Marriner’s Moment: Mothers Emerging Through Faithful Prayer – Pt. 3

Paul wrote to Timothy, “I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also.” (2 Timothy 1:5) The sincere faith Timothy experienced was a result of being raised by a godly mother and a godly grandmother. While extended families of yesteryear aren’t as prevalent today, the sincere faith of our mothers, grandmothers, godmothers and other women is a wonderful legacy that continues to be passed on to our children.

Faithful mothers pass their faith on to their children
Not only do praying mothers possess a sincere faith, but they also desire to hand off that faith to their children. Genuine faith is contagious. It’s been said that our children do what they see, not what we say. When children see their mothers standing on God’s promises, when they see and hear her prayers, they emulate that. In the Bible, we read of Timothy’s faith that is traced back through his mother to his grandmother. We see the Lord in them, and it was their faith that attracted Timothy to the Lord (2 Timothy 1:5 and 3:14-17).

A praying mother displays sincere faith
Faithful mothers have influence over their children
Faithful mothers – those that rear and train their children to become honorable men and women – are invaluable to our community. There are many faithful mothers that have taught their children to recite the “Lord’s Prayer,” ingrained Psalm 23 in their children’s hearts, and taught them the books of the Bible. These are acts of love that, even as a child grows older, he or she always remembers.

Faithful mothers honor God and train their children to do so
Children will grow up to love and serve God by being exposed to and learning His Word. God’s Word of truth is powerful to save (James 1:18) and to sanctify (John 17:17). One of the best thing mothers can do for their children is to instill in them – from an early age – the importance of reading, studying, memorizing, and obeying God’s Word. One of the best ways to do this, is to model reading and studying God’s Word to them. Countless mothers have witnessed the fruits of their labor, as the Bible predicts in Proverbs 22:6, “Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.”

This month, we thank our faithful mothers and surrogate mothers for their prayers.

”Peace and power.

© Dr. Melvin O. Marriner,
Grove Church
May 2017