Declaration #14 - I AM A MOM SET FREE

Friend, You are SET FREE for freedom! I pray and hope that this month has been an opportunity for you to truly discover how the promises of God empower us to parent in the assurance of His sovereignty and grace!

To wrap up this series, I want us to briefly turn to the book of Exodus, Chapter 14.

By the time we get to this chapter in Exodus, Moses has already lead the Israelites out of Egypt and out from under the rule of Pharaoh, and they are wandering in the wilderness when they discover that Pharaoh has changed his mind and doesn’t want to let the Israelites BE FREE after all. He wants to bring them back into captivity.  

In Exodus 14: 12-14 we read: 

“As Pharaoh approached, the people of Israel looked up and panicked when they saw the Egyptians overtaking them. They cried out to the Lord, and they said to Moses, ‘Why did you bring us out here to die in the wilderness? Weren’t there enough graves for us in Egypt? What have you done to us? Why did you make us leave Egypt? Didn’t we tell you this would happen while we were still in Egypt? We said, Leave us alone! Let us be slaves to the Egyptians. It’s better to be a slave in Egypt than a corpse in the wilderness!’” 

Oh how I love Moses’ response to them in v. 13-14 (NLT)!

“But Moses told the people, “Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today. The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again. The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.”  

Who knew that Moses is the one who actually coined the term, “Keep calm and carry on!”

What Moses told the Israelites has everything to do with our parenting. He said,  “Don’t be afraid. The Lord Himself fights for you. Just stay calm.”

And I love what comes next.  In verses 15-16, we read:

Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the people to get moving! Pick up your staff and raise your hand over the sea. Divide the water so the Israelites can walk through the middle of the sea on dry ground.

Just as God said to Moses, “get moving” – He is calling us to move forward in trusting obedience anchored in His promises.

My fellow mom, we know what the Lord has commissioned us to do.  There is work for us to do.  Hard work.  Holy work.  Humbling work. But as we do that work, we don’t have to play God’s role. As we remember God’s sovereignty and grace, we are set free to loosen our grip on the kids, lighten up, and let joy live loud in our homes.  

As we lay down the burdens God has not asked us to carry, we can thrive in the midst of mothering, and fulfill the purpose – the actual purpose - to which we have been called to as moms. And that is……. to give our kids the Good News of Jesus Christ, and to trust God to be Who says He is. Who He has proven He is. Soveriegn and full of grace.

So, in closing, will you lean in and listen to God’s voice beckoning you to freedom? God’s promise to Israel in Isaiah 43 is His promise over our lives as well. 

“Do not be afraid. For I have bought you and made you free. I have called you by name. You are Mine! When you pass through the waters, I will be with you. When you pass through the rivers, they will not flow over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned. The fire will not destroy you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, Who saves you. I have given Egypt as pay for your life, and have traded Cush and Seba for you. You are of great worth in My eyes. You are honored and I love you.” Isaiah 43:1–4 NLV

Let’s anchor our hope in this truth and watch it transform how we parent! Let’s parent like we’ve been SET FREE because we have! Amen?

*** This post is part of the “February is for Freedom” series, and a brief excerpt from my book, Mom Set Free