Dear Church: Rest Up, Rev Up and Rise Up!

In this Spiritual Life UPGRADE, Dawn Wilson encourages Christ-followers to "be" the church the world needs to see in powerful ways as the nation enters a time of uncertainty with a new administration.

God's purpose for the Church has not been recinded.

Family of God, this is not the time to become unhinged or apathetic. We need to walk in the Spirit and exhibit the fruit of the Spirit. We need to ask God for direction every day. We need to live in power, not defeat.

We need to BE the Church God intended—reflecting Christ and obedient to God.

I'm not just referring to our response to government—which is all some Christians are considering right now. I'm primarily considering our responses to the wickedness in our culture and the personal temptations we face because of those influences every day. 

Our responses are important, not only because we want to please God, but because the world is watching—

the world we want to invite to know Jesus.

The culture in America has changed dramatically from 50 years ago, and the culture will likely continue to change in ways that will concern Christ-followers.

We do not know what God will do, but we know what He's called us to do.

My Three Priorities Going Forward

The Lord has given me three priorities for the days ahead.

1. It's Time to REST UP.

Listening to the news cycles and encountering the evils of this world can wear us out. We can feel overwhelmed or angry, and sometimes we might feel paralyzed with frustration or fear!

Jesus says,

Come unto Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28).

Jesus wants us to find rest in Him in the midst of our troubling circumstances.

We need to be careful to recharge our batteries every day in Bible reading, prayer, and worship so the Lord can refresh us, give us His peace, and prepare us for whatever comes.

When turmoil increases, it's time to seek the Lord and rest in Him.

2. It's Time to REV UP.

We need to rev up our spiritual motors and get energized to make a difference in our chaotic, confusing world.

We need to be examples of what true Christianity looks like. Revving up means getting our lives properly prepared and ready so God can use us.

The Word of God commands believers to be:

"blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and perverse generation, in which you shine as lights in the world as you hold forth the word of life..." (Philippians 2:15-16a).

There are four clear specifics in that passage that can help us rev up and move forward with strength.

• Be blameless. — To be blameless is to be innocent, without guile, or without fault. Only God is completely without blame. Jesus perfect (Hebrews 4:15; 1 Peter 2:22; 1 John 3:5), and He tells us to perfect even as our Father God is perfect (Matthew 5:48). How is this possible? Those who have trusted the Lord's provision for salvation are "made perfect forever" (Hebrews 10:14)— regenerated as a "new creation" (2 Corinthians 5:17). That is our positional standing. When the Father sees us, He sees Jesus our Redeemer and advocate first, and He chooses to remember our sins no more (Hebrews 8:12)—He no longer holds them against us. To "be blameless" is to live like we understand our position in Christ, grateful for God's mercy.
• Be pure. — Having been shown great mercy and cleansed by the blood of Jesus gives us eternal life; but until we get to heaven, we will still commit individual sins. We need daily cleansing .  God wants us to be holy—which means to be set apart for Him. We are not to live like the wicked of this world. Jesus has given us an example of how we're to live (John 13:15). We guard our hearts and keep them pure as we constantly and consistently repent and "wash" our dirtied-up lives in the Word of God and pray, confessing our sins (1 John 1:9).
• Shine as Lights. — Without Christ, we were "once darkness." But now we are light in the Lord and we are to "live as children of light" (Ephesians 5:8). That is our inheritance (Colossians 1:12). Jesus told us to shine our light into the world, and our light is actually a reflection of His light (Matthew 5:16; John 8:12). We're not to get apathetic and hide our light (Matthew 5:15). The hope of the Gospel is that people living in spiritual darkness might see the light of what Jesus has done for them.
• Hold forth God's Word. — We're not to promote ourselves or become argumentive. We're simply to share scripture to give people understanding and hope. It is the Word of God and Spirit of God that changes peoples' lives (John 6:63, 68). Note: We are not responsible for how people receive the Word of truth; we're only responsible to share it (Philippians 2:16).

3. It's Time to RISE UP.

To rise up in terms of the Church does not mean rebellion against ordained authority (*); it means to bow in surrender to the King of Kings so we can rise up to do whatever God asks us to do.

We need to do God's work in God's timing and by His means. That means we can't act contrary to scripture.

Here's what rising up might include:

• Put on the whole armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-18) so we can "be strong in the Lord and in the power of His mighty" against the devil's schemes.
• Praise God in the midst of our circumstances, believing He is in control (Psalm 34:1-2; 95:2-3; Hebrews 13:15; 1 Peter 2:9). G
• Pray for our Father God to show us His will—which, again, will not contradict scripture. (Matthew 6:10; Colossians 1:9; James 1:5; 1 John 5:14).
• Place ourselves in God's hands—like Esther did (Esther 4:14-16)—to stand in the gap for God's people and the honor of His name.
• Protect those who are being injured. Stand up against abortion, human trafficking, sex trafficking, and cases of injustice; and help orphans, widows and others—protect and help with wisdom and courage (Psalm 82:3; Proverbs 6:16-19; 31:8-9; Isaiah 1:17).
• Point people to the source of hope—Jesus!—as we faithfully, unashamedly share the Gospel (Mark 16:15; Luke 10:2; John 20:21; Romans 1:16).

