3 Steps To A Spectacular Kid’s Ministry Group That Matters

Reading Time: 3 min 3 sec

I dropped my head in my hands and sighed. A sense of dissatisfaction eked into my soul. I must be missing something. Why is it that every Monday starts with such a promise? I have these great intentions of working ahead, dreaming, evaluating, or even time spent recruiting.

Instead, my week seems to fly by in an endless cycle of crisis management. I feel like I am constantly behind as I run to fill volunteer slots, send out newsletters, attend staff meetings, and prep for upcoming events.

I want to build a Kids ministry that is more than checking a box. I want to create a ministry where kids’ lives are transformed. If only I could stop the relentless clock of Sunday morning long enough to figure out how to get there. This isn’t what I signed up for…

Today, we will talk about three steps to building a spectacular ministry group that actually matters.

Point #1- Pro-Active Vs. Reactive

Point #2- Wonder

Point #3- Seek Wisdom

1. Point #1-Pro-Active vs. Reactive

A quick stop at your local bookstore will overwhelm you with the endless variety of leadership styles available. We could easily dive down the leadership rabbit hole, never to return. We want to focus on briefly addressing a reactive and proactive style of ministry.

A reactive leader spends their days running around putting out fires. They are great at problem-solving. And though they passionately care about their ministry, they can live in the moment and never take the time for big-picture planning. This leadership style, left unchecked, can be stressful, and exhausting, and can quickly lead to burnout.

A proactive leader on the other hand can see the big picture. They are gifted at making sure they meet their long-term goals. They can get so caught up in planning for the future that they can struggle to address daily issues promptly.

I am here to advocate that as leaders, we need to develop both our proactive and reactive skill sets. Have you ever heard the phrase, “What gets talked about gets done?” My variation on that is, “What gets scheduled gets done.” We need to block out and protect time in our weekly schedules to focus on our long-term goals, otherwise daily tasks will dictate our ministries.

At the same time, we need to develop healthy flexibility, understanding that the needs of our pastoral role do not always match a pre-planned schedule. A healthy ministry can’t run on autopilot. Like anything else, it needs regular evaluation and maintenance.

Next Steps- Are you a reactive or proactive leader? If you have not already, block out time on your schedule to focus on evaluation and long-term planning. Set up safeguards to protect that time on your schedule (i.e. set a reminder on your phone, turn your phone to silent, and treat it as a standing meeting on your schedule). Check out Trello. It is a free, visual time management software that has been very helpful in my own ministry setting.

2. Point #2- Wonder

You have blocked out your schedule…now what? These last two steps are not in any sequential order. I would encourage you to write down your vision or goal for your kid’s ministry. Start with this exercise if you are struggling to articulate a vision for your ministry.

What are the characteristics of a child that has just graduated from your ministry? What do you want them to have experienced, learned, and developed while in your kid’s ministry group? What tools do you want them equipped with?

Imagine one of your families has just graduated their last child from kid’s ministry. What would you have wanted them to have experienced, learned, and developed as a family in your church? Duplicate this process with your volunteer team as well.

Don’t rush through this process. Give yourself time to research, to learn how kids connect best with Jesus. Don’t forget to incorporate your church’s vision and purpose in your overall plan for kid’s ministry. You want to confirm that your vision for the kid’s ministry is in step with the overall vision of the church. The last thing you want to do is to create a silo ministry that is not working in tandem with the rest of the church. The vision for your ministry is the foundation upon which everything else is built. This can sound overwhelming, but as the saying goes, “Rome was not built in a day.”

Next Steps: Check out organizations like the Children’s Spirituality Summit for the latest research on the Christian spiritual development of kids. They offer a conference every year where pastors and educators encourage, brainstorm, and learn together. They also publish all of the keynote topics from the conference in a book which you can find on Amazon. I buy it every year it’s that helpful.

3.Point #3-Seek Wisdom

Even the best vision cannot happen in isolation. We need to take the time to hear from God. It can be challenging to hear from him on a deadline. I would encourage you to utilize several days of your blocked-out time to create space to be with Jesus. Take a prayer retreat or a walk to a park.

If you don’t do this regularly, here are some helpful tips to get you started.

Silence your cell phone (or leave it at home). Go for a walk, sit at a park, or in a quiet place. Nature is one of the primary ways where people meet with God.

Spend a period in silence, practicing listening for his voice. Present your heart to God. Sit with him and ask him for his timing, direction, and wisdom. Take your time, and don’t rush this experience.

Talk with your uplink or boss and express your vision for ministry. Ask for their input and wisdom. What do they see that you don’t see? Spend time in prayer, asking God for his wisdom and grace. Discuss the best time and way to implement the new vision. People have a hard time overall with change. So give yourself and others grace as you move slowly, faithfully implementing God’s vision for your kid’s ministry.

Putting in the work by scheduling time, envisioning a better ministry and seeking out wisdom takes effort but it will provide a framework for a transformational ministry. My prayer for you is that your children’s ministry will thrive and you will witness your kids connecting with Jesus in powerful ways each week.

If you want to know how to get started in transforming your Kid’s Ministry: grab our 8 Primary Ways Kid’s Meet With Jesus Guide (below). And join the MIW Community of children’s pastors who are hungry to lead a transformative Children’s Ministry.

What about you? What is your #1 issue when it comes to developing your Kid’s Ministry? Leave a comment, and don’t forget to follow Most Important Work on Pinterest!

