12 “Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the Lord your God is giving you. Exodus 20:12 (NLT)
How Do You Honor Your Mother?
The command to “honor…your mother” is not a suggestion, and there are no exemptions. Her character or effectiveness as a parent is not the issue. God established this guideline for Israel because a respectful home was crucial to their future success as a nation. The same is true for us today. God blesses our homes when we respect our mothers with words, attitudes, and actions.
Love her unconditionally. We’re called to love our moms as God does. He didn’t qualify His love for us with expectations and conditions that must first be met. He simply lavished His affection upon us while we were still sinners (Rom. 5:8).
Show her compassionate forgiveness. Since there are no perfect mothers, at times we’ll have to forgive them. If your mom seems harsh or unloving, show her compassion. She may have experienced hardships as a child that wounded her spirit.
Remember her gratefully. Thank Mom this Mother’s Day for all she did for you as a child. But don’t let it end there. Nothing is more hurtful than feeling forgotten. Make room for her in your busy schedule. After all, she made countless sacrifices for you.
Treat her kindly. Let your mother know that she’s valued. Take time to listen attentively when she speaks, and help herout when she is in need.
Does your mother feel loved and honored? What can you do that will bring a big smile to her face? In our adult years, it’s easy to distance ourselves from our moms because life gets hectic and multiple demands steal our time. Make it a habit to pray for her daily and contact her regularly.
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Very inspiring message from InTouch Daily Devotional
Happy Mother’s Day Nanay!
Do Not Love This World
15 Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. 16 For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. 17 And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.
1 John 2:15-17 (NLT)
Do What Is Good
3 Remind the believers to submit to the government and its officers. They should be obedient, always ready to do what is good. 2 They must not slander anyone and must avoid quarreling. Instead, they should be gentle and show true humility to everyone.
3 Once we, too, were foolish and disobedient. We were misled and became slaves to many lusts and pleasures. Our lives were full of evil and envy, and we hated each other.
4 But—“When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, 5 he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. 6 He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. 7 Because of his grace he declared us righteous and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.” 8 This is a trustworthy saying, and I want you to insist on these teachings so that all who trust in God will devote themselves to doing good. These teachings are good and beneficial for everyone.
9 Do not get involved in foolish discussions about spiritual pedigrees or in quarrels and fights about obedience to Jewish laws. These things are useless and a waste of time. 10 If people are causing divisions among you, give a first and second warning. After that, have nothing more to do with them. 11 For people like that have turned away from the truth, and their own sins condemn them.
Titus 3:1-11 (NLT)
Right Relationships
We need relationships that are based on more than common interests; we need people who will encourage and build us up in our faith.
These kinds of friends give wise counsel based upon God’s Word. Their advice isn’t always comfortable, but it’s always beneficial. They’re not afraid to speak the truth, even if it’s painful to hear. When we’ve gotten off track, they lovingly confront us and point us in the right direction. If we encounter times of difficulty or suffering, they are by our side, encouraging us to trust the Lord as we walk through fiery trials.
Excerpt from InTouch Ministries Daily Devotional
As iron sharpens iron,
so a friend sharpens a friend
Proverbs 27:17 (NLT)