Who are You Walking With?

workers at home day 2

Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.  Proverbs 13:20 

“The next best thing to being wise oneself is to live in a circle of those who are.”  C.S. Lewis

 

  • Take time and start your day with a special quiet time of prayer, Scripture reading, and listening for the Lord to speak to your heart. Ask the Lord to speak to you specifically about what it means to be a worker at home. Also, take the time to light a candle, and get something delicious to sip during your quiet time today.
  •  Read Proverbs 13:20 and write this in your journal. If you have time, read the whole chapter!

Who are You Walking With?

When I think about being a more effective worker at home, I am always drawn back to my time in the South with my southern friends. These were the “wise friends” God gave me during this time of my life. Being a military spouse, I have the opportunity to live in some great places in our country, but the lessons I learned while in Georgia have stayed with me, mostly because of the women who walked with me during that season. Here are some great tips that I learned from my season in the South.

Southern Ladies:

  • Challenge each other spiritually. We talked about the Lord, how He was working in our lives, and what we were learning from scripture. It’s so important to have friends around you who sharpen you in your walk with God. (Proverbs 27:17)
  • Are not afraid to get dirty. They do not shy away from any hard work. We all need to work hard in our homes.
  • Ask for help. They do not go through life alone. They lean on their friends during the good times and the bad. Pray and ask God to bring you a friend to do life with, and to pray with. He is faithful and will provide. (Ecclesiastes 4:9-10)
  • Believe that family is the most important aspect of life. No one is more dedicated to their family. They value time with their loved ones.
  • Have a unique ability to chat with anyone in any situation. They can make anyone feel at ease, and purpose to have a comfortable atmosphere in their homes. Don’t live in a museum. It makes people feel uncomfortable if they think that they or their children need to be perfect when they are in your house.
  • Get ready for the day. They are intentional with their dress and appearance. They believe looking put together means the world will take you more seriously. Take the time each day to apply whatever cosmetics that makes you feel lovely, but remember, the most important beauty comes from within.  (1 Peter 3:3-4)
  • They celebrate their life. Southern women are at peace with their families, their lives, and their homes. They open their home at a moment’s notice. Ask God to help you to be at peace with your home and not to beat yourself up if it’s not always as clean as you would like. Remember, anytime you are actively serving the Lord and opening up your home, the devil would love to discourage you. Proverbs 16:3 says,  “Commit your works to the Lord, and your thoughts will be established.” Let God ordain your thoughts about your home. If you are constantly worried about your home not being “good enough,” all I can say  (in my best Elsa voice) is “Let it go.” You are the best mom for your children and the best wife for your husband. When in doubt,  pray, do your best, then let God do the rest.
  • Make rest a priority. Even God rested on the 7th day. Not only should we rest on the Sabbath, but we should make room in our lives for things we like to do. Genesis 2:2-3 tells us, By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. Then God blessed the seventh day and made it holy because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.” If God places an importance on rest and renewal, so should you. Often as moms, we put ourselves and our needs last. While this is important at times, it is also just as important for you to recharge yourself. For me, I love to get on the treadmill and worship. I love being able to be alone with my thoughts and my God. After I exercise, I always feel refreshed and more at peace.

Pretty great, right? It is kind of a checklist on how to be your best self. Leaning on our friends and learning from other women will only increase our confidence and abilities in our home. The power of Godly friendship is amazing. Certain women will come into your life for a season. Take the time to learn from them and apply what you learn in your home. When we are intentional with our actions, especially at home, it frees up time and energy that we can use to glorify God.

Questions to ponder

  • Who are your “wise friends?” If you presently have none, pray right now for God to bring her to you.
  • How can you invest more into your friendships? What can you do to encourage them?
  • What can you do to encourage each other more in the Lord?

Faith-Filled Idea

I (Leslie)  have an assignment for you this week. As we talk about our homes and the important work we all do within those four walls, it is easy to do just enough to get by. I want you to dig deeper. Let’s find some space in our lives. I am going to ask you to do two things:

  • First, every day this week find 20 minutes to spend with the Lord. Meditate on His word, journal or just pray.
  • Second, work on clearing some space or clutter from your home. Throughout the week, clear 12 inches of space from somewhere in your home. This can be in a closet, off a countertop or a desk. If our living space is clear, our minds are less distracted and free to focus on the Lord and our families.

I look forward to hearing about the different ways you are able to find space in your home. Comment below and let me know how it’s going!

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What do you feel is the most valuable part of the Help Club ( Bible study, having a prayer partner, monthly meeting, website, etc.) and why?

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Leslie Leonard
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15 Comments on “Who are You Walking With?”

  1. So good! I learn so much from my friends and am so thankful that God placed them in my life! <3

  2. Workers at Home Idea #2 has a great example of small achievable projects, thanks.

    Feedback?:
    I touched on this in my last post. Accountability in doing this with other women, even if I don’t see them, I know they are there!

