A day in the life of a typical Christian parent with children at home is pretty hectic. Today it doesn't matter how old the children are (child or teenager) families are consumed with the activities the children are involved in. Whether it is soccer, football, baseball, dance, music, after school activities, (I'll stop with just these few), parents are continually on the go, and the children also are consumed.
Today many children have their own smart phones and are consumed with talking, texting, gaming, or social networking.....continually. Add to that, movies, TV, and homework. Is there any time for God in their lives? I'm not talking about church on Sundays. I don't mean an occasional midweek service.
Christian parents...how are YOU raising your children? Are you training them to be servants of God? Or, are you waiting and hoping (in the midst of all the secular activity) they will one day make the decision on their own to serve God?
The Bible says, "Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it." (Proverbs 22:6) This scripture carries so much truth and power. Train up a child to serve God, even years and years later he/she will still be serving God! (Steve's paraphrase.) To train a child is to teach, instruct, admonish, encourage, demonstrate, and prepare them to serve God. Training changes the life of a child. And this my friend changes the world!
Many younger children from Christian homes today know more about Power Rangers and Transformers than they do the Word of God. Many are fluent in the language of texting, and know more about the latest video games than they know about fervent prayer. I recently watched a Christian TV show about short-term missions. A short-term missionary took his 6 and 8 year old sons to Central America. He had prepared them to preach the gospel. They did! While they still acted exactly like 6 and 8 year old boys, they were also prepared to preach short, but very powerful messages about Jesus. Many adults received salvation, and many were healed as a result of their preaching and their prayers. Christian parents, how are you training your children? Are teaching them to live for Jesus...NOW?
"How do I train up my child in the way he or she should go?" The answer to this is very simple. Obey God's Word. Just do it! Here are just a few things you must do to train up your child to serve God:
In the Islamic world children are trained from a very early age. They are indoctrinated in the things of Islam. Nothing is more important to them than Islam. Many are prepared to give their lives for the cause of Islam. Christian parent...are you training your child or children to serve God? Are you training them to lay down their lives for the cause of Jesus Christ? Or do they spend the majority of their time looking to a smart phone, a computer screen, or television? Could they share the gospel with one of their peers? Can you? It's time to wake up? Your personal world will be controlled by evil if you don't raise up a generation of warriors who stand for Jesus and His righteousness. Prepare you children now. Don't wait until it is too late!
The Bible says, "Train up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it." (Proverbs 22:6) This scripture carries so much truth and power. Train up a child to serve God, even years and years later he/she will still be serving God! (Steve's paraphrase.) To train a child is to teach, instruct, admonish, encourage, demonstrate, and prepare them to serve God. Training changes the life of a child. And this my friend changes the world!
Many younger children from Christian homes today know more about Power Rangers and Transformers than they do the Word of God. Many are fluent in the language of texting, and know more about the latest video games than they know about fervent prayer. I recently watched a Christian TV show about short-term missions. A short-term missionary took his 6 and 8 year old sons to Central America. He had prepared them to preach the gospel. They did! While they still acted exactly like 6 and 8 year old boys, they were also prepared to preach short, but very powerful messages about Jesus. Many adults received salvation, and many were healed as a result of their preaching and their prayers. Christian parents, how are you training your children? Are teaching them to live for Jesus...NOW?
"How do I train up my child in the way he or she should go?" The answer to this is very simple. Obey God's Word. Just do it! Here are just a few things you must do to train up your child to serve God:
- You must live for Him 24 X 7. Be the same at home as you are at church or around other Christians.
- Take the time to pray daily with your children. Not just a little "bless them" prayer as they run out the door. Teach them the importance of the power of prayer, by praying with them. Teach them to pray for you and others as they grow.
- Share the Word with them daily. Have a family devotion in which you read verses of Scripture to them and explain the Scriptures. Then when they're a little older have them read Scripture and explain them to you. Teach them that the Word of God (and prayer) take priority over all their extracurricular activities!
- Be real with your children. When you make a mistake, admit it. Apologize to them when you are wrong. Pride will keep you from this, but don't let it. Be real. Be honest. Be a Godly example in every area.
- Daddy, love Mommy. Demonstrate your love for her to the children. Mommy, love Daddy and don't belittle him. Let the children see you love each other more than anyone else...outside of God. Children thrive now and in the future who come from homes in which Daddy and Mommy love each other, and Jesus is the foundation of their love.
In the Islamic world children are trained from a very early age. They are indoctrinated in the things of Islam. Nothing is more important to them than Islam. Many are prepared to give their lives for the cause of Islam. Christian parent...are you training your child or children to serve God? Are you training them to lay down their lives for the cause of Jesus Christ? Or do they spend the majority of their time looking to a smart phone, a computer screen, or television? Could they share the gospel with one of their peers? Can you? It's time to wake up? Your personal world will be controlled by evil if you don't raise up a generation of warriors who stand for Jesus and His righteousness. Prepare you children now. Don't wait until it is too late!
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Training Children to Be Strong in Spirit - eBook By Michael Pearl Learn how to develop wisdom, self-discipline and other virtues by making a few simple changes in how you raise your children. By doing so, you will put them in the stream of God's special favor and throughout their lives, they will attract the favor of others. |
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Training your Child to be Sexually Pure By Fred Stoeker Mother and son Lisa and Tyler Sexton discuss their amazing story of parenting a child with special needs and how - through God's work and faithfulness - Tyler was able to overcome limitations and pursue a medical degree. Includes the additional audio from the "Men: Maintaining Sexual Purity" broadcast. |
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