A Crossroads of Faith "Is Jesus the Boss of your life? Are you forgiven?"

Standing at the church altar, my pastor at vacation bible school spoke directly to me. My heart burned because I knew my answer was a resounding “No”. With almost a will of their own, my feet moved out of the pew and walked down the aisle to the welcoming arms of my pastor. It was there he prayed with me and then Jesus cleansed my soul. But, for the next fifteen years, my faith floundered as I faced realities of a broken family and a wounded heart. Coupled with my parent’s divorce and the absence of committed Christian friends, I rebelled. It wasn’t until the end of graduate school that I finally had enough of doing things my way and tearfully crept back to the Lord.

 

My faith-struggle taught me one thing—Christian discipleship is critical in the life of a new believer. As parents praying for our children’s eternal future, we sometimes view salvation as the end, rather than the beginning. We approach the Sinner’s Prayer and baptism with blessed relief as we check that parental duty off the list. The salvation experience isn’t just a one-time event; it’s a lifelong process of mentoring the child in the nuances of Christian maturity.

 

Start by instilling in your child a love for Jesus.

Love the LORD your God with all your heart
and with all your soul and with all your strength.
Deuteronomy 6:5

 

Tips for Training Your Child to Love the Lord

 

LOVE:  Walk the talk. My children don’t care what I believe about God if I’m constantly mean, impatient, or angry. My loving actions speak louder than any religious speech and translate into hearts devoted to Christ.

 

THINK: Train your kids to think scripturally. When my youngest child is afraid of the dark, I remind her of Biblical truth—God promises never to leave her or forsake her.

 

TALK: Talk about God and make Him a familiar member of your home. The beauty of God’s creation is a great discussion tool. For instance, our family was amazed at the Lord’s power when we first gazed upon the majestic Rocky Mountains.

 

Talkto the Lord in prayer. When they confide their problems, I lead my children in prayer. By example, they learn to talk to God about their struggles.

 

TEACH: Make Bible reading and study a priority in your home. We use a simple spiral notebook to record the Bible verse of the week and prayer requests. After everyone recites the verse, we spend time in family prayer.

 

As parents, we have the opportunity to shape our children’s future. Together we stand at a crossroads: one path paved with immaturity, rebellion, and regret; the other with wisdom, faithfulness, and joy. Discipleship takes time and hard work; which road do you choose?

 

—Carrie Cooper, M.S.

Carrie is a writer and speaker. Visit her blog at www.comfortedbyGod.blogspot.com or email her at Carrie@comfortandcompassion.com.