Mind Over Matter & What it Means to be a Devoted Mother

You may have hard the term “mind over matter,” but what does that mean for a stay-at-home mom with work, household chores, and children to raise? God’s word sheds light on what it means to be a devoted mother to as well as how to achieve mind over matter.

---

I had twenty-five minutes…

My husband picked the kids up early for their Karate class. I was expecting him to come at 5:15, but here he was…. at 4:50. He always takes them on Tuesday because I have a ladies book study group Tuesday evenings. I’m so thankful!

On this particular day, he got them early to give me some extra time before I had to leave. I was so appreciative! At least, I thought I was…

He smiled and said, “take your time babe”… I hugged them all and sent them on their way.

As I watched them drive away, I began to panic. I literally froze in my steps. What in the world was I going to do with the extra time that just fell in my lap?

As you probably could guess, my mind instantly went to the load of laundry half folded and the dining room still cluttered with leftover school mess from that day. I began to panic because I knew if I hustled, I could get a lot done.

Then… I heard that still small voice.

God was trying to tell me something. He was reaching for my soul in that very moment...when all I could think about was getting my tasks done…God wanted something more.

He asked me a simple question: What are you devoted to?

I froze, pondered, and took action… You see, I want my life to be one devoted and dedicated to the living God, not my own plans.

For the next twenty-five minutes I dug into God’s word and he poured into me. I placed my mind and heart in his hands, and he devoted himself right back to me. I will tell you this, it was the best use of my time!

What is Devotion?

First, let’s define some terms-

To be devoted: give all or a large part of one’s time or resources to (a person, activity, or cause). In the case of Christians, it means giving a large part of one’s time to spending, studying, and building a relationship with our God.

To be dedicated: devoted to a task or purpose; having single-minded loyalty or integrity. For Christians, being dedicated means to take that devotion and assign it to a purpose. The purpose depends on your calling (what God has called you to do). It also means having single-minded loyalty…more on that later!

Being a Devoted Mother Happens in the Heart & Mind First

In the clutter of daily tasks, it’s so easy to push aside your devotion. I have found this to be especially true as a stay-at-home Mom Entrepreneur.

Let me explain… when I was working outside the home I had several opportunities each day to devote my mind to the Lord. This happened during the car ride to and from work, during quiet office time at my job, and on the weekends while the kids were sleeping.

As a Mom Entrepreneur, there is NO TIME during the day that makes itself available.

I have found that in order to be devoted (give time to spending, studying, and building a relationship with God), I now have to carve it out of my day…

Carving out time during the day to give to devotion is a heart and mind matter. I love the Lord, so I will make time for him! I schedule this time in my Well Though Out Daily To-Do List.

In Matthew 6:32-34, the Lord gives us a precious promise:

For your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

It is a beautiful thing when we, as mothers, learn to seek God first. His promises are sure… so when we seek him first, all the other things fall into place. Devotion to God is worth it!

Being a Devoted Mother Means You Don’t Give Up- Dedication

The Bible gives us some great examples of women who demonstrate dedication. We are going to look at the lives and actions of two of them- Hannah and the woman with the issue of blood.

Hannah- A Woman with Dedication (1 Samuel 1:1-28)

Hannah was a woman with a broken heart. Although, the Bible tells us that her husband loved her dearly, she was incomplete. You see, she was unable to have a child. Not only was she unable to have her child, but she was ridiculed mercilessly because of it. Her husband tried to comfort her, but it was no use. She would not be satisfied until she got what she needed.

All the while, the Lord saw Hannah. He saw her agony and sympathized with her feeling of failure and inadequacy. Hannah loved God and continued to serve and worship him during all of her heartache and torment.

It came time for the family to travel to the temple of the Lord for worship. While in the temple, she fell broken before God. The Bible says that she was praying and crying so much that the priest, Eli, thought she was drunk.

She wasn’t drunk…

She was determined…

Hannah knew what she needed from God and she was willing to push all of her flesh aside until she got what she needed. Her dedication paid off! She in tern, became a devoted mother.

The Lord gave Hannah the desires of her heart because He knew that she would be devoted enough to give it all back to Him. The same is true in each of our lives.

The Woman with the Issue of Blood (Mark 5:23-34)

The story of woman with the issue of blood has touched many hearts because it is a gut wrenching story of a woman who has nothing to loose. She is chronically ill (12 years) and every doctor she has ever seen had given up on her.

And yet, she does not give up!

The story goes like this- Jesus has arrived at her city. The bustle and excitement to get to see him is overwhelming. People are crowding around him as he walks down the street. I imagine that his disciples were nervous about the crowds and eager to stop somewhere safe for Jesus to teach.

As they push through the crowded street, Jesus suddenly stops. He turns and asks the crowd: “who touched my clothes?” The disciples reminded him that he was in a busy crowd and everyone was pushing against him.

Immediately, a woman fell at his feet…

You see, SHE KNEW what had happened. She knew that if she could only touch him, she would be made whole. Jesus healed her because of her faith and dedication.

Jesus’ words touch my heart everytime I read this story. He said: “Daughter, thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace, and be whole of thy plague.“

The Lord wants the same can be true for us, but our devotion and dedication have to be sure!

Benefits of Being a Devoted Mother

There is no greater calling than being a mother! If God has blessed you with children to raise, you know that his plan for you is to be dedicated to that calling. That being said, the benefits to being devoted to him (as well as our calling) are fantastic! Here are just a few:

1. Our Labor is Not in Vain

1 Corinthians 15:58- Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

2. He gives Us Life & Peace

Romans 8:5-6- For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

John 16:33- These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

3. We Don’t Have to be Afraid

Matthew 10:30-31- But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows.

Romans 8:15- For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

Mind Over Matter- It’s a Real Thing

Mind over matter is what mother’s have to accomplish every day. As a mother, especially a Mom Entrepreneur, having mental clarity is vital in success.

Just like on that day that I had twenty-five extra minutes, decisions are constantly flooding in. You know what they are… what should I feed my kids, what activity is worth our time, how do I spend my alone time?

I have found the following scriptures to offer me some spiritual clarity as a devoted mother:

1 Peter 1:13 – Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;

Gird up the loins of your mind? Whaaaat? Let me explain…

In Bible days, men had to adjust their tunic before going into battle or doing heavy manual labor. This involved raising the fabric and tying it around their body for protection and mobility.

To gird up the loins of your mind, you have to adjust what is circling around in your mind. You’ll need to wrap it up and only secure the thoughts that are going to help prepare you for war or manual labor (mothering & working-from-home).

Being a devoted mother depends on how well your mind is protected from unwanted thoughts. I have had to work hard to gird up my mind, but it’s worth it!

Philippians 2:5- Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:

After learning that I was supposed to “gird up my mind,” I began to ask the Lord how to achieve this. With the Lord’s help, all things are possible!

I began to pray…

I prayed this scripture (Philippians 2:5) over my mind and began to see how the Lord was transforming me.

2 Corinthians 10:5- Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

It’s a daily struggle, but “bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ” is the ticket to being a devoted mother!