Holiness in Childbirth
Holiness in Pregnancy
Holiness in Mothering
Holiness in Womanhood
“but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” 1 Peter 1:15-16
In All Your Conduct? Be holy?
Today I was so blessed to join my dear sister in the Lord, Ann Dunagan, for a 35 minute Bible Study Interview through 1 Peter 1:13-25! We had such a great time and I really believe that this brief time looking at scripture together will be challenging and edifying!
Click Here to Listen
1 Peter 1:13-25
Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”
And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
The Enduring Word
Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart, having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever, because
“All flesh is as grass,
And all the glory of man as the flower of the grass.
The grass withers,
And its flower falls away,
But the word of the Lord endures forever.”Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.”
We had a fabulous time talking about what girding ones loins of the mind and being of sober mind mean and how the power of this encouragement from Peter can be relevant to us as women, mothers, wives, and women in our childbearing season!
3 Nuggets from Today’s Bible Study Interview
**For those who are expecting a baby or in the childbearing season
1. Gird Up the Loins of Your Mind & Be of Sober Mind
When you look up the explanation of the idiom, gird (up) your loins, you find that this phrase comes from the Bible, where girding up your loins meant to tie up long, loose clothes so that they were more practical when you were working or traveling. This idiom is used in relation to preparing your mind to do something difficult.
Being of Sober Mind, is obviously in relation to being sober, literally, without drunkenness, but also alert and aware. I think of our world view and how the enemy so tries to entangle us with the worries, fears, and beliefs of our culture. As an expectant mother, it is your responsibility to get knowledge as you are making your decisions. It is your responsibility to seek out information and not make decisions ignorantly, but wisely. It is also, your responsibility though, to guard your mind and heart from the knowledge out there that is false, full of lies, fear driven OR anti/extra biblical. After having girded up the loins of your mind, gathering up your knowledge, your tools for making decisions, surrender it all to the Cross. Recognize that He is sovereign over it all. He has a birth plan for you. You don’t need to know it. You don’t want to know it. Because the growth that can and will come as you seek Him and focus on His holiness, will only come as you walk through whatever He has for you.
For the sister who is expecting, this is act of girding up our loins and being of sober mind is our responsibility and they are the two key elements to the fruit of experiencing rest in hope fully. Don’t allow your research to pull you away from the cross. Don’t allow others birth stories to discourage you from the dream He has planted in your heart. Gird up your thoughts. Take them captive.
2. Be Holy, Because I am Holy
Even during this childbearing season? Even in childbirth? Even when I’m tired and worn out, even when I have been sick for weeks or months everyday… be holy!? What does that even look like?
Yes, Sweet Sister, yes… even then, we are to be holy. This is part of our sanctification. Laying aside how we feel. Laying aside the easier path, sometimes… even for a season… for another’s whole eternity. Selflessness, is the key to holiness. But we don’t want to be selfless when we listen to the world. The world tells us to be selfish. To make decisions that are self gratifying.
The Holiness of Childbirth
I am not talking “holier than thou.” Far too many fall into the sin of pride when it comes to birthing stories. Ladies, we need to guard our hearts against the sin of PRIDE. It is not holy. I pray you know my heart. What I am sharing here, is the differences between having confidence in God’s work in you, in God’s amazing Design of you, which is confidence in the Lord vs. confidence in your own power and being tough or even, living with conviction.
Living with conviction isn’t bad, but when those convictions become what you cling to and hold strong too, not because of God, but versus God Himself, that is when the lines CAN begin to blur. In those times, when we are becoming self-sufficient from Christ versus reliant on Him, we are not bringing Him glory, but allowing an avenue for a wall to build in our relationship with Him. And whenever there is a wall it is hard to hear or see Him clearly.
In All Our Conduct Be Holy.
This applies to our attitudes as we train our children, the atmosphere in our home is largely influenced by our attitudes. It applies as we are having a hard time choosing joy and gratitude after a night of tossing and turning or waking up with charlie horses… holiness in how we ‘deal’ with the nuances in our daily lives, how we react when little ones mistreat one another, and in what perspective we choose to focus on.
In childbirth, whether you have been delivered from you pain, or God has chosen to deliver you through it or in it, You have the opportunity to glorify Him. As you are holy, you will shine His holiness. You have the opportunity as you communicate with those around you, as you deal with pain, as you focus on Him through out it all, as you sing His praises when you can, when you cry out to Him if you can, as you work hard to bring forth life in partnership with God the Creator and sustainer of all life. You can be holy in all your conduct.
Be holy, because He is holy.
3. Love the Brethren
We talked a little bit about missional midwifery, the call and need. This idea of mission, grips and tangles my heart so deep I can’t hardly stand it. Many know of and speak to the oppression of young girls in human trafficking. But let your mind go a bit farther, for a moment. Imagine, you have been sold into human trafficking, young and afraid or even having been in this bondage for years, abused, abandoned, used, and broken. Then you find yourself pregnant. Can you imagine? There is the initial battle for the sanctity of these lives, but then what for their babies? And then what for them… many of them are just babies themselves. Now imagine, a woman to woman ministry. One that only a woman can truly minister to in such a way… midwifery. Those who are willing, can walk into a 9 month to longer automatic mentoring ministry. Meeting with the same girls for their check ups, ministering to their hearts, and through prayer and God’s opportunity, sharing the healing gospel of life… helping these young daughters of the King to experience healing of the soul and body, before giving birth… therefore leaving an opportunity for a healthier relationship with their child as well. I could write on and on about this potential impact on these sisters.
I am so excited to share that Daring Daughters has committed to donating funds to help get more books and guides to missionaries overseas this year. We are currently connecting with a few overseas birthing centers who have asked for Redeeming Childbirth as a resource, and we look forward to finding more ways to help in the process of spiritual healing.
Remember that loving your brethren can also look like this… serving and mentoring young moms in you local church during this season, serving your family members who are having babies. Walking through postpartum more intimately through service. Not just dropping off a meal, but really engaging in helping as much as you can. Spending yourself for Christ, wherever He has called you.
Today was such a joy to participate with Ann. I really do hope you take the time to listen to the MP3.
I want to invite you to be encouraged and join Ann for more bible study interviews and listen to those she has already recorded on Daring Daughters Website!
Daring Daughters is calling women — of all ages — to world missions, through Bible-study interviews, live events and international service.
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