14 Powerful Picture Books That Will Ignite Your Child’s Faith

Reading Time: 3 min 14 sec

Have you ever searched for Christian children’s books only to shake your head in dismay? I have only just realized that for most of my life, I have had this thought that Children’s Christian literature is subpar, a chotskies, something you stick in an Easter basket or as an “extra” gift on Christmas morning because you feel like you should.

Even as a child, it seemed like most Christian picture books were trying to portray this cotton candy outlook on life, light but rarely formative. They were what you read at Grandma’s when you were bored with literally nothing else to do.

It is not until now, as a mother, that I realize that alongside the cotton candy are books dripping with gold. These books rarely make it to the bestseller list and are hidden in out-of-the-way nooks, but they are formative to our child’s walk with Jesus. We are going to be talking about 14 Powerful Books that will ignite your children’s faith.

1. Children Learn Through Experience

2. The Power of a Truly Great Book

3. How to Read Christian Picture Books

4. 14 Powerful Picture Books

1. Children Learn Through Experience

I discovered that reading stories is not just a way to pass the time or to make sure our child is receiving a solid foundation in Christianity, but as a powerful tool in their walk with Jesus.

Children learn through experience and even though as parents we would like to open their heads and stick in all the right answers to life’s greatest questions, we can’t. While we have good intentions, the fact is that all of the knowledge in the world cannot trump experience.

My mother loves recounting the story (okay hundreds of them) of myself as a toddler, and my fascination with the stove. She would constantly tell me, “Alexis, don’t touch that, you will get burned.” But no matter how many times she said it, I didn’t believe her. I reached out touched that stove, and truly experienced the meaning of the word “hot”.

Fortunately, through the power of stories (and the graciousness of the Holy Spirit) our children can experience many different situations and see the consequences without ever leaving the comfort of the couch. Books allow us to experience truth without having to walk through the pain.

2. The Power of a Truly Great Book

Did you ever read a book as a child that’s truths stick with you to this day? The book that shaped me, was Anne of Green Gables. This book which has so captured the hearts of millions of people depicts the beauty of ordinary life. It showed us how to observe the world around us, how to bask in the beauty of today, how to invest in relationships even when they are messy, how to love well, and how to persevere.

Great books invite you to reflect, allow you to discover, spark your imagination, call out the beauty in the world, and inspire you to new heights. Great books read in community, as a family curled up on a couch, give you a shared vocabulary, a way of relating to each other and the world around you. They not only build life-long memories, as you wrestle together, with ideas and concepts, but they allow your child to form their outlook on life.

Reading great Christian books together as a family isn’t just a good idea, or something to check off the to-do list, but a simple, yet powerful tool in the investment of your child’s walk with God.

We all learn best in the context of a story.

3. How To Read Christian Picture Books

I adore books. I love surrounding my children with life-changing literature. However, if I bought every book I read I would need another house. 🙂

The more I read about the spiritual development of children the more I realize the importance of providing select tools for their spiritual development. I look at these picture books as something comparable to what a journal or podcast would be for adults. I would plan to add these titles to your collection over time. 🙂

Unlike books for educational purposes, the goal is not to finish. I know shocker, right! The goal is to allow space to be present to each other, to listen to the still, soft voice of the Holy Spirit, to wonder, and ask questions.

As YOU read, don’t hurry to turn the page, but take the time to take in the illustrations. At the end, do not rush to teach or share the moral of the story. Trust that the Holy Spirit is touching your childs heart.

Instead, invite discussion. Ask your child what they thought and felt as they experienced this book. This doesn’t have to be a long-drawn-out affair. Yes, this can be done with active children. 🙂 Remember that whether you can see it or not the Holy Spirit is at work in the heart of your child. Enjoy!

4. 14 Powerful Picture Books

Grab your FREE Beginner Guide to The Deeper Life and join our community of moms who are hungry for more of Jesus in their lives and in the lives of their children.

What about you? What is your favorite Christian children’s picture book? Leave a comment, and don’t forget to follow Most Important Work on Pinterest!

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7 Powerful Scriptures You Need To Pray Over Your Kids

Reading Time: 4 min 28 sec

“Mom, don’t forget to pray over me!” my child murmured sleepily. “I would never forget.” I smiled, and I laid my hand on his head. Following the traditions of thousands of parents throughout the ages, I called on the name of the most high God.

“Father In Heaven, I look up to the mountains; does my strength come from mountains? No, my strength comes from God, who made heaven, and earth, and mountains. He won’t let you stumble, your Guardian God won’t fall asleep. Not on your life! Israel’s Guardian will never doze or sleep. God’s your Guardian, right at your side to protect you—Shielding you from sunstroke, sheltering you from moonstroke. God guards you from every evil, he guards your very life. He guards you when you leave and when you return, he guards you now, he guards you always.” (Psalm 121:1-8)

Praying Scripture over your children is one of the most powerful gifts you can give your kids. It teaches them about the character of God, it reminds them of their identity in Christ and comforts them with the knowledge of his protection and love.

“The combination of words and touch leaves children with the deep sense of being loved, accepted, cared for, and valued.”- Vernie Schor Love

Discover my top tips and seven powerful scriptures you can pray over your children today.

1. Prayers For My Children: The Importance

2. Prayers For My Children: 7 Powerful Scriptures

1. Prayers For My Children: The Importance

Establishing a habit of praying over your child is so powerful. It teaches them about the character of God, reminds them of who they are, and where they are going. Praying scripture is a physical act of obedience, a daily surrender of your need to control, and a placing of your most precious treasure into God’s protection and love.

