To commemorate Mother’s Day, each Morning Devotional for the month of May will highlight an important lesson on faith learned from a mother or mother-like figure. We continue today with Michelle-Irene and her mother.
“In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.”
Matthew 6:9-13 NKJV
I grew up with morning and evening family devotions, using the above verse as a template each time. Every morning, we would read from a devotional, share our thoughts and pray ahead of the day. Every evening, my dad would select someone to pray us into a night’s sleep. Every time my mother would be selected to pray, particularly at nighttime, I would internally sigh because she would take the time to pray for everybody she knew was going through something, or everyone she had encountered. What was usually a one or two minute prayer would become a five minute prayer for everyone or everything. Years later, when I was in university, I mentioned something I had told God, and she said, in a very amused tone, “you like worrying God o!” It’s true, I bother God a lot. I pray about everything. I learnt it from my mother.
Another instance is that I had a major exam in university. We are a family well-versed with “major” exams because of our educational backgrounds, but this was different. I had struggled/studied with little success throughout the course, and this time, my faith was low, and I was with no family. I still didn’t understand much of the content despite my constant poring, and my graduation was dependent upon the grade. My mother, five hours ahead, decided to stay up and pray until I was done with the three hour exam. Every time I was exhausted and wanted to walk out, I would remember that she was interceding on my behalf. I would go back and keep trying until the last minute, which is very unlike me. And true to her word, when I finished, well past midnight at home, she immediately picked up when I called, and proceeded to sleep only once she confirmed that I was done and all was well. Her prayer fuelled my effort. My mother taught me the power of prayer.
The Bible talks about prayer extensively, and the standout verses for me are “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:6-7 NKJV). What I have learnt from my mother and subsequently applied in my life is that prayer is a lifeline and a landline connection to God. It was presented to me from others as “a way to speak to God”, but more often than not it has changed and saved me, given me supernatural peace and joy, and made all things new, all in addition to spending time with God. It does more for me, than it does for Him, and I believe that speaks to His character. It has always been the most I can do.
I am blessed to have a mother that has rooted me in this habit, and whose instructions allowed me to learn for myself the gift that it is. But most of all, I am grateful for a God with whom conversation literally changes lives and hearts. I did not say much, but I pray that this has enlightened you or inspired you to try speaking to Him yourself – He will never fail you.
