Training Up Children

One major thing that has been on my heart lately, well, really for over 6 years now - how to raise up children who truly love the Lord.  I know, even in this question, I have to trust God that he will reveal Himself to them, but I also know what Proverbs 22:6 says...

Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it. (NASB)

So how do I do this???
Sorry, this post is not going to answer that question, but hopefully give some encouragement.  I'm going to tell you about my 5 year old (soon to be 6...I have to add) and the encouragement he has been to me in this major quest.

For a few years now, I have felt that God was working in the heart of our little guy.  I could see things clicking, as much as they could for a child his age, in his understanding of God's plan of salvation.  I will never forget reading the Disney version of the Christmas Carol (in the summer, might I add) with him and he being so worried about being like Jacob Marley (in chains forever).  He understood that he was not always good (that he sinned)  and that he needed help.  Well, that was about 2 years ago and as I have watched him grow in understanding it has been so exciting.  We do Awana and he learns all his verses and listens to Bible stories and attends Sunday School and Children's Church.  But I was wanting to make studying God's word, more of everyday thing in our home with the boys, especially, the oldest.  Getting into that routine and knowing what and how to study with children so young was challenging for me, but what kick started it was Christmas.

I really try hard to make sure the boys truly understand Christmas for what it really is and not just for all the gifts, etc...  Don't get me wrong.  I LOVE Christmas.  I enjoy it and most of what goes with it, but most importantly, it's remembering that it is about Jesus coming to earth FOR US.  I am guilty of falling into the trap of commercialism, but I wanted to try my hardest to teach the kids the truths of Christmas.  So I did a daily bible study with them and we read from the "real" bible, not a children's bible and then we would discuss it.  (I'm not going to go into detail on this now, if you wand more information I posted it on my family blog site with each daily activity.)  My oldest loved this and just ate it up.  He wanted to know more every day.  He actually asked, so what will we be studying in January?  So it began, in January we studied prayer.  I did not do anything real formal.  We would just get out my bible and read what it had to say about prayer and then discuss what we felt God was trying to teach us.  No rocket science and because I'm teaching a 5 year old I didn't feel like I had to be a theologian.  Again, he asked, so what are we studying in February, "I really want to learn about Love"?  Well, I said, that sounds like a good topic for February.  And so we are currently studying what the Bible says about love (Song of Solomon excluded).

He is just drinking in God's Word and what it has to teach him.  I can see what he is learning, playing out in his life and attitude.  He wants to get out and tell others about Christ and desires to continue to grow and learn.

He asked for a bible like mine for his Birthday, which is coming up next month.  What a joy it is to see God grab a hold of a 5 year old's heart.

I have been shown so many things through this experience...

• Trust God, he can do amazing things
• Do depend on your own capabilities, let God take care of the details, just do what He has told us to do 
• I am reminded of the feeling of joy when I first understood God's plan of Salvation and the desire I had to read and learn more and more...and why do I not ALWAYS have that joy.  His truth hasn't changed!
• Pray, PRAY and continue to PRAY!!!
• Study His word so I can continue to learn what He wants from me
• Have discussions with my children...it's amazing what God can teach me though them!!!