Proverbs 22:6 His Seed

Good morning Abba, Good morning Jesus, Good morning Holy Spirit,

Train up a child in the way he should go;

and when he is old,

he will not depart from it.

Proverbs 22:6

Our greatest assignment! Often, though, this is one of the most difficult tasks to "muddle" our way through. So many if only I had.... 

God is good all of the time! He is diligent in His watch over my children, grandchildren, and every child that comes across my path. Proverbs is a manual for all things in life. It can be a daunting mirror about our-self, it is a good source for what will align our thoughts with His will, and it reveals what a true Christ-like life should be.

Trusting in each seed we plant in our little ones is one of the greatest "leaps of faith" I have ever taken. It is a path of persistent prayer. It can be humbling. It can be painful. It can bring the most endearing moments of joy.

Being aware that our children, all children are watching and listening is a good thermometer for knowing how "well" we are raising our future generations. The world tells us not to offend... Our Lord demanded us to "train up" our children, His children:

Let the children come to me and do not forbid them, for the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these. 

Matthew 19:14

Gosh, how I pray that I help in raising up His precious children (no matter what their ages). That one day I will hear Him say, "Well done." That what I have planted pleases Him. That what I have failed to do will be forgiven. And that, what I can make right will bring blessings upon those I have misguided.

"Planting Godly seeds, will one day bloom into Godly plants."

Jay Stone 

3 John 1:4 Planting His Seeds

Good morning Abba, Good morning Jesus, Good morning Holy Spirit,

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

3 John 1:4

There are so many moments when my heart will leap with joy or I feel a tugging deep within my heart that says I must repent of missed opportunities.  This simple, yet beautiful sentence rolled out both of these emotions. As a parent, I felt sad that I had not opened even one of my Bibles while I was raising my children. I attended church with them in attendance. They went to private school where they had daily teachings. We watched the truth portrayed with the Holiday movies about our Lord. We sang Christian songs in the car. Yet, I had not opened the Bible as my manual for raising them. Prayers were always placed in His loving hands, I just didn't have the Word of God to speak directly over them for their future. And then the world crept in...

...as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you,

as a father does his own children,

that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into 

His own kingdom and glory.

1 Thessalonians 2:11-12

The joy is in knowing that all things are possible. That we have the Word of God to be used all of the time in every situation. As it is written we are forgiven and given the "Sword of Truth," therefore, each day I can now speak God's blessings and truth over every one of my children and their children, as well as every generation to come. It is never too late... God's promises and blessings are still powerful yesterday, today, and tomorrow. He does not change. Therefore, I can walk with confidence that He is diligent in His watch over them. He is attending their hearts, minds, and souls. He will see them through to completion. And under the shelter of His wings, He will defend them as His own.

Today's devotional (Journey by  David Jeremiah), reminds us, "encouraging, comforting, and urging them to live lives worthy of God," will bring to fruition "the joy of seeing them walk in truth."  Grabbing moments to plant His word in our children's life requires nothing more than a desire to "attend" to their needs vs. what we need to be doing. Catching them at the right moment when we can tell them we are proud of their choice, decision, or action. Pointing out their strengths, gifts, and talents. Thanking them for their willingness to help... thanking them for their "heart of a servant," and praising them when they've accomplished a job that was well done. We can be prepared for their time of comfort... to hold them,  to reassure them of their "worthiness" and to share a verse from God whenever they are disappointed or discouraged.  It only takes a moment...

"Each day of our lives we make deposits in the memory banks of our children."

Charles Swindoll  

Daily Devotionals