"A Warm Welcome from Sweet Home Alabama!"
I'm Adela Osmond, Co-founder of TrainUpChildren.com.
If you are a parent, like me, you know of the commitment
you must have in raising godly children with virtues and morals that mirror Christ Jesus. We want our children to grow their own faith in the Lord. But how do we start this process of training them up in the way they should go?
If you'll stay with me a minute, I want to talk with you about how and why you should always go back to God's word and seek His ways diligently.
This is truly the best christian parenting tip you'll ever hear.
First the why... In case you are not aware of it, no matter what age they are, the devil hates children. He hates beautiful little girls... he hates precious little boys. Satan stalks them eagerly waiting to deceive them. Scriptures say, he stalks like a lion seeking a chance to devour souls (even little ones). 1 Peter 5:8
If you knew there was a dangerous wild animal stalking your child, I bet you wouldn't have anything better to do, than to gather them close and teach how to look for a way of escape when you’re not around. The Scriptures are given to us to study, instructing us in right`ness that we may teach our children "The Way" of escape.
Christ came to glorify God the Father by miracles, signs and wonders along with showing His obedience to the Father's will through His death, burial and resurrection. By doing these things, Jesus proved His deity and defeated His enemy ~ the devil.
Jesus said "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life...The "Way of Christ" is "the way of escape" from satan's deception. The reason for "training our children in the way they should go" is to teach them how to equip themselves to overcome the snare of the devil by calling on the name of the Lord and establishing a relationship with God the Father through His Son Jesus Christ.
If you're not a Christian and would like to know what one must do to be saved,
the article "must be born again" can be of help to you...
The heart of this website and everything contained in it ~ is for you, as a Christian parent, to be encouraged to teach your children to know God and to know Jesus Christ.
Knowing the Father, does not come through a method or 3 step program but rather, it is an ongoing relationship with a Person. It is an affectionate, love relationship with the LORD. This relationship grows and matures over time while studying His Word, in daily prayer, by showing our obedience to do His will ~ These are just a few ways how we can draw close to know the LORD. Remember... always go back to God's word and seek His ways diligently.
The question we must ask is: "What are we doing within our family life that will guide our child’s heart to seek Him?" Our children come to know us by the relationship we have with them. They know what to expect from us. They know our likes and dislikes. They even know how much we love them by our very actions because of the time we spend with each other and those things we share during that time spent. Your child's relationship with God will be no different.
In our parenting example, we must be evangelists to point the way to Christ by training their hearts to seek Him. We must be vigilant and persistent prayer warriors in the presences of and on behalf of our children. We must put off our old man daily, and put on Christ so that our little ones (young and old) can see Christ living in us.
It’s true, Christian parents have no power to renew a child’s heart. Only God does this (Ezekiel 36:26-27). But Christian parents are accountable to teach their children that their hearts are desperately in need of regeneration, that all problems arise because of sin (whether from self or others), and that all their greatest needs are therefore spiritual at the core. As Christian parents we need to encourage and direct our little ones to Christ.
For it is Jesus Christ who will forgive them and it is Jesus Christ who will give them the redemption they need.
There are no other words that better describe the duty of parents than these: “…bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.” Ephesians 6:4
Let's look into this verse a little more.
Bring them up in the nurture... literally means, nourish them in the discipline and instruction of the Lord. The mind is to be nourished with wholesome discipline and instruction, just as the body is with proper food.
And admonition of the Lord... literally means, a putting in mind; warning of sin's pitfalls (sways of the devil), and giving of instruction for righteousness.
The sense here is, that parents are to put them in mind of the Lord--of His existence, perfections, law, and claims on their hearts and lives. This command is positive, and is in accordance with all the requirements of the Bible on the subject. No one can doubt that the Bible enjoins on parents the duty of endeavoring to train up their children in the ways of God, and of making it the grand purpose of this life to prepare them to meet their Creator.
God is calling His believers to walk in the ways of Christ. Let it be known that we are willing to join His work. Teaching our children diligently and protecting them from the evil one. Let God's ways be our ways! And let us proclaim like Joshua once did... "As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD."
May God bless you richly with His wisdom!
Author of "Plant the Word"
Co-Owner TrainUpChildren.com
