Tag: The Help Club for Moms

‘God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another. ‘ 1 Peter 4:10(NLT)

‘Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.’ 1 Corinthians 13:4-7(NLT)

By Krystle Porter



When my husband and I were newly married, I remember one evening, very vividly, where we were sitting at the dinner table arguing. I cannot for the life of me remember what the quarrel was about, but I recall being so angry with him that I stormed out of the front door of our little condo, sat down on a step about twenty feet away, and pouted for a bit.

I thought that he would for sure come out, plead his apologies, and beg for me to come back inside. He never did. I waited there for what felt like hours, though it was likely thirty minutes or so. I remember sitting there thinking, “Is this how marriage is supposed to feel? I thought it was supposed to make you feel good.” I remember feeling very defeated. I knew at that moment, my perspective needed to change. Marriage is about two sinful people learning to live together in companionship. We don’t always get it right. We can try our very best, but perfection is reserved for Jesus only. Thank goodness for that! So many expectations can be released when you allow your spouse to be another person in this world—trying their best but inevitably falling short. There is an endless opportunity to love our spouses well by living a life that overflows with grace for this very reason.

I looked up the definition of the word “grace,” and one source said, “The condition or fact of being favored by someone.” What a beautiful concept! This leads me to my next definition; what is favor? It is an act of kindness beyond what is due or usual. Grace should be poured upon our spouses in bucketfuls. If you have an issue with your man that you want Him to repent of, your kindness toward him, your undeserved “favor,” may be just what God is calling you to do to help him out of his pit!

Here are two beautiful ways we can extend grace to our husbands:

• Learn to accept your husband’s limitations. “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Friend, this is a huge one. Like I mentioned above, our husbands will not, and cannot, be perfect, and neither can you or I. Over time, I have grown to laugh and even enjoy my husband’s imperfections. Their vulnerability is a window into their heart. Don’t take that for granted! Pray for him and love him through his struggles, even if these struggles affect your relationship. Before you try to “fix” anything about your husband, go to God in devoted prayer— not just a frustrated, disgruntled prayer, but pour your heart out before the Lord. You can rest easy that Jesus can do more than you expect or hope in the situation.
• Always assume the best. “A fool takes no pleasure in understanding, but only in expressing his opinion” (Proverbs 18:2 ESV). When you decide to assume the best in your spouse, the whole tone of your relationship will change. It creates trust when you feel like you are on the same team instead of on opposing ones. Assume your husband loves you and cares for you. Bend your ear to understanding instead of winning. When you decide to trust and not assume the worst in your spouse, conversations that could possibly have turned into arguments become opportunities to grow closer.

Faith-Filled Idea: Win as a Team

Around our house, we know that when one of us wins an argument, we both lose. So we focus on making sure that Team Porter (our last name) wins every disagreement. Together we come to a solution that allows us to both “win” and draws us closer because of it. Conflict is normal in a marriage, and we are presented with opportunities to either show love through forgiveness or stay defensive. So what team are you on? Pray about being on “Team _______” with your man. When a disagreement arises, quietly pray “God help me to be on Team _______, and to not only plead my case.” This simple prayer could be a game-changer for you! After all, Jesus is in the business of changing hearts.

from The Help Club for Moms

‘I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. ‘ 1 Timothy 2:1(NLT)

‘“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. ‘ Matthew 7:7(NLT)

‘“You parents—if your children ask for a loaf of bread, do you give them a stone instead? Or if they ask for a fish, do you give them a snake? Of course not! So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good gifts to those who ask him.’ Matthew 7:9-11(NLT)

‘Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.’ 1 Peter 5:7(NLT)

By Jennifer Valdois



Several years ago, I came to a place of desperation in my marriage. My husband was facing some hard situations, and, as much as I hated to see him struggle, there was not one thing I could do to change his circumstances. I was at a loss and had nowhere to turn but to God. My husband needed my prayers, but I didn’t know how to pray effectively. I wanted to do more than bring a list of needs before the Lord; I wanted to see the mountains move. Then I remembered one of my sisters recommending that I read The Circle Maker by Mark Batterson.

Out of a deep desire to change, I checked out the book and the audiobook from the library; I needed answers, and I was determined to find them! Before I read, I prayed and committed to myself, “This will not be a book on prayer I read and then forget. This book will change my life.” I listened to The Circle Maker several times on audiobook and let the message go deep into my soul. I learned that there is no special prayer to move God’s heart. Praying to move the mountains is about believing we serve a big God who is all-powerful and can make all things right.

Our job as daughters of the Most High God is to trust Him to hear our prayers and to continue to pray in faith over what we are contending for. He says, “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you” (Matthew 7:7). We serve a Good Father who will not give us a stone when we ask for bread (Matthew 7:9-11). His Word says He will give good things to those who ask! Moms, we must believe that He loves us and wants to answer our prayers.

