The Mom Influence

The Mom Influence
by Shirley Mitchell

“By faith Moses’ parent hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict.”
Hebrews 11:23

“ ‘I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the LORD. For his whole life he will be given over to the LORD.’ And he worshiped the LORD there.”
1 Samuel 1:27-28

Moms are wonder women. We have so much pressure on us. We help our kids with homework and drive carpools, We juggle softball games, basketball tryouts, soccer practice, dance classes, or gymnastics lessons making sure each child gets there on time or close enough to on time. We manage the household, the cleaning, and the laundry. Many of us manage all of this while working at full time jobs, church service, or volunteer work, too. All of these things, though, are not as important as the one thing that really matters - our relationship with God.

God’s Word shows us how mothers chose to teach their children different things. Rebekah taught her son Jacob to take whatever he wanted or even what God meant for him to have by any means – even manipulation and lies. Later, Jacob wrestled with an angel, and God released the hold that deception had on him.

Jochebed hid her baby son Moses when Pharaoh issued an edict to kill all the Hebrew baby boys. After protecting her son for three months, she knew she could not hide him any longer so she built an ark to release him to the hands of God. She trusted that God gave him to her and that if God wanted him to live, then he would survive the dangers of the Nile River. Her faith was right because God used her son to deliver the Israelites from slavery.

In her pain, Hannah poured out her deepest sorrow to God – a longing for a son. Later, when God opened her womb and gave her Samuel, she taught her son to express praise and to exalt the Lord. Her son became one of the greatest prophets of Israel.

Herodias who married King Herod, her husband’s brother, used her daughter to dance provocatively for the King. When King Herod chose to give her daughter a gift for her dance, Herodias instructed her to get the head of John the Baptist on a platter. She used her own daughter to silence the voice that spoke the truth about her sin and to have God’s forerunner to the Jewish Messiah killed.

All of these mothers demonstrate the power of influence upon our children. We can influence our children for evil like Herodias. Without Jesus and the forgiveness He gives when we repent, her daughter would bear the sear on her conscience for the rest of her life. We can teach our children that it is okay to use any means – even trickery – to get what is rightfully ours, like Rebekah. Or we can be like Jochebed or Hannah. We empower our children with great faith so they can live a life of greater faith and demonstration of God’s power than we have. We can teach them to cast all their worries and cares upon the Lord for He will take care of them. Most importantly, we can influence our children to live their whole lives for God and to worship Him uninhibitedly. Whether you are a mom, dad, aunt, uncle, or spiritual parent, let’s make the decision to be the godly influencers of the next generation like Hannah and Jochebed. Let’s be conscious of what we are teaching them and pass onto them complete faith and authentic worship.

Pray with me: There is no one holy like You, LORD. There is no one besides you. There is no Rock like You our God as Hannah prayed (1 Samuel 2:2). Today we lift up parents to You. We ask, Lord, that You empower us to be godly influencers. May we teach our children right and wrong and the clear distinction. Help us to show them our faith in You. Rid us of worry. May we trust in You for their protection at all times. Help us to trust You for today and for their tomorrow. Bless single parents, and raise up trusted friends who can help them. It’s in the mighty Name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.

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