Last night Teresa had a very sad yet revealing discussion. A young lady has been displaying her heart for all the world to see. Posting all kinds of PDA and language on her web page. We have heard she is dabbling in some drugs and alcohol, so Teresa called to talk to her mother.
This is where the sadness comes in. Her mom asked Teresa to talk to the young lady and give her some Bible verses, because "she doesn't know her Bible that well". Mom knows this is not the way she wants her daughter to go, but doesn't want to make waves or set boundaries and lay down the law. She is just letting her do whatever she wants.
For sure it is up to God to draw our kids to Himself. But for sure we are stewards of their young souls. We need to do everything we can to bring them to Him and He has to do the work of saving them, but WE NEED TO WORK AND FIGHT FOR THEM!!
This young lady went to the movies and her father picked her up and she kissed her boyfriend on departure.
Dads are the gate keepers for their children, especially the daughters. As dads we had better make it very difficult for some young man to get physically connected with our daughters. We can't make it impossible for them to get away with anything, but they should have to openly rebel, and show their spiritual deadness, in order to be pleasing the lust that is crouching at their heart's door. Young men should be very afraid of over stepping their bounds when it comes to the hearts and bodies of our daughters.
Parents, don't waste all you have learned from when you were younger. Remember what you did and how you did it and use that as ammo to fight for the hearts of your kids. We are in a battle for the hearts of our kids. When you are in a battle and people are shooting at you, there is no time for sleep, no time to relax and no taking days off. Sin and the evil one don't take time off and they are trying to take your kids hearts away from them. Be sober, be vigilant!!
The spiritual health of our kids depends on how we engage in this fight. Be warriors. Ask for help. Be nosy. Make them uncomfortable, if that what it takes, but get in the middle of their lives and stay there. Pray for their salvation everyday.
3 comments:
Amen, Chuck.
I agree that we need to work and fight for them. We as fathers must lead the way to the Lord.
We must lay down rules that would honor our Lord, Jesus Christ. If the child breaks the rule there should be discipline given for the disobedient child.
I also think there are times when we should allow a child to fly solo (in certain events) to see their hearts and what they reveal to us.
But in the end we must pray as everything depends on God, and work and fight as everything depends on us, fathers and mothers.
There is a battle going on in the hearts of man, we must not forget why we are here, and we must keep our hearts on the gospel!
Amen, and Amen!
Good words. And even when we pray, seek God and do the best that we know how, a child might still turn away.
My brother turned away from the faith for over 30 years, a true heartbreak for my parents and our family. God brought him to repentance a few days before his death. God used my father who was so burdened for his son. He read the Bible each night as my parents provided care for their cancer-ridden son and asked each night if he would like to pray. On that special night, Garry prayed, and I got to hear part of his beautiful prayer of repentance.
Parenting never ends, it just changes focus.
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