Read an Excerpt
A Blessing on the Way
Counting Each Day While You're Expecting
By Sue Christian, Meg Christian Abingdon Press
Copyright © 2014 Abingdon Press
All rights reserved.
ISBN: 978-1-4267-8701-0
CHAPTER 1
Day 280—week 1
Congratulations! You and your husband have created a child in God's image. As your child forms, let's take time to know him or her better.
"God created humanity in God's own image, in the divine image God created them, male and female God created them."
—Genesis 1:27
Day 279
This is our prayer for you as you begin this wonderful adventure of pregnancy.
"May the grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ be with you."
—Philippians 1:2
Day 278
Right now God has already decided the sex of your baby, but you will have to wait a while to find out.
"On the day God created humanity, he made them to resemble God and created them male and female. He blessed them and called them humanity on the day they were created."
—Genesis 5:1
Day 277
The doctors are going to give you a lot of information, and you will read a lot about your pregnancy. You cannot do everything they say to do, so take time to pray to the Lord for his guidance.
"Listen to instruction, and be wise; don't avoid it."
—Proverbs 8:33
Day 276
God will be with you every day of your pregnancy. Take time to be with him.
"But you. Lord, are my shield! You are my glory!"
—Psalm 3:3
Day 275
This is a good reminder to take care of your body for yourself and for the new life that is forming inside of you.
"Now be careful not to drink wine or brandy or to eat anything that is ritually unclean, because you are pregnant and will give birth to a son."
—Judges 13:4-5
Day 274
You will gain 50 much wisdom and instruction from books in the next months. Don't forget to include the Bible.
"Wisdom begins with the fear of the Lord, but fools despise wisdom and instruction."
—Proverbs 1:7
Day 273—week 2
When you think of that baby growing inside of you, ponder on what a miracle from God it is!
"Is anything too difficult for the Lord? When I return to you about this time next year, Sarah will have a son."
—Genesis 18:14
Day 272
On the days when life seems insurmountable, don't rely on your own strength; rely on his.
"So, my child, draw your strength from the grace that is in Christ Jesus."
—2 Timothy 2:1
Day 271
God will be with you through your whole pregnancy. He formed this baby and will be with you and this child.
"I'm sure about this: the one who started a good work in you will stay with you to complete the job by the day of Christ Jesus."
—Philippians 1:6
Day 270
You may say this to your new baby as he or she grows up, but don't forget to apply it to yourself as you pick up that same toy ten times!
"Do everything without grumbling and arguing."
—Philippians 2:14
Day 269
It is easy to complain, but don't forget to give thanks to God for all he has given you, starting with this new baby growing inside of you.
"Whatever you do, whether in speech or action, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus and give thanks to God the Father through him."
—Colossians 3:17
Day 268
How much more will God's sacrifice for you mean now that you are a parent yourself?
"From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he had to go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders, chief priests, and legal experts, and that he had to be killed and raised on the third day."
—Matthew 16:21
Day 267
Relax in your pregnancy and realize that God is with you every day and at every step. He keeps his promises—trust in that.
"The Lord set a time and said, 'Tomorrow the Lord will do this in the land.' And the next day the Lord did it."
—Exodus 9:5
Day 266—week 3
It is your job as a parent to share God's love with your child. God told the Israelites to share all the good he had done for them with their children. It's not too early to plan to do the same.
"When in the future your child asks you, 'What docs this mean?' you should answer, 'The Lord brought us with great power out of Egypt, out of the place we were slaves.'" —Exodus 13:14
Day 263
Take comfort in this statement. Study your Bible while you await your new child and see how it is true.
"The Lord will rule forever and always."
—Exodus 15:18
Day 264
You may feel closer to your parents, but do not forget to include your husband's family with this new baby. When you were married, they became your family also.
"Moses listened to his father-in-law's suggestions and did everything that he had said."
—Exodus 18:24
Day 263
Children will be affected by their parents' choices. If you choose a poor path, your child will suffer. But if you choose God's will, you and your family will be blessed.
"I punish children for their parents' sins even to the third and fourth generations of those who hate me. But I am loyal and gracious to the thousandth generation of those who love me and keep my commandments."
—Exodus 20:5-6
Day 262
You are going to be very busy getting ready for this baby. Do not forget to set time apart for God. This will be especially important to remember after your baby is born.
"Remember the Sabbath day and treat it as holy."
—Exodus 20:8
Day 261
Life is going to change with the addition of a new family member. It will be even more important now than ever to make your marriage a priority.
"Marriage must be honored in every respect."
—Hebrews 13:4
Day 260
Isn't it amazinq that our God thinks of us as holy people through the grace of his Son? You may not feel holy as you gain weight and get tired, but you are.
"You are holy people to me."
—Exodus 22:31
Day 259—week 4
God doesn't sleep when you do. When you and your baby are sleeping, he will be there watching you both.
"I lie down, sleep, and wake up because the Lord helps me."
—Psalm 3:5
Day 258
Thank God for that baby growing inside of you today.
"I will thank you, Lord, with all my heart."
—Psalm 9:1
Day 257
God thinks so much of you and your baby that he made you in his image and "slightly less than divine."
"What are human beings that you think about them; what are human beings that you pay attention to them? You've made them only slightly less than divine."
—Psalm 8:4-5
Day 256
Jesus can be your "rock" during a time when everything else in your life seems to be changing.
"My God is my rock—I take refuge in him!—he's my shield, my salvation's strength, my place of safety."
—Psalm 18:2
Day 255
Go and look at the stars tonight. In the not-too-distant future, you will be holding your newborn baby and showing him or her the stars God made.
"Heaven is declaring God's glory; the sky is proclaiming his handiwork."
—Psalm 19:1
Day 254
God has been with you right from the minute you were born and will be with this new baby and you as you give birth.
"But you are the one who pulled me from the womb, placing me safely at my mother's breasts. I was thrown on you from birth; you've been my God since I was in my mother's womb."
—Psalm 22:9-10
Day 253
Pray for your unborn baby. You will have the greatest opportunity out of anyone to share God's love with your child.
"Listen, my son, to your father's instruction; don't neglect your mother's teaching."
—Proverbs 1:8
Day 252—week 5
How will your unborn child affect the kingdom of God? How exciting to wait and see!
"Future descendants will serve him; generations to come will be told about my Lord. They will proclaim God's righteousness to those not yet born, telling them what God has done."
—Psalms 22:30-31
Day 251
Each morninq as you lie in bed after you have woken up, lift up your prayers to God. Think of how excited you will be to hear your baby's voice in the morning. God is just as excited to hear yours.
"Lord, in the morning yon hear my voice. In the morning I lay it all out before you. Then I wait expectantly."
—Psalm 53
(Continues...)
Excerpted from A Blessing on the Way by Sue Christian, Meg Christian. Copyright © 2014 Abingdon Press. Excerpted by permission of Abingdon Press.
All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
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