Exodus 28:29, “And Aaron shall bear the names of the children of Israel in the breastplate of judgment upon his heart, when he goes in unto the holy place, for a memorial before the Lord continually.”

 I am always amazed at the incredible specifications God gave for the High Priest’s clothing. They were to be holy garments, made for “glory and for beauty.” A whole chapter of the Bible, Exodus chapter 28, is given to these instructions. One of the instructions was to take two onyx stones and grave on them the names of the children of Israel, six names on one stone and six on the other. They were then to be set in gold and placed in the shoulder-pieces of the ephod so that Aaron could carry these names before the Lord as a constant reminder.

God knew the names of the tribes of Israel which represented every adult and child in each tribe, but He wanted the names before Him continually. In the Word of God the shoulders speak of responsibility and government. It was the High Priest’s responsibility to do this. I believe that it is also the responsibility of parents to bring their children’s names into the presence of the Lord. We are to carry them before the Lord continually. We often feel the weight and burden of raising children. It can bear down upon us. But the greatest way to bear the weight is to bear it upon our shoulders in prayer and to bring our children’s names constantly before the Lord.

But that wasn’t all. God commanded them to make a breastplate for Aaron. The breastplate was to have twelve beautiful gem stones, four rows of three stones. Each gem stone represented a tribe of Israel with the name of the tribe engraved on it as though it were a seal. In this way Aaron carried the names of the tribes of Israel over his heart when he went into the presence of the Lord.

Each jewel was different showing the difference between each of the tribe families of Israel, just as each of our children is unique. We can’t parent each one the same way. This is why we constantly need to come before the Lord. We desperately need His wisdom and anointing.  Exodus 28:29 MLB says, “Aaron shall wear the names of Israel’s sons over his heart on the breastplate of judgment as he enters the holy place, for a perpetual memorial in the presence of the Lord.”

What a beautiful picture for us parents. Not only should we carry the names of our children and grandchildren on our shoulders (embracing this responsibility) but on our hearts (with our affection and love). The greatest way we reveal they are on our hearts is to bring them into the Lord’s presence. He loves them. He wants their names continually before Him. In our immediate family, with children, spouses and grandchildren, Colin and I now bring 51 names before the Lord each day. This has been our life-line as we raised our children and continues to be so. We could never have done it without prayer. It is the most powerful weapon of parenthood

As you pray audibly for your children, the Lord may also lay on your heart a way to write your children’s names on something significant that you could bring into His presence as you pray for them each day. This could be something tangible that reminds you to bring them before the Lord. Ask Him to show you.

Love from NANCY CAMPBELL

 PRAYER:

Thank you for the privilege of bringing my children daily into your presence. Help me to be faithful to this responsibility. Amen.

AFFIRMATION:

My soul is burdened, and my heart cries,

For my children I have many sighs,

But into His presence I bring each name,

His power and anointing for them I claim.

Many women like to save these devotions. They print them out and keep them in a folder to read over and over again. Some print them out and pin them on the fridge with a magnet to read through the week.

Proverbs 18:19 Knox, "When brother helps brother, theirs the strength of a fortress, their cause is like a city gate barred, unassailable.”

God created the family unit. It was His idea. It is how He planned for mankind to live—in a family! God wants families to be strong. Strong families make a strong nation.

Satan wants families to be weak. We must beware of allowing Satan to destroy our families. Let’s face it. No family is perfect. We are trying to get along with a whole lot of sinners. Because of this, every one of us face hurts and grievances in our immediate family and in our extended family. Family members will do something that hurts. Or they will say words that pierce like a sword. Unless we walk in the spirit, it is easy to allow unforgiveness and hurt to fester in family relationships.

We cannot allow this to happen. We must be big enough to lay down our own agenda. We must say No to the flesh and allow the Holy Spirit to work in our lives. We must show grace. We must forgive. We may have to forgive again and again and again. Seventy times seven! This is God’s way and the only way that works.

Seek to strengthen your family—and your extended family of aunts, uncles and cousins. A strong extended family is a powerful force in the nation. Here is a little acrostic about Family Togetherness.

