Giving a Bridal Shower Devotion

I've been asked to give a devotion for a bridal shower on Saturday.

This devotion will be different than most of the ones I've done in the past because I am only writing notes, not writing out the whole devotion.  I've wanted to try to present a devotion without reading every word.  I am not good at organizing my thoughts in my head and then speaking them to a group of people, but  I will never be good at it if I don't try, so that's why I'm trying.  My fear is that I will begin babbling, with many disjointed thoughts that make sense to me but to no one else.  I get nervous speaking in a large group of adults (I don't get nervous in front of children--only adults--go figure!).

I'm keeping the devotion simple; Scripture readings and some notes on how to apply them to a marriage. Simple is hard when it comes to talking about marriage; I want to include so much more than I have time to say.  There are many directions one could take when speaking to a future wife about what it means to have a good marriage.

Today after finishing what I wanted to say, my husband gave me four main tenets of marriage as he sees it:  love, respect (honor), communication, and sex.  I've included love and respect in my presentation, but missed the other two, not because I don't agree with him, but because of my adherence to 'keep it simple'.
I could just imagine trying to talk about the importance of sex to a group of ladies!  Definitely not a topic to speak about when one is learning how to speak from notes only!

My husband's quick list of what a happy marriage consists confirms that there are more topics to choose from in giving a bridal shower devotion than there is time to share them. Another topic formed in my mind when my husband gave me his list: the differences between men and women, especially in how we think. That could be its own devotion--how God has created us male and female to compliment/complete each other.  Or a devotion on Biblical communication.  Or on physical intimacy as a characteristic in marriage that makes the marriage relationship unique and different from any other human relationship.  I could go on and on. I hope I don't go on and on tomorrow (a sure sign of rambling!).

Tomorrow my topic is living out your Christian walk in the Lord through your marriage: treating a husband as a beloved Christian and centering marriage on a relationship to the Lord Jesus so that as a wife grows in the Lord so will her marriage bear the fruit of that growth. A simple concept that takes a lifetime of practice.  If marriages are based on God's Word and prayer, they can be fruitful. 

I will read the summary of God's Law that Jesus gives us in Matthew, and I will read passages that show how Christians are to treat each other as they learn to serve and love the Lord.  Nothing profound, just a reminder that as Christians our marriages should reflect first our love for Jesus. There will be a lot left unsaid, but hopefully everyone present will be able to relate to the promises and commands that God gives us in His Word, no matter if they are married or single, as long as they are Christians.

A Mother's Prayer

This post is a devotion I gave for a baby shower.  The young mother is waiting for her firstborn to be introduced to this world.  I've blanked out the personal references to her (names).  I thought maybe other moms could relate to that unique experience of becoming a mom for the first time.

There are no written, step-by-step instructions for raising and caring for a newborn.  What you do to stop crying at one time, may not be what is needed or will work the next time.

Every baby is unique.  You will respond to  your child in a unique way that may not be how I would respond, or how your mom would respond, or how your sisters would. You will have an emotional/physical attachment to your baby that is truly unique to you and him; that’s why the old saying has truth in it: mother knows best.

That doesn’t mean you won’t be full of questions, anxieties, or fears about whether what you are doing is best or not.    You are not alone as a mother. You can seek counsel, guidance, old-fashioned help from other women: your mom, your sisters, your church family, even your doctor.

But first, during, and after those questions or anxieties are addressed, ask God to tend to your heart and your needs.   There’s a whole lot of crying that goes on in a house with a new baby, and it’s not just the baby that’s doing all of it!   So when you ask the question to yourself or to others: What do I do when . . .

Accompany and cover your questions in prayer. PRAY!

Pray for yourself and your husband as parents, as I know you are already doing and for your children, even right now as you await the arrival of little ‘Jack’.

Pray for daily grace, energy, peace, patience, wisdom, love—basically, the fruit of the spirit: Gal:5:22: But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.

Pray for your child: his growth physically, his growth spiritually, his life in the Lord, his calling in the Lord, his purpose in your life, his purpose in God’s kingdom.

Nothing is too small or too big to ask the Lord to handle:

One more dirty diaper: pray for perserverance

Loads of laundry threatening to overtake the house: pray for energy and patience

Conflicting needs of your son and your husband: Pray for wisdom, love, and graciousness

Another sleepless night: pray for peace and a quiet heart

Anxiety about the baby: pray for peace and wisdom

Just plain tired, tired, tired: Pray for strength that only God can give.

Pray the Word of God:

 I Peter 5:7          Cast all your anxieties on Him because He care for you.

I John 4:18          There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out all fear.

Psalm 46:1-2       God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives, way, though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea, Though its waters roar and foam, though the mountains tremble at its swelling.