Erik Erikson, the famous child psychoanalyst, believed that “we are influenced by the history of our family and community as well as by present dynamics…The stories of who we have been as a family, a community or a nation affect our expectations, perceptions, and responses. When these stories are recounted and celebrated, their influence increases.”- Joining Children on the Spiritual Journey

By immersing our family in scripture through prayer, experience, study, and celebration, we increase its influence in the lives of our children. By establishing a daily practice of prayer: it models for our children a life lived with God. We communicate to our children that we were not meant to live separated from God.

Children also need adults who are willing to intentionally cover them in prayer. They will face many challenges, and they need adults who will serve as prayer intercessors. Praying Scripture over your child is convenient (you don’t have to come up with any words). And it is a great way to engage in the work of the Holy Spirit in your child’s life.

2. Prayers For My Children: 7 Powerful Scriptures

Here are some tips that you might find helpful. I have found that the easiest way is to pray over my children at bedtime.

Take the time to prepare notecards with key verses ahead of prayer time. You want to choose verses on topics most relevant to your child’s situation. For instance, if your child is struggling with worry, focus on praying scriptures on peace over your child.

The goal is not to complete a prayer but to steep yourself in scripture. Children love repetition. So focus on one prayer for several days, weeks, or months until you feel the Holy Spirit drawing you to another passage.

I have included seven passages of scripture on a variety of topics to get you started.

Blessing

Numbers 6:24-26, “The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.”

Wisdom

Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”

Peace

Philippians 4:7 “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Protection

Psalm 121:1-8 “I look up to the mountains; does my strength come from mountains?

No, my strength comes from God, who made heaven, and earth, and mountains.

He won’t let you stumble, your Guardian God won’t fall asleep. Not on your life! Israel’s Guardian will never doze or sleep. God’s your Guardian, right at your side to protect you—Shielding you from sunstroke, sheltering you from moonstroke. God guards you from every evil, he guards your very life. He guards you when you leave and when you return, he guards you now, he guards you always.” (MSG)

Joy

Habakkuk 3:17-19, “Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights.”

Courage

Isaiah 41:10 “Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

Goodness

Matthew 5:6, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”

If you desire to shape your child’s future, give them a sense of identity, and place a hedge of protection around them, practice the habit of praying scripture over your child. You just might be shocked at how a five-minute investment can change the course of your child’s life.

Scripture quotations marked MSG are taken from THE MESSAGE, copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.,

If you want to know how to get started in living a deep life with God; grab our Deeper Life Beginners Guide (below). And join our community of moms who are hungry for more Jesus in their lives and in the lives of their families.

What about you? What’s your #1 issue when it comes to praying for your kids? Leave a comment, and don’t forget to follow Most Important Work on Pinterest!

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14 Fantastic Scriptures On Being Thankful

Reading Time: 5 min 26 sec

Do you look at life through a glass half empty mentality? Do you ever find yourself resenting your life circumstances? Do you struggle with complaining throughout the day? Do you find yourself looking at life through a negative lens?

Before you hang your head in despair, there is hope. You are not stuck for the rest of your life as the designated complainer. 🙂 However, we need to know that nurturing a thankful heart is so much more than behavior modification. We can go to ridiculous lengths to change our external behavior but what we need to focus on is our heart.

Luke 6:45 says, “A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.”

We can’t fake out God. He cares about the state of our hearts. If we want to transform internally and externally, we need to partner with God in the renovation of our souls.

Immersion in scripture is a powerful way to cultivate a spirit of thankfulness. It’s not enough to just read a verse on gratitude. We need to intentionally engage with scripture, allowing the Holy Spirit to shape us from the inside out.

Are you ready to foster a heart of thankfulness? Here are practical ideas on how to immerse yourself in scripture plus fourteen verses that you can use to cultivate gratitude in your life today.

1. Thankful Scripture: How To Engage

2. Thankful Scripture: 14 Fantastic Scriptures

1. Thankful Scripture: How To Engage

There are a variety of ways that you can steep yourself in scripture. Here are some suggestions to get you started.

Pray Scripture– Join with Christians throughout the ages by using the passages below as a prayer to God. Check out this article for more information about how to turn scripture into a prayer to God.

Journal Scripture– There are many different ways to journal scripture. Here are two examples.

a. Use the verses below as a framework for your own prayers to God. Ask him to help you cultivate a thankful heart.

b. Make a quick list each day of the things that you are grateful for and post it in a prominent place around the house. Let that list serve as a reminder to praise God for his good gifts daily.

Memorize Scripture- Here is a well-known but powerful practice. It’s amazing how the Holy Spirit can bring memorized passages to mind all throughout your day.

Meditate on Scripture- Engaging with scripture is a marathon, not a sprint. The practice of meditating on scripture is all about sitting with God’s word and allowing the Holy Spirit to use it to transform your heart.

Read a passage (or verse) of scripture, and spend some time in silence and reflection. Allow the Holy Spirit elbow room to speak and cement the truth of his word in your heart.

Sing Scripture– Turn scripture into song by singing your thankfulness to God. This is such a powerful practice that not many adults employ. Find a quiet place where you won’t be disturbed OR sing aloud your thankfulness to God with your family. Psalms is a great place to utilize this practice.

