Let Me Be A Woman Pride / Elisabeth Elliot / Children / Mothers Day Series

Prayer for Your Children:


#12:  A Passion for God

Lord, please instill in my children a soul with a craving for You, a heart that clings passionately to You.  (Psalm 63:8)

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Let Me Be A Woman by Elisabeth Elliot


Chapter 11:  Trust for Separation

There are times when we are separated from our friends, from our spouse, from our children, sometimes even from God Himself.  Sometimes separations can be for a season some are due to conflict and our own foolishness (or that of someone else), sometimes it is a permanent separation, at least in this life.   Elisabeth tells her daughter Valerie in this chapter to "let not our longing slay the appetite of our living" as Jim Elliot once wrote to  Elisabeth before they were married.  We accept and thank God for what is given, not allowing the not-given to spoil it.  This is our call and what the Christian term, trusting in the sovereignty of God means.

Chapter 12:  Self-Discipline and Order

We are the creatures of a great Master-Designer, and His ordering of our lives is sure and certain.  Many people live without any visible order or peace or serenity.  You know them. I know them. Sometimes we live in the same house with them.  It may even be you.  For those with children, how can they learn to believe and obey  God if they have not learned to belief and obey the authority He places over them?  Teaching discipline is essential in child-raising; that child will grow into an adult and it is far easier to train a young one than an older one.  If they love the authority, it is easier for them to obey and be trained.

When they are grown (I'm speaking to us as well), they are still being trained and disciplined by God.  If we love Him, we'll do what He says. Our part is to look at His face and be silent long enough to hear what He is saying to us.   The "being still" is the hard part.  Sometimes we run away pretending we don't hear when we actually do know deep down inside what He requires of us.  Be teachable, even into your elder years.

Forget about temperament.  The beauty of Thy peace shines forth in an ordered life.  A disordered life speaks loudly of disorder in the soul.

  

Elisabeth has another book on this issue called Discipline: The Glad Surrender.


Virginia, a friend of mine,  comments further on this topic of ordered lives at her blog, Come, Weary Moms.  Excellent article.