In Strength, She Smiles

She is clothed with strength and dignity, and she laughs without fear of the future. – (Proverbs 31:25, NLT)

She is a strong person, and people respect her. She looks to the future with confidence. – (Proverbs 31:25, ERV)

Clothed in strength and dignity, with nothing to fear, she smiles when she thinks about the future. – (Proverbs 31:25, VOICE)

 

Strong people strengthen people. I have been overwhelmingly blessed throughout my life to be surrounded by strong and loving women who have modeled strength, dignity and courage through active faith in their daily lives, no matter what their circumstances. From my phenomenal mom and her mom, to aunts, dear friends, pastors and colleagues, I have seen such lives lived out, and have been encouraged when my own strength, courage or confidence was lacking. Though there is no “arriving”, I am in a space where I look forward to the future with confidence, trusting that God has good things in store for me and my loved ones. I know that trials will come and go, yet He is faithful through all things, so I need not fear what lies ahead. May we ever seek the Lord to be our strength and confidence, so that we can look to the future and smile.

 

He’ll clothe us in strength,

Photo by Dee Jones of Open Door Photography ❤

And His dignity;

As we trust in Him,

In faith, choose believe.

We’ll laugh without fear,

At what lies ahead;

Knowing God’s with us,

By grace, we’ll be led.

Others will respect,

The strength that they see;

As we walk beside,

And help those in need.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You that You clothe us with strength and dignity and give us reason to look confidently to the future. Thank You for the women that You have placed in our lives that have supported and modeled these attributes for us and in us. Forgive us for the times that we have remained in our fearfulness or attempted to navigate things on our own. Teach us to trust You more, and to embrace those whom You have intentionally placed in our lives for mutual encouragement. Show us how to love those around us in a way that grows strength and dignity and removes fear of the future. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we embrace the strength and dignity that You are growing in us and look forward to the future without fear. Amen.

 

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

 

Because of the tender mercy of our God, …the rising sun will come to us from heaven. – Luke 1:78

To Be Like Mom

Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone. – (Colossians 4:6, NLT)

When you talk, you should always be kind and wise. Then you will be able to answer everyone in the way you should. – (Colossians 4:6, ERV)

 

Both my mom and her mom before her, are living examples of this verse in action. My grandmother is wise and kind, and her grace and love is apparent with all whom she shares conversation. People are drawn to her, and they seek her out for answers and affirmation. Her daughter, my own mother, has learned well from her. She too, is the sort of person who draws others in with her kindness and grace, and she speaks from a heart that seeks God’s wisdom, rather than her own. I know that not all are so blessed to either still have their mothers present on earth, or to have been given a mom whose heart was after God’s. The remarkable thing about the Lord is that He takes our places of lack, and fills them. Who are the wise and kind women that have been placed your life to help guide you and model what it is to be the sort of person to which the Lord has called? He shows us how we are to seek Him, find Him and know Him, so that we too, may be gracious and kind – responding in the way that is right. Let every word that leaves our lips be kind and full of wisdom granted by the Lord. May we answer all according to His will, and not our own.

 

Let conversations,

Be full of God’s grace;

So others may choose,

To seek the Lord’s face.

For when we respond,

In love and we’re kind;

People see Jesus,

True hope, theirs to find.

Just as sweet mothers,

Have loved us so well;

May we do likewise,

Let truth our hearts tell.

 

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for the precious gift of mothers, grandmothers, and godly women that You have placed upon our paths to love and care for us well. Thank You that these gifts have modeled what it means to speak with kindness and wisdom, so that we may answer everyone in the way in which You intended. Forgive us for not slowing down to seek You before responding, or for speaking out of anger or frustration rather than out of the grace and love that You give in abundance to us. Teach us to trust You more, so that we would depend on You to lead and guide our every conversation so that our words would be those that honor You. Show us how to love others as You love each of us through our conversations and words that we choose to use. May many come into a lasting relationship with You. Be glorified O God, as we allow You to lead our conversations and fill our words with wisdom and kindness toward all others. Amen.

© Shannon Elizabeth Moreno and Revelations in Writing, May 2011 – present

But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ. – Ephesians 2:4-5