    I enjoy the monthly meetings, (wish it was not so far, but it works). I appreciate your weekly email, not sure how you could do something like that in the Fall, but simplify for your sake. Just encouragement to keep going. It does not have to be a long email.

    Mom tips keep me remembering. Prayer partner (bi-weekly in the summer has been more realistic, but prayer regularly)
    Mom tips, study, monthly meeting, prayer have flowed. Writing the verses and memorizing, I have stuck to one verse for several weeks instead.

    Sarah

  3. This is a great message, Leslie!! Thank you! I,too, love the Bible study! It’s so important for each one of us to meet with Jesus each day and hear from Him. And then we can share that overflow with others.

    Not sure if anyone mentioned the typos….
    In the get ready for the day section, it should say “make” rather than “makes.” 🙂
    And under #3 it says ” to to ” instead of ” do to. ”

    Than you so much for sharing your heart and wisdom, Leslie!!!

  4. The wise counsel given in each lesson has challenged me to keep growing as a woman. I love who God has made me to be and am secure in my identity in Christ. To be a woman is such a beautiful gift from our most gracious loving Heavenly Father. He does all things well!
    To pray with my prayer partner has been quite encouraging. We are both reminded that God intervenes in our lives in very specific personal ways. To praise God together for answers to prayer is a delight. Also, about three years ago a woman entered my life and asked if I had a prayer walking partner. She has just moved to the Springs with her husband and they both worked for Navigators. She has had a prayer walking partner in each city she has lived in. Today she moved back to Florida. I can’t tell you how much praying Scripture together once a week for our husbands, our children, our neighbors and ourselves has impacted each of these relationships. We just pick a book of the Bible to pray through by reading a few verses at a time and looking to the Holy Spirit to guide our prayers using those verses as the context for praying. 7:00-8:00 every Friday morning meeting to walk and pray has been our habit. I have grown in faith and in love with Jesus because of it! We prayed through Luke, Philippians, Colossians, Hebrews, Acts and Romans in the three years we did this! God has provided another lady from my church who is interested in picking up where my Navigator friend is leaving off.

    1. Thanks so much Lisa! I love how intentional you are in your prayer life! Thanks so much for being so diligent about praying with your Help Club prayer partner. 🙂

      1. Thank you Courtney! It is amazing how God puts the right people in our life during our different seasons.

  5. I’ve been shirking off the responsibility of commenting for awhile now. i think it’s because I like to put a lot of thought into it, but lately, I haven’t been interested in thinking. (=

    With that said, I love, love LOVE the challenge to find TWELVE INCHES OF SPACE to clean. That is is measurable and doable! I’m pulling out my ruler and doing it right now! (I’m pretty literal, haha!) Thanks, Leslie, for the great idea. I’m really inspired.

    1. I love the 12 inches of space idea too Daphne! I love all of your comments! You are such a wise woman! 🙂

  6. Thanks Leslie for writing a wonderful study! Powerful god-fearing women for friends brings me joy and makes my heart so happy. Thank you thank you for this topic. I love how you mentioned to pray for a friend. I think this is a great point as many moms are moving constantly and leaving great friends behind. Knowing that God wil provide new friends makes a move less stressful.

    The most valuable part of help club for me is the Bible study. The combination of scritpure reading, journaling, prayer, and wisdom from you all writing these studies is simply wonderful! My time with the Lord has been richer because of the Help Club. Thanks Deb for your vision and heart for mommies. Love you!!

    1. Thanks so much Rachel! I love how Leslie encouraged us to have great friends- just like YOU! I’s so thankful for all you do for the Help Club Rachel! 🙂

  7. Kristi,
    Great comment. My mom was (and still is) one who had to have everything perfect before anyone comes into her home. Growing up in a home like that makes my personal expectations TOO HIGH. I am working on letting go and letting in. People want to see me and spend time with my family.
    I know I am dedicated my 12 inches of space to getting rid of unneeded paperwork.

  8. Hi Deb!
    Great job Leslie! I just wanted to add that I grew up in a home that wasn’t “good enough” to have friends over. This had a direct impact on the friendships and community that my parents and siblings were able to cultivate. We worried far too much, and our connections and relationship skills suffered as a result. I agree…Let it go! 🙂 I also love the challenge to spend a dedicated 20 minutes with God each day. He’s our source of wisdom & revelation!

    For me, the best part of HCFM is the Bible study. It combines the richness of God’s word, plus wisdom & ideas from other moms. Love the opportunity to pray with other moms too.
    Kristi

    1. You are so faithful Kristi! Thanks so much for being such a shining example to me of someone who loves God’s Word and lives it out in her own life. I am so proud of you! 🙂

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