God Is Still Faithful - 7-Day Devotional by Christina Bell Muestra

[IMAGE CONTENT] # Still Faithful to Single Mothers What will a mother not do for her child? As nurturers, we genuinely love and protect our babies. Unfortunately, some women must do this without the help of their child's father. Many times, circumstances will arise that put so many of us in this situation. I thought the most painful experience of motherhood would be birthing a baby, but I've learned that it's more painful to birth a child and then have to raise them alone. My story is the same as so many other women having a baby out of wedlock. We were both PKs (Preacher's Kids). His parents were ashamed and forced us to marry. My parents and grandmother admonished me not to get married because I made a mistake. On my wedding day, my mother gave me a final stern reminder, "You do not have to do this," but I grudgingly walked down the aisle, knowing I wasn't in love. I also felt it was the right thing to do so that my soon-to-be daughter would have a father in her life. But that was not the best thing for my precious baby or myself. Since this marriage was ordained by man and not by God, it led to a swift divorce, and I became a single mother. It was no easy task. As a single mother, I would do anything for my child. The devil is busy and attacking our children, pulling them away from God. It's like a game of tug of war sometimes but do not give up on your child. I am reminded of the story of the desperate Canaanite woman whose daughter was demon-possessed and how she was willing to bow before Jesus for her daughter to be healed. In the scripture, Jesus referred to dogs because of where she came from, but because she needed a miracle for her daughter, she was willing to take the insult for her child's sake. Many of our children have put us in desperate situations in our own lives. The kind of desperation that will make us reach out to God in bold faith because we frequently turn to people for help and find ourselves helpless. Most mothers never imagined raising children alone. The truth is when we walk with God, he will honor our motherhood. With him, we are not single, and we do not have to walk alone. The Canaanite woman's faith turned his heart. Her faithfulness was in her persistence and determination to not leave without the miracle she needed for her child. So many of us are surviving as single mothers, but we can trust in God, lean on his promises concerning our children, and he will see our great faith in him. I want to encourage single mothers to never give up on your children. Sometimes they go through hard times, but we have a PROMISE that ALL your children will be taught by the Lord. But with that, we have the responsibility to make sure we're setting Godly examples. Don't worry about if the father will ever do right or if the Lord sends you a man that will accept you and your children. Allow God to be the Lord over your life. There’s a song on my latest album, "Still Faithful," called "Bow Down," and that's what we must do just as the Canaanite woman did. Will your faith turn the heart of the King? The Canaanite woman realized who Jesus was, what he could do and acknowledged him as her master "even dogs eat the crumbs from the master's table," she proclaimed. When we bow down and worship, when we acknowledge him as the head of our life and as the master who's in control, we don't have to settle for the crumbs, Sis. Society can hinder our children's faith. So, when your child doesn't worship God, make sure you find yourself in worship. No, we may not have conceived our children "the right way," but like the Canaanite woman, no matter our sinful background, no matter how people perceive us, we should never be too ashamed to go to Jesus. He will take care of our children and us, even when they are wayward and seemingly possessed. Our faith will keep their souls anchored. Prayer: Thank you for delivering our children from evil traps. Thank you for allowing my prayers to build walls of protection around my son/daughter. Thank you for access to you; thank you for allowing me to turn to you when I'm out of resources. Thank you for being a real good father to my child in the absence of their natural father. Thank you for seeing my faith on this journey as a single mother. Man sees me as single, but with you, I am complete and whole, Amen.