Being a Living Sacrifice as a Mother

This guest post is from my mother Lorraine Ward. Mum wrote it recently to share with a mother's group, and I thought it would also be a blessing to those who read this blog. It certainly comes as a timely reminder to me as I have been struggling with a complaining spirit at times. 

Lorraine at Christmas with her granddaughter Mercy Joy Lorraine.

Lately I have been rereading Helen Roseveare’s book Living Sacrifice. I have read this book several times! Since my children were little I have made it a life habit to read not only the Word of God, but also biographies and autobiographies of great Christians who sacrificed everything in their lives to share the gospel all over the world. We can learn so much about how to live the victorious Christian life from the struggles, suffering and triumphs of humble men and women of God.

Helen Roseveare worked as a medical missionary in the Congo for 20 years, a time when there was much bloodshed and suffering in that country. Her story is inspiring because she talks so openly about how God dealt with her proud heart through times of great stress and hardship. She shares about how the Lord revealed to her that it is a privilege to give up all to know Him and be used by Him. When she suffered brutality at the hands of rebel soldiers she struggled to stop herself blaming God and feeling abandoned by Him. The Lord showed her that He was offering her the privilege of sharing in the fellowship of His sufferings. God wanted to transform her life to be a usable tool in His hands for His purposes. Was she willing to do without, to let go of ambition and pride to learn death of self, to give up self-pity, self-defence and self-sufficiency?

Helen’s struggles with her heart have deeply touched me, because as a mother it is easy to give in to self-pity at times when you have no time to yourself and tasks and chores mount up because you are exhausted. As a mother I have wrestled with a complaining spirit and a desire to have my load lifted. I had to take stock of my sinful thinking patterns when things were difficult. Why me, Lord? Why do I have to bear this burden? The sweetest moments come after confession of sin, as the Lord gently shows you His Way. When I confessed this grumbling spirit to the Lord, He showed me that He has a greater purpose for me as a mother. He has given me the most important job in the world, to train my children for His purposes and to reveal His character through the death of my selfish complaining heart.

Let’s remember God’s promise in Ezek 36:26 “A new heart I will give you, and new spirit I will put within you…” When our children see our sweet spirit before the Lord, His Spirit speaks to their hearts and His transforming power is at work in them. Child training can seem to take forever and you may not be getting the results you desire straight away, but God Almighty is at work in your ministry and He will bring to fruition what He has begun in you and your family. Praise His Name!

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Fullness of Joy

It is wonderful to be able to share another post from my mother, Lorraine. I can testify to her quiet joy over many years of sacrifice for her family. I hope you find this post to be a special New Year treat and reminder of where our hearts need to be in order to produce fruit for Christ this year.


 Is it possible to live a joyful life at home, even in the hectic time of bringing up a family? The Lord certainly says it is possible! In John 15 Jesus says that He has told us certain things so that His joy may be in us and so that our joy may be complete. How does this joy fill us?

In the illustration of the vine and the branches we see that the joy is not something we can manufacture or get by our own effort. The Lord says that the joy comes from abiding in Him every moment of the day. We cannot have His joy without His life or His abiding presence. When I surrender all to Him and simply let Him work in me, trusting that He has saved me and will produce His fruit in me, I am abiding in Him and then His joy will be in me. In my family life this means sharing the whole day with Him, seeking His way in my relationships and walking constantly in repentance and humility. I need to quickly repent when I sin in family relationships, bring my sin to Him and let Him change my heart. Then I will have His joy. It will just surprise me and well up like a fountain which I cannot stop unless I stop following His way in my life. Many times I have experienced the fullness of this joy when circumstances have been far from easy and all seemed too much for me. I remember getting up in the night to my chronically ill second child and calling out to God for strength and direction. Suddenly He was there again! His joy was welling up from the presence of His Spirit, comforting my weary mother’s heart. What joy!