During this time, I discovered that there is power in praying God’s promises found in the Bible. As I spent time in the Word, I realized how much I loved praying the Scriptures I was reading over my husband. One of my favorite Scriptures to pray became Psalm 5:12: “Surely, Lord, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.” I love thinking about God’s blessing and favor surrounding my husband as I pray. Along with praying the Scriptures, I would bring my husband’s needs before the Lord, thus “circling” him in prayer.

Whether your husband needs healing, wisdom, revelation, or a miracle, you can “circle” him in prayer by praying the promises of God and bringing his needs before the Lord. It has been more than five years since I began this journey of intentionally praying for my husband, casting all my cares on Him because He cares for me (1 Peter 5:7). I have seen God answer my prayers in small ways, in significant ways, and in ways I never imagined possible, and He will do the same for you. Be bold, believe, and ask God to do big things!

from The Help Club for Moms

‘Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.’ Romans 12:2(NLT)

‘Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. ‘ Colossians 3:2(NLT)

‘Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. ‘ 1 Peter 5:8(NLT)

‘Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. ‘ Ephesians 4:23(NLT)

By Kristall Willis

“I’m a bad mom.”

“I’m not successful or productive.”

“I can’t do this.”

These are the words I sometimes hear in my mind. Do you listen to them too?

Quite often, I struggle with toxic thoughts about myself, which causes me to respond to my kids out of frustration and irritation. I lose my patience with them when they are just merely being kids, and then I feel worse. My children suffer and are not seeing the best version of me as a mommy because I am believing lies! Why do we believe these lies about ourselves? The truth is that the enemy of our souls wants to plant this constant negative thought chatter in our minds. Satan is crafty and manipulative, and he relishes in our weakness. But guess what, mama? Jesus is stronger, and His authority will triumph in our mothering!

In trying to stop this cycle, I have turned to Scripture to find the truth. The Word of God is filled with so much encouragement, strength, and power. Proverbs 15:1 says, “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger,” and James 1:19 says, “Be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.” These Scriptures have become unwavering truths for me and are now in my arsenal to wield against Satan.

I have found the practice of turning my worries and fears into prayers also helps exchange these lies with truths. For example, when I worry about my children getting hurt, I’ll say, “Lord, please protect and watch over them. Send Your angels to guard and guide them.” Or when I worry about my husband, I’ll pray, “Lord, be with my husband as he works. Give him confidence in You to follow Your will and feel Your Spirit’s presence around him. Strengthen him to rely on You and show him You are his provider and how much You love him.” This takes control from the enemy and passes my burdens over to our Lord and Savior.

Our “enemy, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). The devil is ready and waiting to tempt you and bring you down that rabbit hole of bad thoughts again and again! Remember, though, he is not very creative and tends to use the same triggers over and over. We have to remember the Word of God continually and hide it deep in our hearts.

This practice of fixing our minds on things from above is not something we tend to do naturally—it takes prayer, discipline, obedience, and continued training. By filling our minds with God’s Word, we can begin responding with truth from Scripture. Oh, how this will change our daily interactions, responses, and moods!

from The Help Club for Moms

‘But when you pray, go away by yourself, shut the door behind you, and pray to your Father in private. Then your Father, who sees everything, will reward you.’ Matthew 6:6(NLT)

‘Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. ‘ James 5:16(NLT)

‘Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel.’ Psalms 22:3(NLT)

By Rae-Ellen Sanders



I love the movie War Room. The older woman, Clara, is a powerhouse prayer warrior! She diligently removes herself to a tiny room where she has lined the walls with pictures and Scriptures to motivate her in her spiritual battle through prayer. The movie inspires me to fight the enemy with the Word of God and to persevere when my prayers aren’t answered in my timing.

According to James 5:16 (NKJV), “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.” From what I understand about Scripture, the most spiritually successful people were men and women of prayer. Jesus Himself regularly removed himself from the crowds to find a quiet time with the Father. If Jesus, as our greatest example, found time to pray, how much more should we follow His standard to pray!

Creating a secret place to meet the Lord in prayer is how we begin to make quiet time a life-changing priority. A comfy chair or a nook reserved for your prayer closet or war room will allow you to slow down, quiet your heart, read God’s Word without interruption, hear the voice of the Lord, and pray.

If you’re like me and don’t have room in your house for a dedicated war room, another option would be to create a prayer board made from a trifold board that you can find at most office stores. I’ve added prayer cues and Scriptures to my board that moves me to pray. Pinterest has been a great resource to help me tailor my board to my liking. When opened, my board shields me from the laundry and other distractions that want to pull me away from time with God. When I am finished, it folds up and easily stores under my bed.