Isaiah 40:29-31  He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.

Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men(women) shall fall exhausted; But they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength;

They shall mount up with wings like eagles;

They shall run and not be weary;

They shall walk and not grow faint.

Matthew 6:34    Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble. (or, Every day has enough trouble of its own.) (NIV)

Phil. 4:11b-13     …for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the

Secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.  I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH HIM WHO STRENGTHENS ME.

When you pray and leave all your fears, worries, frustrations, and troubles at the throne of grace, your perspective changes, even if your circumstances don’t.  You will receive the fruit of the Holy Spirit, and you will be equipped to know what is needed and what you must do.   Jesus says: Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light. Matthew 11:29-30

There are three women in the Bible whom I especially admire and marvel at their sacrificial love for their children.  One of them is Moses’ mother who is only briefly mentioned (and I will only briefly mention her).  I admire her because she tried to save her son, and then nursed him for Pharaoh’s daughter.  She had possibly 3 or 4 years to teach him about who the true God is and who he was as a child of God before he was raised in the Egyptian royal court.  It comforts me to know that the Lord uses every moment we have with our children to prepare them for the life they will be called to live.

 I want us to look briefly at two mothers who prayed to God.  One mother is Hannah, who prayed that she would be allowed to become a mother.  Her longing was fulfilled, her prayers answered.  She gave birth to Samuel, and dedicated him to the Lord as she had promised to God.  She knew her son was not really hers, but given to her by God, to be used by Him for His good purposes. Her prayer was a prayer of praise and thanksgiving to the God of Israel who heard her humble desires and exalted her by making her a mother. 

The other mother is Mary, the mother of Jesus.  Her circumstances were very different from Hannah’s.  She did not pray to become a mother; she wasn’t even a wife yet!  But she listened to what God told her she would become, the mother of the Saviour, and she responded in faith and obedience, praying a prayer of praise and thanksgiving, just like Hannah.

Both of these mothers prayed before their children were born and after.  They both accepted that their sons would be raised and nurtured by them for only a short time.  They both knew that God had appointed the birth and life of their sons.  Their sons were not theirs, but God’s.  They both put aside any fears they had (remember that Hannah lived during the time of the judges when ‘everyone did what was right in his own eyes’; and that Mary was visited by angels and told, ‘do not be afraid’; she also throughout Jesus’ life ‘treasured up these things, pondering them in her heart’).

As we read these prayers, notice the similarities between them.  See the themes of praise and rejoicing, the adoration of God as mighty and holy, the attributes of God’s mercy and strength, and the personal feeling each woman expressed as being chosen by God to give birth as they recognized their own humble condition that was exalted by God. 

Hannah’s Prayer

 I Samuel 2:1-10

And Hannah prayed and said,

“My heart exults in the Lord;

my horn is exalted in the Lord.

My mouth derides my enemies,

because I rejoice in your salvation.

2 “There is none holy like the Lord:

for there is none besides you;

there is no rock like our God.

3 Talk no more so very proudly,

let not arrogance come from your mouth;

for the Lord is a God of knowledge,

and by him actions are weighed.

4 The bows of the mighty are broken,

but the feeble bind on strength.

5 Those who were full have hired themselves out for bread,

but those who were hungry have ceased to hunger.

The barren has borne seven,

but she who has many children is forlorn.

6 The Lord kills and brings to life;

he brings down to Sheol and raises up.

7 The Lord makes poor and makes rich;

he brings low and he exalts.

8 He raises up the poor from the dust;

he lifts the needy from the ash heap

to make them sit with princes

and inherit a seat of honor.

For the pillars of the earth are the Lord's,

and on them he has set the world.

9 “He will guard the feet of his faithful ones,

but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness,

for not by might shall a man prevail.

10 The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces;

against them he will thunder in heaven.

The Lord will judge the ends of the earth;

he will give strength to his king

and exalt the horn of his anointed.”

Mary’s Prayer

Luke 1:46-55

And Mary said,

“My soul magnifies the Lord,

47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

48 for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant.

For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed;

49 for he who is mighty has done great things for me,

and holy is his name.

50 And his mercy is for those who fear him

from generation to generation.

51 He has shown strength with his arm;

he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts;

52 he has brought down the mighty from their thrones

and exalted those of humble estate;

53 he has filled the hungry with good things,

and the rich he has sent away empty.

54 He has helped his servant Israel,

in remembrance of his mercy,

55 as he spoke to our fathers,

to Abraham and to his offspring forever.”

Consider and reflect on these prayers as you pray for your new gift from God and your new calling as a mother.   Remember as these women did, that God is using you for His glory even as He hears your prayers and answers them in His perfect timing and will.