This morning as I prepared my husband’s lunch for the day, I could hear as he played his audio Bible app. It’s rare for him to play it in the morning. He usually just reads but he read along with it this morning and I’m so glad. I love the book of 1 John. I immediately tuned in and listened. This verse stuck out to me.
Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father.
1 John 2:24
I’ve been quoting it since. This is a verse my girls memorized as littles. Then it hit me, the things they learned as a child has remained. They have chosen to make the things of the Lord their dwelling place. How did this happen? So many of the children that they grew up with are out in the world, not serving the Lord. It’s only by the grace of our Lord that these things remained in my girls.
Looking back here are a few things we daily did in our home to teach our girls to remain in the teachings of the Lord.
1. We were real. Every morning they saw Momma and Daddy reading and praying. They saw us in our best state and in our worse. Since they are adults they’ve shared with us how that they always saw us be the same at church, in public and at home. They knew that Christ lived in our hearts. They saw us make mistakes and saw us get right with the Lord. We apologized to them and to anyone no matter what. Be real, be genuine. This causes our children to abide, make a continual residence in the ways of the Lord.
2. We taught scripture. Every school morning we learned a new verse. we not only memorized it, we applied it to our lives. We found ways to show them that they could live the verses they were being taught. Not just have them in their heads, we wanted them in their hearts. As they’ve gotten older, they remind me of verses they learned and how the Lord has used it to help them. If we want our children to remain faithful when they become adults then we need to hide His Word into their little hearts.
3. We loved our girls. They were never a nuisance to us. We never talked down to them in critical words. Yes there were times we got frustrated and angry but we never took it out on them. We sent them to their rooms, we cooled down then went and handled the situation in love. Yes there were consequences for actions. They were shown from God’s Word why it was wrong. Then explained that by disobeying or whatever the offense this breaks momma and daddy’s heart. They received the punishment and then asked the Lord to forgive them. We never disciplined our girls out of anger, embarrassment, or frustration. Nor did we ever discipline them in public. We knew that it would only breed rebellion. God chastises us in love and we wanted them to see that attribute of Him in us. His love stands faithful and long suffering and as their parents ours should too.
4. We prayed with our girls. We didn’t have much when the girls were small but they will tell you of the times they saw answers to prayer. I still remember the times the Lord answered in big ways for our girls. They prayed for certain toys that we couldn’t afford to buy. God answered. They prayed with us for different needs, they saw the Lord provide. Today if I get in the mulligrubs they remind me of different times the Lord answered and encourage me to keep praying and trusting. There’s just something about it when my children remind me of God’s faithfulness and to continue to trust Him.
Have we been perfect parents? By no means not at all. We are sinners saved by grace. Just every day we chose let His Word change us and guide us. Now today that our first grandchild is on the way, we want to let those things remain in us. We want to show our sweet granddaughter who Jesus is. We want her to know Him and to love Him. There’s only one way and that’s if we let those things which we have heard from the beginning remain us and continue to grow in Christ.
*Disclaimer, I know that you can do all of these things and your child not choose to remain. It comes down to the choice of their heart. I’m not in any way saying what anyone has done is wrong. God guides each of us. I’m just sharing what worked in my home. But my friend, Stay faithful to pray for them. They do remember, it is in their hearts. God’s Word never returns void. Keep loving them and remain faithful!
❤🙌