2. Thankful Scripture: 14 Fantastic Scriptures

Psalm 69:30, “Let me shout God’s name with a praising song, Let me tell his

greatness in a prayer of thanks.” MSG

Psalm 138:1-3, “Thank you! Everything in me says, “Thank you!” Angels listen as I sing my thanks. I kneel in worship facing your holy temple and say it again: “Thank you!” Thank you for your love, thank you for your faithfulness; Most holy is your name, most holy is your Word. The moment I called out, you stepped in; you made my life large with strength.” MSG

1 Chronicles 16:8-12, “Thank God! Call out his Name! Tell the whole world who he is and what he’s done! Sing to him! Play songs for him! Broadcast all his wonders! Revel in his holy Name, God-seekers, be jubilant! Study God and his strength, seek his presence day and night; Remember all the wonders he performed, the miracles and judgments that came out of his mouth.” MSG

Psalm 28: 6-7, “Blessed be God- he heard me praying. He proved he’s on my side; I’ve thrown my lot in with him. Now I’m jumping for joy, and shouting and singing my thanks to him.” MSG

Philippians 4:6, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” NIV

Psalm 100:1-5, “On your feet now—applaud God! Bring a gift of laughter, sing yourselves into his presence. Know this: God is God, and God, God. He made us; we didn’t make him. We’re his people, his well-tended sheep. Enter with the password: “Thank you!” Make yourselves at home, talking praise.Thank him. Worship him. For God is sheer beauty, all-generous in love, loyal always and ever.” MSG

Psalm 92:1-2, “What a beautiful thing, God, to give thanks, to sing an anthem to you, the High God! To announce your love each daybreak, sing your faithful presence all through the night” MSG

1 Chronicles 16:34, “Give thanks to God—he is good and his love never quits.” MSG

1 Thessalonians 5:18, “thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.” MSG

Psalm 100:3-5, “Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.” MSG

Psalm 12:2-4, “Yes, indeed-God is my salvation. I trust, I won’t be afraid. God-yes God!-is my strength and song, best of all, my salvation!” Joyfully you’ll pull up buckets of water from the wells of salvation. And as you do it, you’ll say, “Give thanks to God. Call out his name. Ask him anything! Shout to the nations, tell them what’s he’s done, spread the news of his great reputation!” NIV

Psalm 107:17-22, “Some of you were sick because you’d lived a bad life, your bodies feeling the effects of your sin; You couldn’t stand the sight of food, so miserable you thought you’d be better off dead. Then you called out to God in your desperate condition; he got you out in the nick of time. He spoke the word that healed you, that pulled you back from the brink of death. So thank God for his marvelous love, for his miracle mercy to the children he loves; Offer thanksgiving sacrifices, tell the world what he’s done—sing it out!” MSG

Psalm 136:1-3, “Thank God! He deserves your thanks. His love never quits. Thank the God of all gods, His love never quits. Thank the Lord of all lords. His love never quits.” MSG

Jonah 2:7-9, “When my life was slipping away, I remembered God, And my prayer got through to you, made it all the way to your Holy Temple. Those who worship hollow gods, god-frauds, walk away from their only true love. But I’m worshiping you, God, calling out in thanksgiving! And I’ll do what I promised I’d do! Salvation belongs to God!” MSG

Scripture quotations marked MSG are taken from THE MESSAGE, copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.,

If you want to know how to get started in living a deep life with God; grab our Deeper Life Beginners Guide (below). And join our community of moms who are hungry for more Jesus in their lives and in the lives of their families.

What about you? How do you develop thankfulness in your life? Leave a comment, and don’t forget to follow Most Important Work on Pinterest! [/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]

30 Powerful Scriptures You Need To Pray When You Wake Up

Reading Time: 2 min 8 sec

Does your prayer life ever feel stuck? You wake up in the morning, and carve out time to pray only to stare into empty space? There is so much you could say that it can feel overwhelming. And frankly, prayer can at times, feel like so much effort.

Eugene Peterson, the author of The Message Bible, says that “In order to be effective, prayer has to be the first thing we do, not the last.”

Do you struggle with wondering what to say when you pray? Are you stuck in a rut of praying the same things on repeat? Do you long for depth in your prayers?Luckily for us, God gave us a cheat sheet to praying when we are exhausted. Scripture provides us with ready-made prayers with depth.

Scripture provides us with a model of how to pray. Scripture gives us words for our pain, our frustration, our anger, our joy, our delight, and our deepest desires. Praying scripture teaches us how to share life’s ups and downs with God.

We have provided 30 scriptures to help you transform your prayer life today.

1. Prayer Life: How To Pray Scripture

2. Prayer Life: Scriptures

1. Prayer Life: How To Pray Scripture

“The goal of reading the Word is to listen for the voice of the God who speaks.” Eugene Peterson

Here are some practical ways to use scripture to pray.

a. Invite God’s presence into this prayer time.

b. Read through the different passages of scripture. Choose one that you feel drawn to today.

c. Read the scripture slowly. Ask God to speak to you through the verses.

Write and adapt the verses as a prayer in your journal. Add your name where it applies in the verse.
Read aloud the verses adapting them as a prayer from you to God.
Doodle your prayer (thoughts, feelings, images that the scripture brings up) to God.

d. Listen for God’s voice after you have communicated your prayer to him.

e. Conclude your prayer time thanking God for being present to you during this time.