After creating this safe haven and refuge from the world, go into your “secret place” and thank God for all His blessings and provisions. Thanksgiving gives you a humble posture for prayer. You can journal your praises and even acknowledge answered prayers. Play music that inspires you to sing songs of praise. Pick up a hymnal or sing songs you know from church. Lifting your voice in worship invites the Lord to join you. Open your Bible, and before reading, ask the Holy Spirit to give you the wisdom to understand the mysteries of His Word. Read Scripture out loud. Take notes, underline, and meditate on what the Lord has spoken to you. If you feel like trying something new, sing the words of the Psalms as David did. Don’t forget to be specific in this time of conversing with God and pray for people by name. Your quiet time will become a time of refreshment with the Lord that might even become your favorite part of the day!

from The Help Club for Moms

‘For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.’ 2 Timothy 1:7(NLT)

‘A house is built by wisdom and becomes strong through good sense. Through knowledge its rooms are filled with all sorts of precious riches and valuables.’ Proverbs 24:3-4(NLT)

‘She carefully watches everything in her household and suffers nothing from laziness.’ Proverbs 31:27(NLT)

By Rachel Jones

Whether you work outside the home or stay home full-time, you are a homemaker. All women have been called by God to make the place where their family lives a home. Making our house a home is hard work, and I am currently in the trenches with you ladies. My days are mostly spent in the kitchen and laundry room; it seems my children never stop eating or making messes!

A few years ago, I worked part-time outside of the house. I remember feeling behind in my housework constantly, and I felt so bad when I could not complete the “extras,” such as having warm banana bread on the counter or perfectly organized closets and pantry. But why was I feeling bad? My husband didn’t care, and I was putting so much unnecessary guilt on myself that it took away from my happiness when I was home.

I am thankful for that season because it gave me such a great perspective on homemaking. Dear mama, homemaking is so much more than maintaining a clean house and cooking meals. Homemaking is about nurturing a spirit of warmth, comfort, and love in our homes. As the book of Proverbs says, “She looks well to the ways of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness” (31:27 ESV). We all need to “look well” to our homes and feel amazing pride when we think of them. What brings me comfort and fills my heart with peace and contentment is the Holy Spirit. Without His presence, I would be floundering without purpose or direction.

A woman’s spirit affects her whole house. We all have the power to instill peace, love, and joy in our homes. We also have a fantastic opportunity to encourage our husbands and children to become closer to the Lord. What we say is extremely influential, and our moods can dramatically affect the flow of the home. Proverbs 21:9 (ISV) says, “It’s better to live in a corner on the roof than to share a house with a contentious woman.” Wow! I do not want my husband or kids ever to feel that way, and I am sure you would all agree with me. However, all too often, I lose my temper or challenge my husband in front of our kids, which absolutely destroys the peacefulness of our home.

My prayer for you is to see the incredible honor it is to have a home.

God has gifted you with one of His best blessings—a family to love and care for and to guide toward Him. During those especially exhausting moments, simply look at your kids. By genuinely looking at those beautiful children, who cherish every moment in their mama’s presence, you will quickly be reminded of what’s essential. Focus less on what is on the table and more on who is around the table. Focus on the legacy you hope to leave. That legacy starts today with your mindset on the Lord! Every household is so vastly different. Do not look to others and make comparisons. You are the best wife for your husband, and you are the best mom for your children.

from The Help Club for Moms

‘Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think. Glory to him in the church and in Christ Jesus through all generations forever and ever! Amen.’ Ephesians 3:17-21(NLT)

‘And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.’ Philippians 4:19(NLT)

‘We love each other because he loved us first.’ 1 John 4:19(NLT)

‘Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.’ Colossians 3:12-15(NLT)

By Tara Davis

There have been years of emptiness in my life. Years in which I desperately searched for the approval of others, just needing to know I was good enough. What a strange thing it is, looking to other broken people to fill the cracks in our own life. Who is whole enough to fill us in the way we need and good enough to love us in the way we desire?

Inside each of us is an empty vessel we long to have filled with worth. We seek to receive this value from many places. In search of our identity, we turn to relationships, accomplishments, or belief in ourselves. Often as wives, however, we hand this empty vessel to our husbands and ask them to fill it with our worth.

At this point, we become only as good as our husband’s performance. When he has a bad day, we are shaken. When he struggles, our value plummets. When he fails to see us through the eyes of Christ, our identity is destroyed. But what if I told you this was never God’s plan for you? If you have placed the vessel of your worth anywhere but securely with your loving Savior, you have placed it in the wrong hands. When you attempt to gain your worth from your husband, you become selfish, always needing something from him, preoccupied with your longings, and how he isn’t fulfilling them adequately. You are not able to love like Jesus or walk in the glorious freedom His love offers!

