I had an awesome time vacationing with my family and another family who is our close friends. There were 14 of us and 10 of them were children ranging in the ages of 1 to 17. It’s fun watching the children interact with each other and look out for one another. My 3 little ones had life jackets for the pool and 2 of them were surprisingly apprehensive about getting in. We took turns floating them around and teaching them the motions to swim. We wanted them to be comfortable in knowing that we wouldn’t let them drown. We explained to our son that the life jacket was an extra security that would save him even if somehow we got separated. By the end of our pool day he was having so much fun with the other older children. They were playing in the shallow end. At 4 years old it seemed to him like it was deep and all consuming. As they were playing comfortably, one of the girls let go of the life jacket and he began to scream. Everyone else was laughing, and then he began to laugh. It turns out he was taller than the 3 feet of water at the shallow end. It came up to his neck, but he could touch the ground! It never even occurred to me that he was taller than 3 feet. All I saw was his fear. Sometimes, we hinder our kids from advancement because we give into their fears instead of helping them overcome them. Just like that life jacket, God is there to keep them safe. Their fear is usually something that is bigger in their mind, and overcome by facing it. The enemy always tricks us into thinking we can’t do things that we are well equipped to do!
2 Timothy 1:7(KJV)
7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
1 John 4:18(KJV) 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
We have to teach our children how to be cautious in dangerous situations without feeding irrational fears. We teach them the perfect love of God so there is no room for the enemy to torment them. We must also know when to let go and let God protect them. We don’t want to cripple our children’s growth by interfering when God’s hand is upon them. Some lessons can be learned from us, but some can only be learned by God through personal experience. We have to be aware of the difference.
Father, we thank You that you are our protector and our children are in Your hands. We put our trust in You and ask for Your discernment to know when to let go and let You teach our children. We pray that Your hand stay on our homes and You keep us from evil. Show us how to create an atmosphere of Your perfect love that casts out all fear. Let us love live in Your power, love and sound mind. Forgive us for feeding fears instead of overcoming them by faith. Show us how to grow in our faith and glorify your name by overcoming. Let us be an example to our children by living out Your word in complete trust and surrender. Show us how to laugh in the enemies face as You free us from our fears. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen!
2 Timothy 1:7(KJV)
7 For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
1 John 4:18(KJV) 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.
We have to teach our children how to be cautious in dangerous situations without feeding irrational fears. We teach them the perfect love of God so there is no room for the enemy to torment them. We must also know when to let go and let God protect them. We don’t want to cripple our children’s growth by interfering when God’s hand is upon them. Some lessons can be learned from us, but some can only be learned by God through personal experience. We have to be aware of the difference.
Father, we thank You that you are our protector and our children are in Your hands. We put our trust in You and ask for Your discernment to know when to let go and let You teach our children. We pray that Your hand stay on our homes and You keep us from evil. Show us how to create an atmosphere of Your perfect love that casts out all fear. Let us love live in Your power, love and sound mind. Forgive us for feeding fears instead of overcoming them by faith. Show us how to grow in our faith and glorify your name by overcoming. Let us be an example to our children by living out Your word in complete trust and surrender. Show us how to laugh in the enemies face as You free us from our fears. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen!