A Spiritual Shift In The Next Generation

Hello parents, I guess the theme of this blog is “Summer is over, back to real life”. This is not only true for the kids but is even more true and needed for the parents. As adults we can be creatures of routine and when our schedule is disrupted by summer, day camps, and family vacations we many times are distracted from what is most needed in or own lives and our children’s lives. There is a great need to get back in Church, get back to a consistent prayer life, get back to reading our Bibles to our children and on our own. We need to get back to putting Jesus Christ first every single day. Why in the world would we let our kids go to school without equipping them with school supplies and lunch money? If we would not do that, then how much more ridiculous would it be to send them out into a dark, wicked world without covering them in prayer and saturating their spirit with the Word! Our kids need to be read the Word daily and they need to be in Church to hear the preached Word of God.
We all want better for our children than what we had. We all have dreams for our children, that they will fly higher than we have. We hope and pray that they will be more spiritual, live more holy, live in purity, and love God better than we did. But how will this happen? Lets be honest, we all know that this will NOT happen if we just stay out of the way and let our kids just be what they will be. The Bible says that “a child left to himself disgraces his mother.” (Proverbs 29:15) No, as Christian Parents we must take an active role in our kid’s lives. By “active role” I am not talking about soccer games, but if your child is in soccer or any other activity they need your love and support in it. What I mean by “active role” is active in a Biblical and Spiritual way.
In the 1700’s the “Puritans” lives were very different and the way they raised their children was on a basis of understanding “original sin”. They understood that their children were born into sin and that discipline and love was the basis for driving sin out of them. This discipline was enforced out of love for their children, not out of anger, bitterness, or resentment towards their kids. In 2010, parenting in our American Christian culture is very different than that of the Puritans. In the days of old they didn't believe in the “terrible twos”, “psychological stages, or ADHD. All they knew was what the Bible said, “A youngsters heart is filled with foolishness, but physical discipline will drive it far away.” (Proverbs 22:15) They believed in hugs, hard work, quality family time, and spankings. As a result, children grew up knowing and loving God, respecting and honoring their parents, and growing to become moral, hard working, God fearing adults. The Prophet Jeremiah said “...ask for the old Godly way and walk in it…” (Jeremiah 6:16) That is what I believe needs to happen in our kid’s lives so that there can be a “Spiritual Shift in the Next Generation”! The Bible very clearly gives instruction on how we as parents can put this “shift” into motion. I want to challenge you to very carefully read the following passage and study it out…

Psalm 78:1-8 NLT
“O my people, listen to my instructions. Open your ears to what I am saying, or I will speak to you in a parable. I will teach you hidden lessons from our past— stories we have heard and known, stories our ancestors handed down to us. We will not hide these truths from our children; we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the LORD, about his power and his mighty wonders. For he issued his laws to Jacob; he gave his instructions to Israel. He commanded our ancestors to teach them to their children so the next generation might know them— even the children not yet born— and they in turn will teach their own children. So each generation should set its hope anew on God, not forgetting his glorious miracles and obeying his commands. Then they will not be like their ancestors— stubborn, rebellious, and unfaithful, refusing to give their hearts to God.”

I love you all and I hope that you are blessed, educated, and encouraged by this blog. I am simply sharing what I believe God has put into my spirit to share with you. Please call me, email me, or text me with your prayer requests and needs. I love you and want to be a blessing to your family. After you study out this passage let me know what God shows you about being a parent who teaches their children to walk in the “old Godly way!”