One of the most powerful parenting verses is Deuteronomy 6:5-7. Over the next few days, we will go line by line. I’ll also be inviting you to share your wisdom. But let’s start with first things first in the fight for our children from the world’s pitfalls and trappings.
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart with all your soul and with all your strength.
These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.
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…”
We are not to entrust the spiritual growth of our children to the church or to a Christian school. It starts with US – THEIR PARENTS! We are commanded to love the Lord our God with all of our soul and with all our strength. God is to be our life – not our add on; or our Sunday morning family activity. Biblical living starts at home.
Do you love God with all of your heart, soul and strength? Be honest – do you?
I remember when I was first confronted with this question. My honest answer was, “Lord, I know I’m supposed to love You. But the truth is, I don’t. I don’t even really know You. In fact, I love my husband more; my children more; and sadly my stuff more. But I want to love You more. Help me.”
Please know that God does not mind your honesty. He welcomes it! Because when we get real with Him – it’s then that He can begin to work.
Over the years, God has honored this request. I can honestly write – that I love Him with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength. I know Him now – not as well as I’d like – but more than I knew Him then. And yes, I love Jesus more than I love my precious husband (whom I adore) and my children (who do nothing wrong! LOL!!!!! Kidding – had to throw that in!)
However, do you realize this passage is considered radical or fanatical in today’s world? Yet this is what God intends to be the norm for a healthy, functional home. The norm is not to be Sunday morning Christianity. Yet sadly, this is what I see – more often than not.
This is a short post – but we’ve got to get this first thing nailed down before we can move on.
If we want our kids to be sexually pure and not fall into the trappings of the world – it starts with us. And when God is only our Sunday morning God, we are in essence telling our children that the Bible isn’t really that important. That it really isn’t the final Word. But how we feel and what we want (world’s standards) is the final word. Oh girl, we’re in dangerous territory then.
Think about it… if the first step in the battle for our children is loving God… this is where you’ve got to start. He doesn’t mind your honesty.
I’ll let you chew on that for a while.
Friday: Role Models
Tuesday: Best Advice I’ve ever Been Given
Wednesday: Depravity Doesn’t Happen Over Night
I told you God lit a fire in my belly over this!
Have a great day:)
Tara, I have been "chewing on" this post for days now… honestly asking myself if I love God with ALL my heart, soul and strength. You are so right! It DOES start in the home and I do not want to give my children mixed messages by what I say at church and then watch on TV or do at home… If God really had ALL of my heart, those desires would diminish and His desires would be what I crave…
I taught our 1st thru 6th grade children a couple of Wednesday nights ago and the lesson had a quote by St. Francis of Assisi which said "Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words."
Between that quote and your "timely" posts… God is moving within my heart.