Reclaiming God's Way vs. Culture's Way

I am reading a book called The Missional Mom: Living with Purpose at Home & In the World by Helen Lee.

The premise of the book (at least what I've read so far), is that the primary calling we all have is to be with God. Lee says that we often turn our secondary callings, like parenting, into our primary calling, placing children and family before God. Why? Because we give in to secular and Christian culture when it comes to life, parenting and priorities, not because we don't want to follow God, but because cultural influences are real and strong.

Here is what she says about a missional mom: she "recognizes the cultural influences around her and stands against those contrasting with God's plan and purpose for her life. She strives to develop sensitivity to discern which cultural forces run counter to biblical values. And she pursues a life in line with God's ideals, even if it does not look ideal to the world." (p. 46)

Reading this book has been another reminder of how good it will be to immerse myself in God's word this year, asking His Spirit to replace God's way with culture's way in me, and to give me the strength to stand firm! Going against culture isn't easy...!

Here are three things I've read in Lee's book today that really resonate with me and that I am ruminating more on:

• Christan mothers who are unaware they are being shaped by the achievement orientation of American culture may well be taking the lives of their children into their own hands, instead of being the shepherds that God intends. How freeing would it be if we could remember that we are not the ones in control of our children's future and that God Himself is the one and only Author of our children's tomorrows...The words we need to repeat to ourselves and our children are not 'Be Successful,' but 'Remain in Him' or 'Remain with Him.' (pp. 36-37)

• The challenge for missional moms is to recognize the things we are tempted to have and our children are tempted to own and to say, 'What we have is enough.' When missional moms claim with absolute certainty that God satisfies more than any man-made object of desire ever could, their message runs absolutely counter to the marketing ploys of nearly every American company. (pp.42-43)

• Missional moms find ways to affirm their roles as mothers and wives without losing sight of their ultimate calling - to pursue God first and foremost and to live out the mission He has given. There may be stretches or seasons in which the needs of our children taken an inordinate amount of our time and energy...At the same time, we must continue to encourage all mothers, regardless of life stage, to continually ask the Lord for his guidance in prioritizing their lives. As long as we are willing to follow His gentle nudges to serve Him in whatever opportunity He presents, we can avoid the trap of idolizing our family to an extent that is not biblical. (pp. 44-45)

Together, let's pursue God first and foremost and remember that just as He is the Author of our children's futures, He is that same Author for us! Let's not spend our life in worry (Matthew 6:25-34), but instead, abide in Jesus and trust Him to bear fruit in us (John 15:5)! Let's remember afresh that our calling is, above all else, to be with God.