Perhaps the Lord will speak to you about other biblical ways you can rise up in the days ahead.

It's not time to fall apart, Church. It's time to build and live in victory. It's time to Rest up, Rev Up, and Rise Up!

Which of these three priorities needs a little work in your life this week?

* NOTE from Priority #3 — While some Christians may disagree, there may be cases where civil disobedience might be necessary. This article shares three biblical examples when God's people disobeyed civil authority—Article.

Dawn Wilson, founder and President of Heart Choices Today, is a speaker and author, and the creator the blog, Upgrade with Dawn. She is a contracted researcher/reviewer for women's teacher and revivalist, Nancy DeMoss Wolgemuth, at Revive Our Hearts, a blogger at TrueWoman.com, writes wiki-type posts at Christianity.com, and is a regular columnist at Crosswalk.com. She and her husband Bob live in sunny Southern California, and Dawn has traveled with Him in Pacesetter Global Outreach. They have two grown, married sons, three granddaughters and a rascally maltipoo, Roscoe.

Graphic adapted, courtesy of PhotoGranary at Lightstock.

Upgrade Your Motherhood: Learn to Be a Mama Bear

Morgan Farr totally impressed me when I first talked to her, and then when I met her—I knew she was a special servant of God. What I noticed most was her deep desire to raise children to bring honor to the Lord. In this Parenting UPGRADE, she encourages mothers to intentionally become Mama Bears.

"There is a real enemy out there on the prowl, looking for souls to devour," Morgan says. "Learning to be a Mama Bear means being ready to protect and defend your cubs."

I (Dawn) remember when a previous candidate for Vice President of the United States called herself a "mama grizzly." During her campaign, she wanted to blend her femininity with tough strength. That's what moms are called to do today, I think—and Morgan clearly thinks so too!

Morgan continues . . . 

When I was getting ready to move from North Carolina to California, I was a bit of a wreck. Two days before I left town, a friend of mine stopped by and gave me a goodbye gift which contained chocolate, Dr. Pepper and a hat.

The hat had a bear on it with the word “Mama” scrawled across it.

Each gift had a purpose:

• The Dr. Pepper was for when I was tired and needed a boost,
• the chocolate was for when I was sad and missing my friends, and
• the hat was for the days when I needed to remember my purpose.

Thus my Mama Bear spirit began to develop. 

I am going to share with you what it means to be a Mama Bear, and how you can learn to defend your cubs well. 

The first thing we have to do in learning to become a Mama Bear is to understand what a Mama Bear is exactly.

Wikipedia defines a Mama Bear as, “a woman, especially a mother, who is extremely protective of a child or children,” and you can find similar ideas on definitions.net and UrbanDictionary.com. 

Who are we defending our kids from?

1 Peter 5:8 says, “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”

That’s right. Satan is out to prevent every person he can from coming to Christ, and that includes our children.

Our job is to cultivate a home in which our children learn about Christ, grow in faith, and become mature Christians ready to go out into the world and fulfil the Great Commission. 

So, how do we do it? 

How Can You Become a Mama Bear?

1. Put on the Armor of God Every Day

Ephesians 6:10-18 describes the Armor of God, which you should wear every single day to be able to stand firm against Satan's attacks. 

• You need to be reading the Word of God every single day.
• Memorize scripture to repeat when the baby just won’t stop crying.
• Find a Titus Two Woman to mentor you when your teenager is being difficult. 
• Be active in the body of Christ so that you can lift one another up in prayer not only for yourself but also for your children. 
• Pray, pray, pray!

2. Teach them to recognize good and evil. 

It isn’t just enough for you to have firm faith, you have to instruct your children in the way of that faith as well.

You cannot hope that your children will catch your faith without any work on your part. 

Hillary Morgan Ferrer, author of Mama Bear Apologetics, writes, “Part of the biblical process of sanctification—or spiritual growth—is training our appetites to crave what is good and to be repulsed by what is not."

We, as mothers, need to show our children Jesus every day in our actions, in the Bible and in our world. 

Discuss current events (at an age appropriate level) and talk about which side it falls on—God’s side or Satan’s side.

Let them think critically. Help them, when needed, to see how God is moving in your home, neighborhood and beyond. 

3. Beware the Insidiousness of Technology

I didn’t really think of myself as a Mama Bear until after I had to explain my rules regarding technology to another mother as I was preparing to move. 

In my house, I don’t allow children of any age (0-18) to have technology away from an adult. This is due to the fact that I consider it my job to protect my children’s hearts and minds.

I can’t protect them from what other people invite in on tablets, phones and computers if I can’t see what is being shown. So, limit exposure where you can. 