When at last, I was able to see myself through the eyes of my Savior, I could hear His truth about who I am as His child, and I was able to allow Him to meet my needs according to His glorious riches. Instead of allowing another imperfect human to determine my worth, I rested in the unconditional, unending love of my Creator, a love beyond anything imaginable.

Sister, when you finally surrender your empty vessel to Christ and allow Him to fill you in a way only He can, you gain the freedom to love your husband the way the Lord intended. Only then can you shine the light of Jesus to him in every circumstance and be the friend, lover, and helper the Lord has made you to be. You will be able to love your husband right where he is, struggles and all, and pray for him in a powerful way! Pray Ephesians 3:14-19 over your husband. That is a love that will change everything!

from The Help Club for Moms

‘“And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’’ Matthew 25:40(NLT)

‘So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. ‘ Galatians 6:9(NLT)

By Mari Jo Mast

I often find myself reminiscing about my early mothering years; the difficulty took me by surprise! I regularly told my husband how discouraged and hopeless I felt. Many times I would say, “I’m not cut out for this” or “I cannot do this one more day.” Parenting was grueling—a constant giving and serving without ever being served. On top of that, exhaustion plagued my body because my hormones were out of whack. For more than two years, I frequently struggled with panic attacks that woke and terrorized me during the night.

During this season, it seemed everything I created or crafted was either eaten, messed up, or destroyed daily. By the end of the day, I felt I literally could not make one more meal, wash one more dish, speak one more kind word, pick up one more toy, solve one more dispute, kiss one more soft cheek, or read one more Bible story.

Hopelessness became the catalyst for God to do a deep work inside of me. From the core of my heart, I prayed for the Holy Spirit to give strength, to teach, and to help, because every single day felt exhausting with no hope of change in sight. This heart-cry went on for years.

Do you feel the same?

Mama, I want you to know, the Holy Spirit taught me and stayed close to me this whole grueling season, even when I did not deserve it or could not feel Him. Though I’m still not at the finish line (the endless giving will truly never be over for us moms), I’ve realized our children grow, the demands ease up over time, and you forget the hardship more and more. If you are currently in a similar stage of mothering, please believe me: The raw feelings of discouragement and hopelessness eventually soften because you grow. Life’s constant ebb and flow of seasons become more constant when we trust God. The Holy Spirit teaches us what we need to know if we ask and stay patient, believing He’s there. Nothing pleases Him more than when we activate our faith in Him. He heals more fully than we think possible as we continually invite Him into our mess. Today I have older, married kids who are my best friends. They thank, serve, and give back, even though ten years ago, this seemed impossible.

Discouraged, weary mom, please know that every cup of cold water given in the name of Jesus brings reward. You wash the feet of Jesus when you serve and minister to your children. God sees and notices, even when no one else does. Keep serving, keep obeying God, and keep pouring out love, no matter how you feel. Do not become weary in doing good. Keep going, mama!!

from The Help Club for Moms

‘Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. ‘ Colossians 3:23(NLT)

‘These older women must train the younger women to love their husbands and their children, to live wisely and be pure, to work in their homes, to do good, and to be submissive to their husbands. Then they will not bring shame on the word of God.’ Titus 2:4-5(NLT)

‘She carefully watches everything in her household and suffers nothing from laziness.’ Proverbs 31:27(NLT)

By Deb Weakly      

Sweet Sister, raising your children for God is holy work.

As Christian moms, our greatest work is raising up children who know and love Jesus. What you do every day—disciplining your children, wiping noses, breaking up sibling squabbles, cleaning up after yet another meal, or lying in bed at night with your child while they tell you their latest pondering—all this is kingdom work. You are raising up the next generation of Christians who will then raise up the next generation of Christians.

No matter how many times the world around us says that being a mom doesn’t matter, we know the truth: Our work affects eternity. By staying faithful and loving your family well in the power of the Holy Spirit, you are sending a message of love forward to a time you will not see. Your grandchildren and great-grandchildren will thank you for the hard work you are doing today. They will have better lives because of the love you shared and the Christian life you passed on to your kids. When there is a mom in the home who has faith in the power of God in her children’s lives, there’s no stopping what she can do with her kids!

Mama, your love for your family pleases the Lord. Someday, you will know the impact of all your work. But for now, keep going, keep trying, keep believing, and keep praying, and by your faith, you will hear, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

Pray with me… 

“Dear Jesus, please help me see that my mothering matters. It’s so easy to get caught up in what the world says I should be doing with my life. Help me see the importance of training up these precious children for You. Give me the wisdom, strength, and insight for my calling as a mom. Help me live for you today in my home and help me to love unconditionally, just like You. Please speak to my heart as I go through this devotional plan. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

from The Help Club for Moms