You can also download a copy of these verses above. Check out this article for how to spend time with God when you feel awkward.

2. Prayer Life: Scriptures

Here is a list of thirty scriptures to pray. You will notice that a number of these suggestions are passages not single verses. I would encourage you not to be intimidated by the length. Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to draw you to the verse that you need in this season of your life.

“It is better in one year to have ten good verses transferred into the substance of our lives than to have every word of the Bible flash before our eyes.” Dallas Willard

The goal is not to accomplish praying all the verses on the list. The goal is to allow the Holy Spirit to transform your soul through scripture. You might sit with a verse or passage for a week, month, or even a year. That’s perfectly okay. 🙂 These verses are to serve as a catalyst for your own practice of praying of God’s word.

You can also check out this article for 30 powerful verses that destroy toxic anxiety.

Identity

1 John 3:1, “What marvelous love the Father has extended to us! Just look at it—we’re called children of God! That’s who we really are. But that’s also why the world doesn’t recognize us or take us seriously, because it has no idea who he is or what he’s up to.”

Psalm 139:13-16, “Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out; you formed me in my mother’s womb. I thank you, High God—you’re breathtaking! Body and soul, I am marvelously made! I worship in adoration—what a creation! You know me inside and out, you know every bone in my body; You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing into something. Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth; all the stages of my life were spread out before you, The days of my life all prepared before I’d even lived one day.”

Luke 6:35-36 “I tell you, love your enemies. Help and give without expecting a return. You’ll never—I promise—regret it. Live out this God-created identity the way our Father lives toward us, generously and graciously, even when we’re at our worst. Our Father is kind; you be kind.”

Thanksgiving

Psalm 107:8-9, “Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.”

1 Chronicles 16:34, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”

Psalm 100:1-4, “On your feet now—applaud God! Bring a gift of laughter, sing yourselves into his presence. Know this: God is God, and God, God He made us; we didn’t make him. We’re his people, his well-tended sheep. Enter with the password: “Thank you!” Make yourselves at home, talking praise. Thank him. Worship him.”

Psalm 9:1-2, “I’m thanking you, God, from a full heart, I’m writing the book on your wonders. I’m whistling, laughing, and jumping for joy; I’m singing your song, High God.

Lamentations 3:22-23, “God’s loyal love couldn’t have run out, his merciful love couldn’t have dried up. They’re created new every morning. How great your faithfulness!”

Rest

Mathew 28:11-30, “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

Psalm 4:8, “In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.”

Psalm 23, “The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”

Surrender

Psalm 37:3-5, “Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

Psalm 25:4-5, “Show me your ways, Lord, teach me your paths Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.

Philippians 2:5-8, “Think of yourselves the way Christ Jesus thought of himself. He had equal status with God but didn’t think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn’t claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death—and the worst kind of death at that—a crucifixion.”

John 15:5-8, “I am the Vine, you are the branches. When you’re joined with me and I with you, the relation intimate and organic, the harvest is sure to be abundant. Separated, you can’t produce a thing. Anyone who separates from me is deadwood, gathered up and thrown on the bonfire. But if you make yourselves at home with me and my words are at home in you, you can be sure that whatever you ask will be listened to and acted upon. This is how my Father shows who he is—when you produce grapes, when you mature as my disciples.

Love

Ephesians 3:17-19, “And I ask him that with both feet planted firmly on love, you’ll be able to take in with all followers of Jesus the extravagant dimensions of Christ’s love. Reach out and experience the breadth! Test its length! Plumb the depths! Rise to the heights! Live full lives, full in the fullness of God.”

John 15:9-10, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.”

1 Corinthians 13:4-8, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”

Luke 6:35, “But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.”

Psalm 143:8, “Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.

Fear

Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

1 Peter 5:7, “Live carefree before God; he is most careful with you.”

Philippians 4:6-7,” Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.”

Isaiah 41:10, “Don’t panic. I’m with you. There’s no need to fear for I’m your God. I’ll give you strength. I’ll help you. I’ll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you.”

Luke 12:22-24, “Don’t fuss about what’s on the table at mealtimes or if the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your inner life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body. Look at the ravens, free and unfettered, not tied down to a job description, carefree in the care of God. And you count far more.”

Strength and Protection

Psalm 18:1-2, “I love you, God—you make me strong. God is bedrock under my feet, the castle in which I live, my rescuing knight.”

Isaiah 40:29-31, “He energizes those who get tired, gives fresh strength to dropouts.For even young people tire and drop out, young folk in their prime stumble and fall. But those who wait upon Godget fresh strength. They spread their wings and soar like eagles, They run and don’t get tired, they walk and don’t lag behind.”

Psalm 46:1, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”

Ephesians 6:13-18, “Be prepared. You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You’ll need them throughout your life. God’s Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other’s spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out.”

Psalm 32:7, “You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.”

If you want to know how to get started in living a deep life with God; grab our Deeper Life Beginners Guide (below). And join our community of moms who are hungry for more Jesus in their lives and in the lives of their families.

What about you? Have you practiced praying scripture? If so, what was your experience? Leave a comment, and don’t forget to follow Most Important Work on Pinterest!

How To Find Your Faith When You Get Sidetracked

Reading Time: 4 min 46 sec

Developing our faith can feel so elusive. We all have these great intentions of starting a new devotional, studying our Bible, praying for our loved ones, or even journaling; only to get sidetracked, when life gets in the way.

