My high school age daughter has a summer reading project that I am in total disagreement with. It will be exposing her to philosophies that are demonic in nature and can seduce her into false beliefs and witchcraft. She is in Honors English, if she doesn’t do the assignment, it can greatly affect her first semester grade. She has a good Christian foundation. As of now she stands on her beliefs. If I don’t know what she is being exposed to, then how can I answer her questions? So my solution is to also read the book. I need to be able to explain to her why the information is false, and where the truth of each challenge is in the Bible. If I don’t lead her, then her spirit is left vulnerable to these false teachings.
As a believer it is getting more challenging to raise our children in a righteous standard. When they are young we have more influence on them and are able to keep them in a protective bubble of our choosing. The older they get, the more they are exposed to different people and things that can easily become a great influence in their lives. What do we do? As much as we want to, we can’t keep them from growing. They have to have their own life experiences that will grow them into who God created them to be. We have to teach them to be in the world but not of it. We do this first by setting an example. We have to not only teach them the word of God, but also live it. As children, most lessons are caught, not taught. People in general learn by their mistakes and consequences. We can’t keep them from the evils of this world. There is so much that they have easy access to; not only through the schools, but through all of this smart technology that we all love. It is our job to be aware of what they are paying attention to and having a relationship with them that will allow us to speak the truth about what it is. Even when we lay a good Jesus foundation, the devil will always come to seduce them with the excitement of sin. Being consistent is key. They will act annoyed, it may seem like they aren’t listening, or like they already know the answers, but keep speaking the truth. If you don’t give it to them somebody else will be glad to give them explanations that can lead them right into a ditch.
Matthew 15:14 (KJV)
14 Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.
As believers we have access to the Holy Spirit that leads us and guides us into all truth. We must rely on the Holy Spirit to show us when our children are being misled and also how to intervene. We must pray that they are sensitive to their own Holy Spirit and that they obey the instructions and use the discernment that they have access to through the Holy Spirit. Let’s not just be parents to our children. Let’s be leaders with the eyes of Jesus that can guide our children into greatness!
Father, we thank You for wisdom and understanding in raising our kids. Help us be intentional about knowing what they are exposed to and what questions they may have. Give us truthful answers, even for the hardest of questions. Forgive us for not always identifying the need for us to lead our children into truth. Forgive us for letting others have influence to change their beliefs. We know that they have a choice, but we also know that when they know the truth it will set them free. Help us be truth bearers. Give us supernatural answers and discernment for every situation. Expose all of the dark places and let Jesus be their light. We pray that they hunger and thirst for You and continue to grow into the call that they have on their life. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen!
As a believer it is getting more challenging to raise our children in a righteous standard. When they are young we have more influence on them and are able to keep them in a protective bubble of our choosing. The older they get, the more they are exposed to different people and things that can easily become a great influence in their lives. What do we do? As much as we want to, we can’t keep them from growing. They have to have their own life experiences that will grow them into who God created them to be. We have to teach them to be in the world but not of it. We do this first by setting an example. We have to not only teach them the word of God, but also live it. As children, most lessons are caught, not taught. People in general learn by their mistakes and consequences. We can’t keep them from the evils of this world. There is so much that they have easy access to; not only through the schools, but through all of this smart technology that we all love. It is our job to be aware of what they are paying attention to and having a relationship with them that will allow us to speak the truth about what it is. Even when we lay a good Jesus foundation, the devil will always come to seduce them with the excitement of sin. Being consistent is key. They will act annoyed, it may seem like they aren’t listening, or like they already know the answers, but keep speaking the truth. If you don’t give it to them somebody else will be glad to give them explanations that can lead them right into a ditch.
Matthew 15:14 (KJV)
14 Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.
As believers we have access to the Holy Spirit that leads us and guides us into all truth. We must rely on the Holy Spirit to show us when our children are being misled and also how to intervene. We must pray that they are sensitive to their own Holy Spirit and that they obey the instructions and use the discernment that they have access to through the Holy Spirit. Let’s not just be parents to our children. Let’s be leaders with the eyes of Jesus that can guide our children into greatness!
Father, we thank You for wisdom and understanding in raising our kids. Help us be intentional about knowing what they are exposed to and what questions they may have. Give us truthful answers, even for the hardest of questions. Forgive us for not always identifying the need for us to lead our children into truth. Forgive us for letting others have influence to change their beliefs. We know that they have a choice, but we also know that when they know the truth it will set them free. Help us be truth bearers. Give us supernatural answers and discernment for every situation. Expose all of the dark places and let Jesus be their light. We pray that they hunger and thirst for You and continue to grow into the call that they have on their life. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen!