Training for the Future
Matthew 18:6 (Amplified) reads “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in and acknowledge and cleave to Me to stumble and sin [that is, who entices him or hinders him in right conduct or thought], it would be better (more expedient and profitable or advantageous) for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be sunk in the depth of the sea.” You are looking at God’s heart when you look at your child. Jesus spoke some strong words in this verse and we need to take heed to them. God has given me these children and I need to make sure they are raised in right conduct and thought.
Before we had children we were aware of other children around us and watched how the parents interacted with them. With our own children, we started training them at a young age, between 3-6 months old. Mostly we trained our children for our own benefit, not being embarrassed when we went in public, having a quiet evening at home, etc. God started showing us that it wasn’t about us but about the plan He has for them.
The Lord spoke to me one Sunday as my husband was teaching about faith. He mentioned Hebrews 11 and how all these men had faith for years and never saw the fulfillment of it. The Lord told me that I am, by faith, training my young children for what He may call them to do thirty, forty years from now. WOW!
The Lord began showing me examples. When I train my children to obey and respond on our first command, they will later hear God’s commands and not hesitate but obey Him immediately. As we play church and sit quietly on the couch several times a week, I am teaching them to sit quietly before the Lord and just listen. As I teach them not to pout or whine, I am teaching my daughter not to manipulate her future husband with her emotions. As we teach them about their position in Christ and the authority they have, they will be fully persuaded of the power of their God.
Maybe you haven’t raised your children in right conduct or maybe you
didn’t know you had the Holy Spirit to guide and direct you. This
article is not to bring guilt or condemnation, those things are from
Satan. God is a God of love and healing. If you will repent (Hebrew:
to think differently) and ask God to show you where to start, He
will guide you. Your older children, teens or adults are not too big
for God. God can restore back to new their hearts. Do not look back,
Jesus came and took away the yesterdays. Look forward to the
straight path set before you. Now go take back what Satan has stolen
from you!
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A New and Living Way
What an honor to have God trust me in the raising of His children.
Each child’s days were predestined before the foundation of the
earth. We, as parents, have a part to play in carrying out the
vision God has for our children through daily training and teaching.
It is important, as a parent, that I am sensitive to the Holy Spirit
in raising our children. It is easy to get caught up in what
everyone else is doing with their children or with everyone else’s
advice. Example and advice is good if we take it to the Lord in
prayer. God put within each parent what it takes to raise their
child. It is our responsibility to hear His plan for them.
A New and Living
Way