your faith and relationship with God through the power of prayer. To listen to her episode on What to Pray in the Morning for a Worry-Free Day‚ click below! Now that you’ve prayed‚ are you in need of someone to pray for YOU? Click the button below! Visit iBelieve.com for more inspiring prayer content. The post A Prayer for Flexibility in Our Planning – Your Daily Prayer – January 8 appeared first on GodUpdates.

January 8‚ 2024 He Gives More Grace in MotherhoodSARAH WALTON  Lee en español "But he gives more grace. Therefore it says‚ ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.'" James 4:6 (ESV) I stared at the days-old leftovers in the fridge - looking more like a science experiment than something that once was edible - and the tears began to flow. It had been one of those weeks. One where I was reminded of my shortcomings and inadequacies as a mom around every corner. The kids were bickering‚ the house was a mess‚ and I was barely staying afloat with my chronic pain. All I could hear were the whispers‚ You're such a failure as a mom. Everyone has it together except for you. As I wiped away the tears‚ my son asked if I was OK. I didn't have the words to explain what was wrong‚ so I quickly replied‚ "I've just had a hard week." Much to my dismay‚ my son immediately responded‚ "Mom‚ you work so hard for us‚ and we rarely show you how much we appreciate it. Come on - Eli and I are going to take care of you." They grabbed my daughter's toy foot spa‚ brought down their beanbag chair‚ and rubbed my shoulders as they tried to encourage me. At that moment‚ it was as if God was saying‚ Sarah‚ I see you - your imperfect efforts‚ fears‚ worries and insecurities. And I'm using the very children you think you're failing to remind you that I'm at work in ways you can't see. My grace is greater than your failures‚ sins and shortcomings as a mom. God knew I needed the reminder that He gave me children not because He expects me to be a perfect mother but because He wants me to be a vessel that points them to a perfect Savior. And I imagine I'm not the only one who needs that reminder daily. If you’re a mom‚ God didn't give you your children and circumstances because He thought you could juggle a million plates without dropping any. No‚ He entrusted these precious children to you and me to draw us into dependence on Him. And as we fall on our knees in humble dependence‚ His grace‚ wisdom and strength will meet us right where we are. "But he gives more grace. Therefore it says‚ ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble'" (James 4:6). Sister‚ if you're feeling the weight of your shortcomings as a mom‚ rest in this - His grace is enough for you today. Bring your weaknesses‚ insecurities and sin battles to the Lord‚ whose grace and forgiveness are always greater. And as you lean on your Savior's grace‚ you will become a conduit of that grace into the lives of the precious little ones you've been entrusted with. Yes‚ we will fall short as moms every single day. But praise God that He gives more grace. Lord‚ I long to love and lead my children well but so often fall short of being the mom I desire to be. Thank You that Your grace is greater than my inadequacies. Help me rest in that truth today. In Jesus' Name‚ Amen. OUR FAVORITE THINGS For more practical encouragement in motherhood from a mother/daughter team of authors‚ grab a copy of Sarah Walton and Linda Green's new book‚ He Gives More Grace: 30 Reflections for the Ups and Downs of Motherhood Through the Years. For encouragement in the difficulties of life‚ you can grab a copy of Sarah's bestselling book Hope When It Hurts. ENGAGE If you'd like to connect with Sarah‚ you can follow her blog at Setapart.net or on Instagram at @sarahpwalton. To connect with Linda‚ you can follow her blog at Chosenandcalled.com. Enter to WIN your very own copy of He Gives More Grace by Sarah Walton and Linda Green. To celebrate this book‚ Sarah and Linda's publisher will give away 5 copies! Enter to win by leaving a comment here. {We'll randomly select 5 winners and then notify each one in the comments section by Tuesday‚ January 16‚ 2024.} FOR DEEPER STUDY Psalm 103:14‚ "For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust" (ESV). What is one weakness‚ insecurity or struggle that you can bring to Jesus today to receive His grace‚ wisdom and rest? © 2024 by Sarah Walton. All rights reserved. Proverbs 31 MinistriesP.O. Box 3189 Matthews‚ NC 28106 www.Proverbs31.org The post He Gives More Grace in Motherhood – Encouragement for Today – January 8‚ 2024 appeared first on GodUpdates.

Historical Events 1811 - Louisiana slave revolt by Charles Deslondes at German Coast 1877 - Crazy Horse and his Sioux warriors fight their last battle with the United States Cavalry at Wolf Mountain (Montana Territory). 1947 - General George Marshall becomes US Secretary of State 1949 - "My Romance" closes at Shubert Theater NYC after 95 performances 1982 - Johnny Cash Parkway opens in Hendersonville‚ Tennessee 1995 - Philadelphia Phillies 12-time All Star third baseman Mike Schmidt is elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame More Historical Events » Famous Birthdays 1814 - Johannes Kneppelhout‚ Dutch writer‚ born in Leiden‚ Netherlands (d. 1885) 1917 - Peter Taylor‚ American novelist‚ born in Trenton‚ Tennessee (d. 1994) 1936 - Robert May‚ Baron May of Oxford‚ Australian-born British scientist‚ born in Sydney‚ Australia 1937 - Robert Moran‚ American composer (Trinity Requiem)‚ born in Denver‚ Colorado 1964 - Marc Quinn‚ English artist (Alison Lapper Pregnant)‚ born in London‚ England 1985 - Sam Levison‚ American actor and filmmaker (created TV show Euphoria) More Famous Birthdays » Famous Deaths 1934 - Alexandre Stavisky‚ French swindler‚ dies 1944 - William Kissam Vanderbilt II‚ member of the Vanderbilt family (b. 1878) 1972 - Kenneth Patchen‚ American writer (See You in the Morning)‚ dies at 60 1986 - Yaroslav Seifert‚ Czech poet (Nobel 1984)‚ dies at 84 2010 - Tony Halme‚ Finnish boxer and politician (b. 1963) 2014 - Ben Garrido Blaz‚ American politician (Rep-R-Guam‚ 1985-93)‚ dies at 85 More Famous Deaths »

Whitewashing Islamic Jew-hate. The post Rashid Khalidi’s Happy Dhimmi Jews appeared first on Frontpage Mag.

The fully calculated agenda to destroy the United States. The post Glazov Gang: Joe Biden – America’s Agent of Chaos appeared first on Frontpage Mag.

A new film indicts white power-brokers' exploitation of black literature. The post American Fiction 2023 appeared first on Frontpage Mag.

Grotesque moral equivalence. The post Palestinian Official Likens Palestinian Prisoners to Israeli Hostages appeared first on Frontpage Mag.

Wreaking havoc. The post Smartphones‚ Dumb Kids appeared first on Frontpage Mag.

Praises Hamas leaders‚ tours terror tunnels‚ opposes a Jewish state‚ and supports BDS.  The post NYC Lawyer Kathleen Peratis’ Romance with Hamas appeared first on Frontpage Mag.