We struggle with feelings of discouragement, embarrassment, and even feel a little ashamed. Why is investing in our faith so hard? Doesn’t God want us to have a deep relationship with him? Surely, at this stage in our lives, we should already know how to develop our faith. We lay awake at night and wonder, is my current experience of God all I can expect on earth?

We secretly hope our friends never find out the real state of our spiritual lives. We feel like an imposter, as we say all the right things while trying to stuff our discouragement deep inside. We paste on a smile, throw ourselves into more church activities, hoping against hope that God will transform our lackluster relationship into a vibrant friendship with him.

So how do we find our faith when we get sidetracked? How do we experience a thriving relationship with God? How do we throw off our feeling of imposter syndrome and embrace everything God has for us today?

Here are three practical ways to move towards Jesus without having to become a nun. 🙂

Finding Faith: The Goal

Finding Faith: Journey Together

Finding Faith: All About Community

1. Finding Faith: The Goal

We can sometimes get so distracted with the beautiful new cover of the latest devotional that we forget its purpose. We need to ask ourselves, why are we using this resource? Is it because all our friends are using this devotional and we don’t want to be left out?

The completion of spiritual resources does not equate with a deep relationship with God. Let me say this again, God desires a relationship with us, not the completion of a spiritual tool. “Spiritual people are not those who engage in certain spiritual practices; they are those who draw their life from a conversational relationship with God.” -Dallas Willard

Our focus as followers of Jesus should be an authentic relationship with God. We can’t lose sight of the goal. So, what does this practically look like?

First, we spend time in prayer, talking, and listening to God. This is key because we could go for days on a nonstop monologue of our thoughts and feelings. It can be easy to forget that just because we can’t see God doesn’t mean he isn’t talking to us. We need to practice listening for God’s voice.

Second, don’t feel the need to complete a book, resource, or practice because you need to get all the information to grow. Transformation is not the result of a firehose of information. It is about thoughtful interaction with the current work of the Holy Spirit in your life.

Third, we need to ask the Holy Spirit for direction. He is always faithful to lead us to the next step (or resource) in our spiritual journeys.

2. Finding Faith: Journey Together

In the United States, we have several unspoken values as a country. One of those values goes by several names: autonomy, self-sufficiency, independence, etc. Our culture will tell us that we are so evolved that we can develop our faith in isolation. As long as we have access to the trendiest tv preacher and the latest women’s devotional, that we can grow all by ourselves.

And we can…until we can’t. You see, we forget that Christianity is a counter-cultural way of life. We were not designed to live a life with God in isolation. We were created to live life together in community.

Hebrews 10:24-25, “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

We wonder why our relationship with God consists of good intentions and half-finished conversations. We need each other to offer support, encouragement, and accountability. We need to surround ourselves with like-minded people to grow in our faith.

Ruth Haley Barton says it this way, “The purpose of journeying together in spiritual friendship and spiritual community (whether there are just two of you or whether you are in a small group) is to listen to one another’s desire for God, to nurture that desire in each other and to support one another in seeking a way of life that is consistent with that desire. ”

She says community is all about listening to each other, nurturing the desire for God in each other, and supporting each other in pursuing him. Life will happen. Spiritual community offers you encouragement and accountability to pursue Jesus even when your schedule is busy.

When we are tempted to push God to the back burner, our community reminds us of who we are and where we are going. We need each other.

3. Finding Faith-All About Community

So, what are we looking for in a community? We need to understand that there is no perfect group. As followers of Jesus, we are all broken people at various stages in our spiritual development. We all desperately need God’s grace (and each other’s) as we pursue Jesus together.

Dallas Willard says like this, “Spiritual formation cannot, in the nature of the case, be a ‘private‘ thing, because it is a matter of whole-life transformation. You need to seek out others in your community who are pursuing the renovation of the heart.”

There is no perfect community. Life together will be messy. We are all in the process of transformation. However, here are some of the key values to look for when you are joining a group. One of the ways you can find community is by participating in a small group at your local church.

Authenticity- The value of saying the real thing not the right thing.
Encouragement– The value of an encouraging and supportive environment.
Accountability– The value of accountability spoken with grace, wisdom, and love.
Like-Minded– The value of intentionally pursuing Jesus together
Prayer Support– The value of intentionally praying over each other.
Relationships– The value of intentionally forming relationships with each other.

Are you hungry to know and experience a deeper relationship with God? Do you dream of participating in an authentic community, where together you encourage one another, in your relationship with Jesus? If so, join our waitlist for the Deeper Life Community. While you wait, you will receive for FREE our Deeper Life Beginners Guide and will be the first to know when registration opens. Grab your guide today!

Remember these three steps to finding your faith when you get sidetracked. Our focus as followers of Jesus should be an authentic relationship with God. Second, we are on a spiritual journey together. Third, we find support and accountability by participating in community together.

What about you? What is your #1 issue when it comes to pursuing a relationship with Jesus when you get sidetracked? Leave a comment, and don’t forget to follow Most Important Work on Pinterest!

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How To Read The Bible When You Can’t Focus

Reading Time: 4 min 53 sec

I closed the door and sank into my favorite chair, my mind spinning. “Okay,” I thought. “I’ll have devotions, get ready, then the bank, grocery store, and return the library books.” I grabbed my Bible and turned to the next chapter and started to read.

“How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word.
I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you….”