T       Traveling through life is no good on your own

          To do it with family is the best way known.

O      Old and young, the toddlers and teens

          All add to the mix with their family genes.

G      Gathering together as much as we can,

          Putting aside time to be with the clan.

E       Enjoying suppers, parties and feasts

          Where we all bring food and special treats.

T       Talking and laughing, shouting, debating,

          It’s a great lot of fun, certainly not sedating!

H       Helping one another in times of need,

          Going the extra mile to do the deed.

E       Embracing the children, the more the merrier

          Enlarging our homes to all fit in one area.

R       Remembering each other, even those far away,

          Cementing the bonds by praying each day.

N       Never holding a grudge--for hurt or lies,

          Forgiving freely when offences arise.

E       Expect perfection? We all fall on our face,

          We’re sinners redeemed, needing God’s grace.

S       Strengthened by unity--we must guard it well

          And watch “little foxes” don’t come in to dwell.

S       Serving each other with a humble mind

         This is the way as a family we’ll bind.

Love from NANCY CAMPBELL

“Father, please help me to do my part to strengthen the family I am part of. Help me to overlook and forgive offences. Help me to love in the face of hatred. Give me grace to forgive even when it seems too hard to forgive. Thank you, Lord, for your power enabling me to do this because this is your perfect will. Amen.”

I am a family strengthener!

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Colossians 1:11-12, "Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness; giving thanks unto the Father…”

Do you need more of God’s power in your life? Do you need more of His power to help you mother each day? I have wonderful news for you. As you allow Him, God’s power is working in you mightily. Not ordinary power, but the dunamis power of God, the power of God in action which releases miracles. It is the dunamis power of God which was poured out upon the disciples when they received the Holy Spirit to take the Gospel to the uttermost part of the earth. (Acts 1:8) This is where we get the word dynamite—explosive power!

How easily we become deadened to the knowledge of the truth, the truth of God’s power that works in us. Let’s read some other Scriptures…

Ephesians 1:18-19, “The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know… what is the exceeding greatness of his power (dunamis) to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, which he wrought in Christ when he raised him from the dead…”

Ephesians 3:16, “That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might (dunamis) by his Spirit…”

Ephesians 3:20, “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power (dunamis) that works in us.”

2 Timothy 1:7, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power (dunamis), and of love, and of a sound mind.”

2 Peter 1:3, “According as his divine power (dunamis) hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness…”

But we haven’t finished yet! It is not only dunamis power, but God’s glorious power. This is the Greek word doxa which means the perfection of God’s divine nature, the revelation of who He is.

People pray for power to witness for Christ, to heal the sick, and do mighty miracles in the name of the Lord. But let’s read Colossians 1:11 again. What is the purpose of God’s dunamis power working in our lives? To be patient and longsuffering! Wow! Do you have trouble being patient? Are you plagued with anger? You do not have to be defeated any longer. Jesus died on the cross to give you the victory. Jesus Christ, the Son of God, did not die in vain. He died to not only save you from your sin, but to deliver you from your self nature and to change you into the image of His Son. His dunamis power is working in you mightily to reveal God’s nature and character in you and through you. To your husband. To your children. To the people you associate with in your life.

Let Him work in you. Allow Him to work in you mightily. Jesus’ blood has been shed to give you a new life. You don’t have to live according to the flesh any longer. You now have the life of Christ with all His divine nature living and working in you. This is the life you now live. Not your old life but your new life.

You can have patience because Christ lives in you and He is patient! You can have longsuffering, because Christ in you is longsuffering. He does not fly off the handle! He does not scream and shout! He has long patience and forbearance. And His wonderful life is living in you! Acknowledge it. Confess it. (Galatians 2:20; Colossians 1:27)

And still we haven’t finished! Not only is Christ living His patient and longsuffering nature in you, but He enables you to do it with joy and thankfulness. Christ in you is joy. In the flesh you live in defeat. But in Christ you can bear your burdens with joy. You can put up and forbear with those who would naturally drive you mad. You can be patient with your children. You can endure as the power of God works in your mightily.

