Priorities in Motherhood

I recently surveyed some fellow Facebook moms about their priorities. I wanted to see what their top five priorities were, and if they felt that they purposefully and successfully attended to these priorities on a daily basis. I came to find that most of them wanted to accomplish things like: keeping up personal devotions, loving their husbands, training their children in the knowledge of the Lord, staying on top of household maintenance, and teaching (through homeschooling) the important matters related to academics.

One of these dear mothers, Tiana, had this to say about keeping her priorities in line, “The longer I live, the more I realize how selfish and undisciplined I am. I’m also noticing that I haven’t mentioned my husband in any of these things. That’s a problem–even though my husband is gone much of the time, I still need to make him a priority in my home. I so need disciplining and accountability in these areas! Trying to fulfill my Scriptural role of godly wife and mother is challenging–there are so few examples of it in our world, and the women who “get it” are generally busy with their own tribe of 6-12 kids whom they are homeschooling, involving in a family business, etc.”

Like Tiana, nearly every mother fearlessly admitted to struggling with keeping these priorities in order, while checking them off their to-do lists. I think we all can relate to these thoughts in our own way. So, just how can we establish priorities in the order that God would have us? How can we come to feel fulfilled at what we have accomplished in any given day?

Prioritize Biblically

First, how did you come to establish these priorities that you have? When we look at Scripture, we see that we need a firm foundation in order to withstand the storm (Matthew 7:24-29). That firm foundation can only be built upon the Word of God. We must read, hear, and act upon what we read. FIRST PRIORITY: God and your personal devotions.

Second, we are commanded to love and submit to our husbands (Ephesians 5:22-24). Submitting to them can be anything from surrendering your wants and desires to showing them respect in your daily actions. Husbands should come before children, which is often difficult for mothers to accept and put into practice. SECOND PRIORITY: your husband.

Thirdly, as parents we are commanded to bring up our children to love the Lord and to teach them His ways continually throughout the day (Deuteronomy 6:5, 6). THIRD PRIORITY: Train your children to be of use in God’s Kingdom.

Other things that follow would be the things of Titus 2:-5. “Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God. “

We are to learn from the older, godly women in our church homes how to be godly women who love their families and care properly for their homes. We are to be willing to listen and possibly make life-changing alterations in our lives and our list of priorities. We are to be seeking out knowledge from those who have gone before us in this journey.

Notice that Tiana said that she needed disciplining, godly accountability and women who are open and willing to share their lives with the younger, or even just more inexperienced, women. Are you an older or more experienced Titus 2 woman who does not have time to train the younger generation in the ways of the Lord? You don’t necessarily need to be that much older in age, but just more experienced or seasoned in being a wife or mother. When it comes to being open about your life as a wife or mother, do not be afraid to be vulnerable and open. Hospitality is a symbol of the Christian Church and giving of your time and yourself to give advice is a form of hospitality.

Checking It Off

Okay, so maybe you have your list of priorities in order. But do you try your best each day to complete the tasks at hand, only to come crashing down, feeling as if you are a failure at the end of the day? Do you know why? It’s because you are human. We all deal with that each and every day. You are no exception! The way to overcome this fear of being a failure AND to achieve your list of goals and priorities is to get right to the root of the problem. What you must examine is if the failure is because life is just demanding in this season (very young children, a handicapped child, a temporary trial, etc.) OR if you are not living up to what God has called you to do because of a form of sin has taken root. If it is sin, pray to the Lord and give it to Him!

Is it Procrastination? Luke 9:62 Jesus replied, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.”

Keep your focus and keep your hand to the plow. Do not look to the right or to the left. Focus and move forward in your daily tasks!

Is it Distraction? 2 Timothy 3:14 “Continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it.”Psalm 119:15 “I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways.”

Continue in what you know to be right! Meditate on God’s Word! Look to God if worldly distractions come to remove your focus from the goal!

Is it Idleness? Proverbs 13:4 “The sluggard craves and gets nothing, but the desires of the diligent are fully satisfied.”

To reach our goals and desires, we must keep working and not grow weary and lazy in our tasks. Show our family that we are serious about our goals and want to succeed at reaching those godly goals.

Tackle the root of the problem – if it is against Scripture, pull it up by the root! Establish your own zero tolerance policy!

REMEMBER

Dear mommies, keep in mind that being a mother is a short season in our life. And as wives, we must remember that our husbands are here with us for life, and we must not put them on the backburner while we accomplish our sometimes seemingly more important tasks. Look, also, to those around you who would make great mentor moms and pick their brains about what they know about God and His Word! In the same way, be willing to be a role model who will show the ultimate form of hospitality by opening her life and home to younger women.

If we always keep God first and follow His ways! We will never be failures at anything HE has called us to accomplish!

About The Author

Lisa Metzger has written 38 articles on this blog.

Lisa is the keeper of her home, help meet to Mark and 2nd generation homeschool mommy to TEN precious children: Annalise (19 – adopted from Kazakhstan at 10), Kaitlyn (12), Ethan (11), Trey and Jake (9 & 7 – adopted from MO 6/07), Julia (6), Ellie (4), Judah (3), Eva Caroline (1) and baby #10 (due in July)! They also have 7 precious ones sitting at the feet of Jesus – a total of 17 blessings thus far! Visit Lisa at A 2nd Generation of Homeschooling

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