“I forgot I need to meal plan. Augh. Another thing to add to the list.” I can feel my stress level start to rise as my list of to-dos’ get longer. “I can do this. I just need to focus.” I pull my attention back to the Bible. This time I make it through a half a verse before I’m thinking about what meals would work with our schedule for the upcoming week.

I pull my attention back to the page for a third time, feelings of guilt overwhelming me. I want to invest in my relationship with Jesus, but today (okay, most days) feel like a train wreck. I want to be focused, but it feels like there are so many other things screaming for my attention. If it’s not the to-do list, then it’s the kids clamoring for attention.

Why is it that I just can’t seem to focus? I know I should enjoy reading the Bible: but it just feels painful at times. What am I doing wrong? After several attempts, I give up and tell myself that I will try another day. After all, how meaningful could this time with Jesus be when I am so distracted?

Have you ever experienced a hard time concentrating when you read scripture? If so, here are five quick tips to help you focus when you read the Bible.

Bible For Beginners: Rhythm

Bible For Beginners: Heart

Bible For Beginners: Tools

Bible For Beginners: Experience

Bible For Beginners: Community

1. Bible For Beginners: Set Your Rhythm

The first tip is to find a rhythm to meet with Jesus. There is a distinct difference mentally between fitting Bible reading into the cracks of your day and planning your day around time with Jesus.

Every day I have two or three big rocks that I plan my day around. These are my top priorities that directly reflect my values. For me, daily spending time with Jesus is a big rock.

Finding a daily rhythm is crucial to accomplishing these values. What this means is that instead of being time-based (devotions at 8:30 am), I focus on the first thing on my list. When it’s complete, I move on to the next big rock. When the baby cries, the dog doesn’t stop barking, or I overslept, I don’t automatically miss my window for spending time with Jesus.

What are your two-three big rocks? If nothing else happens in your day, but you accomplish these things, your actions will reflect your overall values for life.

2. Bible For Beginners: Prepare Your Heart

Tip number two is all about preparing your heart before you spend time in God’s word. What this is all about is eliminating any possible distractions. This step is so important to spending quality time with Jesus.

“It is a hallow feeling to be in the company of someone with whom we long to have a satisfying personal exchange, only to watch hope dissolve as the time together is drained by superficial chatter or surface distractions.”-Richard Foster

Write down a quick list of the thoughts your mind is dwelling on. This could be to-do’s, parenting issues, or upcoming activities. This activity gives us the freedom to not have to remember the myriad of thoughts rolling around in our heads.

Pray and invite God into this time. Ask him to help you to be present to him as he is ever-present to you. Invite the Holy Spirit to speak to you as you read God’s word and pray.

3. Bible For Beginners: Change Your Tool

The ways we connect with God might need to change to fit the different seasons of our lives. You might enjoy journaling, and then you reach a season where it feels dry and lifeless. This is a completely normal part of your journey into a deeper relationship with Jesus.

You might want to try meeting with Jesus by listening to his word read aloud, trying a new devotional, or watching scripture unfold through a movie. You can always pick up journaling, or Bible study, etc. again in the future.

Don’t feel the need to finish something. If a tool is no longer meeting you where you are at (or you are dreading you using it), put it down.

The Visual Bible is a great alternative to reading scripture. These movies give a verse by verse account of Matthew and Acts. They are powerful and provide a fresh way to connect with God’s word.

4. Bible For Beginners: Experience God

The Bible is the living, breathing word of God. When we spend time in scripture, it is an active, not passive activity. Richard Foster explains it like this, “Reading the Bible for spiritual transformation is not a one-sided endeavor: it is a dialogue of human spirit and Holy Spirit.”

We are not just reading the Bible to acquire more information about God; we read it to experience his living word. Scripture has the power to transform our hearts and lives when we surrender to the work of the Holy Spirit.

We can engage in God’s word by reading slowly and prayerfully. The goal is not to finish the chapter or the book but to allow the Holy Spirit to use God’s word to transform our souls.

5. Bible For Beginners: Life In Community

Engaging in God’s word was not supposed to be a solitary activity. We were designed by God to live life together in community. We need a strong support system to encourage us when we are frustrated, discouraged, and unmotivated.

We need others to come alongside us and cover us in prayer. A community of faith is mission-critical to our growth as followers of Jesus. Here are three ways you can live life together in a community with others.

1. Participate (not just attend) in the life of a local church

2. Participate in a small group (typically found at your local church)

3. Are you hungry to know and experience a deeper relationship with God? Do you dream of participating in an authentic community, where together you encourage one another, in your relationship with Jesus? If so, join our waitlist for the Deeper Life Community. While you wait, you will receive for FREE our Deeper Life Beginners Guide and will be the first to know when registration opens. Grab your guide today!

The five tools for reading our Bible when we just can’t focus are: finding our rhythm, preparing our hearts, changing our tools, experiencing God, and living life in community with others.

What about you? What is your #1 issue when it comes to reading the Bible? Leave a comment, and don’t forget to follow Most Important Work on Pinterest!

3 Lies Satan Wants Moms To Believe

Reading Time: 5 min 42 sec

Mom life can be tough. From the second we wake up in the morning, until the moment our heads hit the pillow, there can be a constant assault: of tasks, activities, questions, and concerns filling our thoughts. Did we take the dog outside? Is Junior hitting a growth spurt? What are we eating for dinner tomorrow?

We worry over our child’s health, our financial situation, our mounting to-dos, and our dreams for the future. We warn our children about spiritual attacks and pray protection over our families.