Love from NANCY CAMPBELL

PRAYER:

“Father, open my eyes to see

Jesus living His life in me!”

AFFIRMATION:

The patience of Jesus is in me; therefore I am patient!

Many women like to save these devotions. They print them out and keep them in a folder to read over and over again. Some print them out and pin them on the fridge with a magnet to read through the week.

If you know others who would be blessed by these devotions, you are welcome to forward them or let them know they can subscribe by sending a blank email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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Exodus 23:23, "For mine Angel shall go before thee, and bring thee in unto the Amorites, and the Hitites, and the Perizzites, and the Canaanites, the Hivites and the Jebusites: and I will cut them off.”

Do you like battles? I am sure that you would rather avoid them if you could. We often think that battles just come upon us or the enemy of our souls instigates them. However, the above Scripture tells us that it is God who leads us into battle. It was God who brought the children of Israel face to face with their enemies. Before they could enjoy the promises of God they had to face their battles and win the fight!

Do not think that you are out of the will of God because you are facing trials and battles. God wants you to learn how to fight. He wants to reveal to His power to you. He wants to prove to you that He is the Lord of Hosts, the God of the armies of heaven.

God brought His people face to face with the enemy, but He did not leave them on their own. He stayed with them and fought with them. As they learned to trust God and not their own resources He showed His mighty right arm. They won every battle when they listened to God’s advice and were obedient to Him. (Joshua 24:8, 11)

Are you facing a battle in your life right now? God has brought you to this place and He is with you. He has not left you! He will fight for you. Listen to Him. Trust Him. Learn to use the weapons He has given to you—the power of the precious blood of Christ, the power of the name of Jesus (Yeshua), and the power of the living Word of God. Jesus Himself won his battles by confessing the Word of God and telling the devil, “It is written…” (Matthew 4:1-11) Wield these weapons with the authority that He has given to you as a child of God.

Revelation 12:11 tells us how to overcome, “And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.”

The children of Israel did not straggle out of Egypt in whatever manner they felt like. No. They “left Egypt in war-like array.” (Exodus 13:18 Knox). The margin of my Bible says that they marched out five in a rank. They were ready for battle. They were an army.

You are also part of an army. As such you will continually face battles. When you realize this, you can put on your armor, rise up and fight in the power of God. Don’t waste your time feeling sorry for yourself any longer.

Not only do you have to learn to fight, but you must teach your children to fight. You must teach them how to fight against the enemy, how to fight against the temptations of the flesh to moods and to evil. This is our responsibility. Our children dare not go out to face this world without being expert in fighting the enemy.  

Judges 3:1-2 NLT tells us, “The Lord left certain nations in the land to test those Israelites who had not participated in the wars of Canaan. He did this to teach warfare to generations of Israelites who had no experience in battle.” Each new generation had to be trained in the art of war.

They did not train them half-heartedly. They trained skilful warriors (1 Chronicles 5:18), valiant warriors (1 Chronicles 7:2, 11) and they trained them to be expert in war. (1 Chronicles 12:24). Hebrews 11:34 tells us of those who “waxed valiant in fight.”

Are you afraid of the battle? Do not give in to your fears. Fear comes from the enemy. God will never leave you alone in your battle. Let me encourage you today, “Fight the good fight of faith” (1 Timothy 6:12) and “war a good warfare.” (1 Timothy 1:18)

Love from NANCY CAMPBELL

PRAYER:

“Lord, I thank you that you are with me in every battle I face. I thank you for the powerful weapons you have given me. Help me to continually confess the power of your name and the precious blood of Jesus. Amen.”

AFFIRMATION:

I am training my children to be expert in war.

Many women like to save these devotions. They print them out and keep them in a folder to read over and over again. Some print them out and pin them on the fridge with a magnet to read through the week.

If you know others who would be blessed by these devotions, you are welcome to forward them or let them know they can subscribe by sending a blank email to : This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..