One look at my son and I knew it had been a terrible day. At lunch, he’d tried to open his ketchup packet and some had squirted across the table startling a fellow kindergartener. She yelled at him drawing all eyes onto my self-conscious child. He’d turned aside so no one could see his unbidden emotions.
We’d just moved to our fourth state in four years. Our children slept on floor mattresses as we waited for our house to be finished and the rest of our belongings to arrive. My son’s distress wrenched my heart. I wanted to protect him from pain, but I couldn’t tag along to school.
After he went to bed that night, God reminded me of David and Goliath. As a youth, David faced a giant warrior that intimidated seasoned soldiers. How had he learned to be so courageous? David learned to trust God’s strength and protection by facing wild beasts that attacked his flock.
God’s word reframed my thinking and lifted my desire to protect my son to a higher aspiration—one of infusing him with faith and courage. Brant’s awkward moment provided an opportunity for him to grow stronger.
God’s word reframed my thinking and lifted my desire to protect my son to a higher aspiration—one of infusing him with faith and #courage. #Legacy Share on XAt breakfast the next morning, I reminded Brant of David and Goliath. I told him he didn’t go to school alone. The Lord Jesus stuck with him. I don’t know which encouraged him more, the story or my new attitude, but his countenance shifted. He straightened his small shoulders and left ready to face the day—in the strength of the Lord.
What Legacy Are You Leaving?
Training our children and those we work with to rely on God instead of on us is the best gift we can give them. Abraham was a great patriarch of the faith. His descendants gave us Jesus, the Law, and the prophets. What a staggering influence this one man had on our world. I think we can say he took God’s call seriously.
For I have chosen him [Abraham], so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just, so that the Lord will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him.” Gen. 18:19 NIV
Direct Your Children
God chose Abraham to direct his children. According to blueletterbible.com, to direct means “to command, charge, give orders, lay charge, give charge to, order.”
To fulfill this calling required action and intention. Abraham could not trust his household to pick up his values through osmosis. He directed their spiritual and moral education and lifestyle.
He was to direct them “to keep the way of the Lord.” We’re called to do the same. To do this, we must know God’s will and ways. We must stand with the Lord’s definitions of good and bad and right and wrong—not with the age we live in.
We can only do that by studying our Bibles. It isn’t enough to believe in Jesus. We must know His teachings and follow Him. If we aren’t being transformed by God’s Word, then we are being conformed to the world (Rom. 12:2). Abraham’s nephew Lot represents one who believed in God but was shaped by the world. Read his pathetic story here.
Have you considered where you got the worldview you are passing on to your children? Was it shaped by the world or by the Word?
Have you considered where you got the #worldview you are passing on to your children? Was it shaped by the world or by the Word? #Legacy Share on XThe day my kindergartener brought his distress home, God overcame my maternal instinct to overprotect with biblical inspiration. The deposits of faith we receive from our time in the Bible provide a divine perspective that rescues us from caving before the giants that threaten our peace. When we model faith and train our children in how to discern and walk in God’s ways, we protect them from evils worse than Goliath.
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Blessings,
Three 2020 Fall Bible Studies to Equip Women
Limited space in each group.
Little Women, Big God: The women in Jesus’ genealogy faced big problems with little power, but they discovered a bigger God. This fall, I’ll be leading an eleven-week online study for women on Tuesday evenings from 7 to 8:30 p.m. EST on Little Women, Big God. September 15 we’ll kick off by going through the introduction and personality test. Contact me to sign up or learn more. Let’s focus on our Big God together!
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Give Yourself a Break: Could there be a better time to learn how to enter God’s rest? Ginny Wilson will be leading a ten-week study through Give Yourself a Break on Thursday evenings beginning September 17th, 2020. They will meet from 7 to 8:30 p.m. EST. You can join locally or tune in through zoom. Contact us to sign up or learn more.”
.- Little Faith, Big God: Let the ordinary people from Hebrews 11 show you how to live strong and finish well. Denita M. Thomas from God 1st Ministries will be leading an online group through Little Faith, Big God on Thursday evenings from 7-8:15 EST beginning September 17, 2020. You can register online at God1st.org/small-groups. Registration Deadline: September 13, 2020
Photo by Terricks Noah on Unsplash
Sometimes I link with these great sites:
#InstaEncouraements, #TellHisStory #Recharge Wednesday, #WorthBeyondRubies #TuneinThursaday, #Grace&Truth,
I can so relate to your story. When my son Matt was young he was very timid and shy. The Lord gave me the scripture about Gideon for him and each morning as we prepared for school I prayed with and for each of my children and I spoke their scripture over them. For Matt it was, You are a might man of valor, strength, power and wealth. Well he is 33 now, an amazing dad of 2 and I can honestly say that scripture has been fulfilled in his life!
Ann, what a beautiful testimony! Amen and amen!
Children are watching and listening to our words and actions. I pray I set a good example for our grandson Rowan and his sister(due in November) and all children. 🙂
Melissa, I’m sure you do! Congratulations on a new grandchild!
Wonderful post, as always, Ms. Debbie. Questions that every parent and grandparent should be asking ourselves ma’am.
Thank you, J. D. It is so easy to be shaped by the world and not even realize it.
Debbie,
So awesome! Our children need to see our faith at work, so they can strong in faith, also. During these crazy times, they are needing strength and courage, too.
I so agree, Denita. We really want our children to build their lives on the rock that won’t crumble. Thanks!
Debbie,
I loved your post. God is good and I like how He reramed your thoughts. I needed to read this post today. My desire to protect gets in the way a great deal of time when it comes to parenting. It is so hard to watch our children struggle. I like that Abraham was there to direct his children. Thank you for sharing with Grace & Truth. Is the picture o the little boy your son? He is adorable.
Maree
No, I found him at a photo resource. But he was so adorable I couldn’t resist! Thanks, Maree Dee.
I agree and it went so well with your post.