Many times, as single moms, we wear many hats and it seems as if we are riding a "larger-than-life" rollercoaster that never seems to slow down. Can you relate? One year ends and we fall head first into the next one. We tend to want to dive into the new year without fully summing up what really took place in the previous year. We step into the new year without fully resolving the issues of the last one. My prayer is that today, you begin to take the time to extract the gems and nuggets from the previous year. God was speaking the entire time, but did we pause for a moment to hear what He was saying? How was He moving? Ask the Lord for clarity on:
- “What could I have done better?”,
- “What did I miss doing?”,
- “What is next?”,
- “What can I delete from my life or what can I add?”
On top of that, we may have a laundry list of things that roll over into the next year that we didn't get to - long-term goals we have yet to meet, old habits that proved more stubborn than we originally anticipated, or maybe we fell short in our parenting goals. Maybe there are leftover negative emotions, fears, pain or disappointments which are super charged and ready to travel with us into the next year.
Momma, now is the time for refreshing and resetting. There is some healing that needs to take place even before our new goals are set. A new year is not just a new year. It is another threshold, another gate, another door in which God has allowed us to travel through for His glory. We can't take that assignment lightly, so it is important to refresh your soul first.
Let's start with finding ways to take care of ourselves. It is more than what we do with our physical bodies. It also includes our state of mind. It includes our emotions, spirit and soul. It includes every aspect of our being.
The One who is truly divine has presented us with every single thing which brings about the fullness, vitality and the breath of life. He has also given us all things pertaining to godliness, holiness, and reverence. The revelation in this is God knew we would need more than just a spa day. Now, a spa day is great! I am not turning down any spa days, but the truth is it's temporary. When that pedicure or massage is over, not soon after, we need another one, and another one (and let's be honest, that bill adds up quick!). However, The Holy Spirit continuously fills us to the point of overflow and it's constant, reliable, and doesn't cost us anything because Jesus already paid it all!
God has called us to glory and virtue through himself. There are many things we can do in our natural state which are beneficial in taking care of ourselves. However, a time of refreshing comes when we get in the presence of God. You can start by diving into His Word. The Bible is the ultimate guide to finding the peace we so desperately need.
I believe God wants us to stay in a time of refreshing. We can live a refreshed life in our Lord and Savor Jesus Christ even in a challenging world. As you plan for this upcoming year and everything that is sure to come your way, here are a few things I want to encourage you to remember:
Know who and whose you are.
“Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?"
1 Corinthians 3:16
Our temple is made by God and for God, therefore, we are to be intentional about preserving it for good works. In everything you do, God's expectation is for you to do it as unto Him, so that He can get all of the glory, honor, and praise. It's always a great reminder that God's desire is to live on the inside of us so that He can be near us in times of trouble. The good news is that means His power and strength are on the inside of you as well. Anything that you come up against, momma, cannot win because you have the mighty God on your side.
Know when to rest.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11:28-30
Have you ever experienced your body being at rest, but your mind was doing marathon laps?
Maybe it was because you were trying to figure it out when God had already worked it out. God is waiting and wanting to refresh you. The refreshing is in having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. When we take the world off our shoulders and place it at His feet, we can rest assured He has our best interest at heart. Even when it seems everything in sight is falling apart.
protect your heart.
“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”
Proverbs 4:23
Here it tells us to guard, to keep, to watch, and to preserve our hearts because all things you do go out from it. If there is bitterness in the heart, then bitter words will come out of your mouth. If the heart is full of anger, then an angry attitude will appear.
Stop right where you are and take a mental snapshot of the world we live in. What do you see? Be honest. What do you see? Well, let me tell you what I see. First, let me give you the good news. God’s word is true and His mercy endures forever. That’s the good I see. However, I also see growing immorality, selfishness, lawlessness and a disregard for the things of God.
In order to keep a soft heart, we must guard against strife, jealousy, envy, offense, rejection and unforgiveness. All sin will leave our hearts open and vulnerable to the enemy. The breastplate of righteousness will help to protect us in these areas.
Allow the presence of God to lead us into a time of refreshing as we surrender our heart to Him because we can trust Him with our heart. Remember everything flows from it. Therefore, if love, peace, hope and joy live there, these are the things which will flow through it. Our heart dictates our actions.
So, as we begin to experience this new year, know that we do not have to wait until another year is upon us to walk in a time of refreshing. Your time of refreshing is here!
Looking for some additional encouragement?
Finding us on the YouVersion Bible App! Our Finding You Again 5-day devotional was written to encourage you along your single parenting journey, whether you are new to the it or have been on the trail for a while. Whether you’ve been a single mom for years or just became one, this devotional is for you!
P.S. Don't forget to check out our other devotionals including topics on loneliness, dating, parenting, and so much more!
Meet the author
Collette Conner went from being a struggling single mom with three sons to empowering, encouraging, and inspiring other moms to utilize their gifts and talents for the Kingdom. She is a brilliant writer, Ordained Minister, Speaker, Author and Life Coach who is passionate about Kingdom Business.
As founder of Purposed to Succeed, she seeks to help transform the lives of single moms through her empowerment workshops, books, eBooks and workbooks. Collette has been featured on several podcasts, panels, summits and numerous conferences. She is a graduate of Texas Southern University where she majored in Public Affairs with a minor in Journalism.
The Life of a Single Mom is a national, faith-based, nonprofit that exists to see that no single mom walks alone. To date, the organization has worked with hundreds of churches to start a single mom’s support group in cities throughout the U.S. and beyond, as well as having served hundreds of thousands of single mothers with a variety of programs. Offering a large array of books, curriculum, training materials, online instructional videos, podcasts, newsletters, life skills education, and more, TLSM is one of the largest single mom organizations in the U.S. The robust selection of single mom programs focus on empowering single moms to grow spiritually, emotionally, financially, and parentally through Single Mom University, Single Moms Across America, the National TLSM Single Moms Conference, boot camps, and a variety of other programs. For more information, visit thelifeofasinglemom.com.
