John Wesley once said, “I learned more about Christianity from my mother than from all the theologians in England.” Susanna, the mother of 19 children (9 of them died as infants), was serious about her family’s education and more importantly, their dedication to God’s Word. But, the greatest gift she gave her children is the same one any woman can give their child today—the daily practice of spending time with the Lord. It is widely known that Susanna wrote meditations and scriptural commentaries for her own use and for the use of training her children. She was even known to write commentaries on the Apostle’s Creed, the Lord’s Prayer, and the Ten Commandments.
The greatest gift my own mom gave me was in some ways similar. While she hasn’t written commentaries or Bible studies, she quietly modeled what it looks like to spend time with the Lord each morning. I can still remember as a teenager waking up and seeing the same scene at the kitchen table. My mom had her Bible and her devotional sitting by the same chair at the same time every day. I often saw her with her head bowed, and I knew it was a sacred time of not disturbing her morning ritual. I’m sure she didn’t view it as a ritual, but rather an appointment with the God who created the world and the God who cared about the details of her life.
I’m fortunate my mom is still living and serves the Lord faithfully. I can count on her prayers above almost anyone else I know. No matter what is happening in our extended family, I know I have a prayer warrior who is going to battle for me and my own children at her kitchen table each morning.
What about you? You may be a mom with toddlers, teenagers, or adult children. You may not be a birth mother, but a spiritual mother to others. It doesn’t matter. Any woman can wake up each morning and choose to spend the first few moments of her day reading God’s Word and praying. There are a lot of resources to help you—whether it’s a devotional magazine, book, or Bible study. Better yet, just start reading God’s Word and allow Him to speak to your heart and needs for today.
Finally, happy Mother’s Day to my incredible mom and to all of the women who have been spiritual mothers in my life. I’m eternally grateful for godly women who point me to Jesus.
Note: If you’re looking for ways to get into God’s word on a daily basis, check out Journey magazine or the new She Reads Truth Bible. If you want to learn more about being a prayer warrior, check out the Bible Study, Armor of God, by Priscilla Shirer. All of these resources are available at LifeWay.com.