Keep internet monitoring software on computers and phones—before you think that you need to. And yes, I mean that mom and dad should have that software on THEIR personal devices to show their children that integrity on the internet is not just for children! 

4. Protect the safety of your home.

Think of your home as a greenhouse. Your children are little plants, getting ready to go out into the world.

Your job is to ensure that the greenhouse is safe and secure. 

In The Mission of Motherhood, Sally Clarkson writes, “When children have a safe haven—a place to be protected from the storms of life; a place to be emotionally, mentally and spiritually encouraged; a place where they enjoy time and attention from important people in their lives—and time to mature, then they will have a good opportunity to become emotionally healthy and flourshing human beings.”

Be aware of what you invite in to your home in terms of media, books, movies and television shows.

Your home is your greenhouse. Do not allow it to become polluted by the filth of the world.  

Am I saying that being a Mama Bear is easy? Absolutely not. In fact, intentional motherhood takes a LOT of work and constant prayer. But I am saying that it is absolutely necessary. 

There will be people who say you are too protective and too strict.

Let them say it.

One day, you will stand before the King of Kings and you will be held ACCOUNTABLE for your time as a mother.

Remember that when someone from the PTA says your rules are too strict. 

How can you be a Mama Bear for your kids today? Which of these four points could you implement today?

Morgan Farr is a Texas-loving, succulent-cultivating, book nerd. Stationed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, this Army wife is earning to respect her husband, develop her three (soon to be four!) small children, and tackle homeschooling while moving all over the country. Morgan writes about her transition away from feminism and into biblical womanhood at The Forgiven Former Feminist. 

Graphic, "Ladies Vintage Mama Bear Hat" from Southern Sisters Designs.

How to 'Suit Up' with Courage

Are you a courageous woman? I am turning into a courageous woman; it doesn’t come naturally, believe me!

I have to “suit up” for it. And so can you.

Here are some of the spiritual gymnastics I go through in “scary” times—what I remember:

1. Courage speaks up and acts. Look at life through the lens of God’s calling, promises, and strength. Move beyond fear. driven by the plan of God and a cause greater than yourself. Courage speaks up: “Let the redeemed of the Lord say so” (Psalm 107:2a). Like Queen Esther, courage sees the bigger vision and steps forward to do her part (Esther 4:13-17). Courage embraces the solid hope that God can redeem any situation.

2. Courage isn’t afraid to be different. Author Leslie Ludy said (Set-Apart Femininity, p. 89) she read a speech given by a Jewish father at his son’s bar mitzvah. He told his son not to apologize for being Jewish, but rather, to embrace the holy calling of being a Jew. "To be holy is to be different," the father said. "That which is holy is set apart.” Ludy makes this application: “A set-apart young woman has the courage to be different." *

Did you ever sing this song? "Dare to be a Daniel. Dare to stand alone! Dare to have a purpose firm! Dare to make it known!" ** Daniel knew who he was, even in a pagan culture. His significance and purposeful choices were wrapped up in God and reflected his commitment to the Lord (Daniel 1:8-16).

3. Courage counts on God’s presence and power. “Don't be afraid. The Lord will be your helper and never leave your side” (Hebrews 13:5-6). Pastor Bill Elliff wrote, "Everything flows from the presence of God." Everything you and I will ever need – including courage - comes from the God of power, provision and peace. Count on the ever-present Spirit of God (Acts 1:8; 4:29-31; Romans 15:13; Ephesians 3:15-20).

4. Courage is born in faith. The scriptures advise us strongly to "Be on your guard; stand fast in the faith; be courageous, be strong" (1 Corinthians 16:13). Paul's words echo God’s command to Joshua: "Be strong and of good courage ... very courageous" (Joshua 1:6-7). I can rest in God, knowing He is working behind the scenes and His plans cannot be thwarted.

5. Courage counts the cost. A woman of courage thinks before acting. Jesus’ invitation to follow Him came with the promise of tough times and a personal cross (Matthew 10:34, 38-39; John 15:20; 16:1-2). Paul warned that “all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus”—and that takes courage in our wicked culture—"will suffer persecution" (2 Timothy 3:12).

Courage might mean speaking up to a store clerk at the Holy Spirit's promptings, or it might entail taking a stand against an evil cultural trend. Courage obeys God in spite of the results or  man's responses (Acts 5:29). 

6. Courage suits up for battle. We need spiritual armor (Ephesians 6:11) because there is a battle! A relentless, set-on-our-destruction enemy has stepped up his tactics in these last days. We must be vigilant against him (1 Peter 5:8).  

Which of these aspects of courage is toughest for you when God asks you to do “scary things”?

Dawn Wilson is the founder of Heart Choices Ministries and creator of UpgradeWithDawn.com. Dawn's ministry encourages, edifies and energizes women with the truth of scripture so they can better enjoy life, bless others and honor God.