Raising a child

Proverbs 22:6
New International Version (NIV)6 Start children off on the way they should go,   and even when they are old they will not turn from it.

***Thought I'd share the halftime speech I was invited to give at Today's Upward games.  It's a reminder that we have a responsibility to our children. ***

As most of you probably know, I am a runner. I run with TEAM413, the world's largest ministry of endurance athletes. As a member of this "team" I travel to races and marathons sharing the gospel. We always offer a prerace prayer for anyone wanting to participate. It's the best way to start any race and witness to others in the process. I can say with all certainty that I am where I am because I had a mother who followed the advice of Solomon in Proverbs 22:6 to”train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” 

I’d like to share a story with you about one particular prayer meeting that left an impression on me and reminded me that children are always watching.  Last November before the KC marathon, we met (as a TEAM413 group) for a prerace prayer in the lobby of the Doubletree Hotel. On this day five women showed up.  We sat for a few minutes discussing the race and noticed the lobby full of teenage girls getting ready for soccer finals.

As we finally stood to pray, we all held hands and formed a group in a corner of the lobby close to where these girls were.  As we prayed, their talking ceased and they seemed to be intent on listening to us as we prayed for blessings on our race and for God's protection over us and the other runners.

When we were done, we got up to leave, wishing the girls luck on their game  and the girls were still looking on as we walked out.

Couldn’t help wondering if this was the first time some of them had seen people pray like this-

No doubt their parents had stressed the importance of team sports or these girls wouldn’t be there.  But had they also taught these children about Jesus?  And that, while sports may get you a scholarship, they won’t get you into heaven.  

The world has it’s ideas on parenthood and what makes a good parent- dressing them with the best, children attending the right school, having them on the best sports team.  But what defines a good parent to God?  How do we lead our children to a relationship with Christ?  I believe there are 3 important steps God has laid out in scriptures.  

Prayer

Example

Instruction- age appropriate

Prayer- Ephesians 1:13-14 "And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own[a] by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago. 14 The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him."   We should pray for the Holy Spirit to draw our children to God from their earliest days and to sustain them through a life of faith and service to God until they arrive safely in Heaven at the end of their days.  Reminder, children seem to need more prayer in their teenage years.  And, so do their parents!!

Example-We should also pray that God would draw us closer to Him so we can model Christ like behavior and lead by example.  When our children see us praying and studying scripture daily, they know the importance of Jesus in our lives without us our ever having to say a word.  And, when we live it out, it becomes all the more real and powerful to them.  But, if we are only living this on Sunday, children are very quick to catch on and view church and christians negatively.  As parents, we must do everything we can to “walk the talk”.

Instruction-Age appropriate instruction- is crucial to leading a child to Christ.  There are tons of children’s books and bibles for all age levels.  We don’t have to be professors, pastors or schlars to teach our children!  Sometimes it’s as simple as talking about the things around us  and relating it to the beauty and wonder of God.   Psalm 19:1-2 the heavens proclaim the glory of God.    The skies display his craftsmanship.2 Day after day they continue to speak;    night after night they make him known.3 They speak without a sound or word".

Whenever our children feel safe and secure in our love, we have the opportunity to relate to them how much greater the love of their Heavenly father is.  When they are hurt by others, we can talk about how Jesus was hurt by others but still died for each and every one of us.  

In Psalm 127:3 The bible tells us that  "Children are a gift from the Lord;    they are a reward from him."  In fact the value that God placed on teaching our children the truth is clearly addressed by Moses who stressed to his people the importance of teaching their Children about the Lord and his commands and laws:”Impress them on your children.  Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.  Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.  Write them on the doorframes of your houses and your gates"- Deuteronomy 6:7-9

We have been given the most awesome blessing of being the stewards for our childrens’ lives for such a very short time, but the teaching and training we provide them is eternal.  According to the promise of Proverbs, a child who is diligently trained “in the way he should go” will remain true to that way in this life and reap its rewards in the next.  And that is a promise worth teaching our children.  

Heavenly Father, thank you for giving us your Holy Spirit to guide us in being the parents we need to be for our children. We pray your blessing on them and for wisdom for us to raise them to serve and love you. Amen.