 When I live the life of a branch with all my heart, I have His joy in all its fullness. On a day when life seemed full of dirty nappies and crying children, to know that the Lord loved me and that He was producing that love in me to pass on to my family and to pour it out on others was the source of true joy and He kept me going when I wanted to give up.

In the home we can daily celebrate that joy and love by worshipping Him and expressing thankfulness for all He gives us. Daily have a thanksgiving time for all the good in your life- this will bring joy as you see the Vine producing fruit in your family! Thank Him that He is producing the fruit of the Spirit in you as you rest in Him.

Enjoy the simple things the Lord has given you each day. Take a short time out from the chores to look at a ladybird or a butterfly or a flower. Smell the flowers and grow a garden with your children if you can. You will see the Creator at work! Going outdoors gives you a different perspective on life and the Lord will lift you up in your spirit as you marvel at His creative genius.

Joy seems an impossibility when you are tired out from being up in the night to a baby or when you can’t conquer the mess in your house because of exhaustion, but the Lord says that in being a branch of the vine, resting in His love, calling out to Him for help, giving up self in love to bear fruit for Him, you will have fullness of joy! 

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Quietness of Mind and Singleness of Purpose

My mother Lorraine with her grandson Elnathan

I am blessed to have a mother who has faithfully followed Christ for many years. She is an example of godly womanhood. Those who know Mum value her steadiness, quiet spirit, deep relationship with God, constant prayer, and faithful training of her children. I asked Mum to share her advice for mothers of babies, just starting out on their journey of educating their children.  

From the time you first cuddle your baby, speak to him and nurture him, he is beginning his education as God planned it. With quietness before God and steadfastness of purpose you can bring your baby into an awareness of the fountain of life and truth, the Lord God Almighty.

Reflecting on my own experience as a mother of four children and grandmother of eight there are things which I know are vitally important.

1. Cultivate the habit of continual quietness before the Lord. This takes decisive effort- too much to do, lack of sleep and crying babies are challenging to your walk with God. I worried too much about how to look after my babies and fretted over many things instead of taking them to the Lord. My mind was constantly churning over possibilities instead of going quietly to the Lord and asking His Spirit to convict me. This anxiety is a sin. My prayers were too hurried and my mind constantly fatigued. He loves you and He gave you this baby, therefore He will direct your path. A quiet spirit trusting in God shows your baby that life has a peace which comes from the Father.
2. Read the Word of God aloud once a day as you feed your baby. He will come to love the Word as you do and it will nurture both of you. Include your baby in your daily family worship, so that it becomes a habit of life for him.
3. Sing spiritual songs as you look after your baby. Worship the Lord as you go about your chores. Your baby will come to know that the Lord is your home and that all things are under His control. You are a door opener for your child to grow in all areas- physical, mental and spiritual.
4. Decide on how you want to run your day and do not waver from the principles God gives you. You decide what is best for your baby and do not let him become demanding. From about six months onwards he must know that you decide what is best for him. Mealtimes and sleeptimes should settle into a routine which gives a rhythm to his life and helps him be more content. He has a foolish, self-centred heart and mind and must learn early to obey and accept Mum’s and Dad’s wise authority in his life.
5. Take your baby outdoors on every fine day for a short time to experience and enjoy nature, to listen to the rustle of the leaves and the happy singing of the birds- this is God’s amazing world!
6. Cultivate a loving relationship with your husband so that your baby will see love in action in the family.
7. You will sin every day and sometimes you will feel down and exhausted but you can go to the Lord and confess your sin. He loves you, He understands your situation and He will forgive you. He will also help you grow and change.
8. Look after your baby yourself and if you do need someone else occasionally to take care of him, let it be a relative who loves him and has the same vision for his life as you do. He is precious and should never be put in the care of those who do not love God and who do not have a living relationship with Him.
9. Sometimes my selfish heart would rebel – this baby seems to consume all my time and energy, but the Lord is calling each of us to sacrifice and die to self to bring up this baby to His glory and for His Name’s sake.
10. What a privilege you have!!

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