We live-in full-blown Mama Bear mode ready to protect our loved ones at any moment. In fact, we can be so focused on caring for the needs of others that we fail to recognize the web of lies that has invaded our lives.

Satan loves to prey upon our insecurities, fears, and need for control. These lies are insidious. They infiltrate every aspect of our lives, from the decisions we make, to how we relate to our spouse and parent our children.

So, what are the subconscious lies that we believe? Most often, they are the phrases that play in our heads at three am; or in our overreaction to a trivial issue. They mess with our feelings of control. If we do not stop and identify the lies we believe, we are doomed to repeat the same mistakes over and over.

Developing awareness and replacing the lies with God’s truth is a lifelong process. Here are three common lies that Satan likes to use to keep us from walking in freedom.

Mom Life: Lie #1- I Don’t Have The Time

Mom Life: Lie #2- I Have To Do It Myself

Mom Life : Lie #3- I Should Be Doing More

1. Mom Life: Lie #1-I Don’t Have The Time

How many times have we told ourselves, consciously, or unconsciously that we do not have the time? We do not have the time today: to take a walk, to spend time with Jesus, to go for coffee with a friend. There is this popular idea that a good parent equals a busy parent. We believe that to take care of our family, we are called to sacrifice our own health: spiritually, physically, and mentally.

This is a lie regarding our identity. We subconsciously believe that we are what we do. That our family will fall apart if we are not available 24/7. That our God-given role as a mom is who we are as a person.

Being a mother is not who we are; it is what we do. Yes, we are passionate about nurturing our families, but we are first, and foremost, followers of Jesus. We are, as author Larry Warner likes to say, “Forgiven by God, chosen by God, adopted by God, belonging to God, containing God and beloved by God.”

As followers of Jesus, we are actually commanded: to invest in our relationship with Jesus, to live in community with others, to take care of our bodies, and even to rest! All throughout the Bible, there are examples of how to live a sustainable lifestyle. At Creation, it says that God worked for six days, and on the seventh, he rested.

As moms, we are the model for how to live a healthy lifestyle for our children. When we intentionally spend time with Jesus, when we say no to all the things we could do, so we can invest in activities that truly matter, those decisions form how our children operate in life.

Do not buy into the lie that you are what you do. You are a beloved daughter of the king. Your relationship with God, the health of your body, mind, and spirit is vitally important. It cannot be regulated to the cracks in your schedule. Be intentional about scheduling time to invest in your health today.

2. Mom Life: Lie #2- I Have To Do It By Myself

As a culture, we celebrate the myth of Super Mom. This unattainable woman equally juggles raising a family with a demanding career. Her hair and makeup are flawless while her meals are organic and homemade. Her house is perfectly decorated. Her kids are beautifully dressed, and she is professionally successful in all of her endeavors.

The lie that we have to be a super mom; has been perpetuated throughout social media. Images of picture-perfect meals, activities, and vacations assault our attention on every platform.

We start to believe that if our lives do not look like an Instagram feed, that we must be doing something wrong. We struggle with feelings of inadequacy: discouragement, exhaustion, isolation, and loneliness. We subconsciously worry that if we showed our true colors that we would be rejected or judged.

God has a different plan in store for us. We are not supposed to wear ourselves out trying to compete with impossible (and fake) standards. He actually designed us to live in an authentic community with others. A life where we can depend on another. Where we do not have to act like we have all the answers to life.

It says in Hebrews 10:24-25, ^“And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

We are called to be live in real authentic relationships with other Christians. Practically, this means participating in your local church small group, practicing hospitality, doing life together, caring, and praying for each other. We need to fight the lie that it is up to us to do and be everything by intentionally seeking community and not isolation.

3. Mom Life: Lie #3-I Should Be Doing More

This lie piggybacks off the last one. Have you ever felt like you were always behind? That no matter what you do, it is never enough?

The foundation of our culture is based on the qualities of hard work, achievement, and success. Those qualities aren’t bad until they are taken to the extreme. In the United States, we value burning the candle at both ends, which at its root, fosters a workaholic culture. We push ourselves to do more, believing the lie that more is the answer to life’s questions.

This attitude bleeds into every aspect of our lives: spiritually, professionally, and personally. We have bought the lie that our productivity determines our worth. This lie attacks our very identity.

Who am I outside of what I produce?

Are you trying to prove your worth by what you accomplish? Are you trying to earn God’s love and favor?

God invites us to a different type of life free from the rat race of performance.

Jesus says in Matthew 11:28-30, “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”

As a follower of Jesus, you don’t have to prove your worth to God. You can take a huge breath of relief, resting in the fact that you are beloved by God, regardless of what you do.

Spend some time in prayer, asking the Holy Spirit to reveal any area where you are trying to prove your worth through productivity. Ask God to replace those lies with the truth of his word.

We need each other to recognize the lies in our lives. We were designed to live together in community. We need to have a strong support structure of like-minded people around us.

We can find community through our extended family, friends, and our local church. Be intentional about investing in close relationships with other women. Join our community of moms (below), who are serious about pursuing a deep relationship with Jesus. We are truly stronger together.

If you want to know how to get started in living a deep life with God: grab our Deeper Life Beginners Guide (below). And join our community of moms who are hungry for more Jesus in their lives and in their families.

What about you? What is your #1 issue when it comes to recognizing the lies in your life? Leave a comment, and don’t forget to follow Most Important Work on Pinterest!