Theme: What every child needs
Weekend Music links on iTunes: Today Is The Day, Holding Nothing Back, Jesus Paid It All, I Will Follow
Read: Psalms 78:2-8
Think: Parents, believe it or not, your kids actually do listen. They actually remember what you've taught them in life whether these lessons were taught directly or indirectly. I recently went over to my parents' home and helped with some chores. I began vacuuming and by habit, I started around the perimeter. My mom asked me, "why do you do it that way?" I replied, "because thats the way you use to do it when I was a child."
Yes, what a random thing to learn from my mom but the point is this, many times parents underestimate their child's willingness to learn from their parents. As a matter of fact, studies show that kids learn, pick up habits, mymic and act like thier parents without even knowing and trying- this is why at some point in your life, your friend will say, "you're just like your mother/father!" and you will freak out because you're offended AND you realize it's the truth.
What does this tell us? Start teaching your children now to build spiritual habits and the best place to start is with yourself. Parents always dream of the "perfect" child and they frequently say to their kids, "why dont you ever ________." Well parents, let me ask you this... "do you ever _______?" Do you set the example? Do you do what you ask of your children?
If the answer is "no," it's not too late. If you want your children to develop spiritual habits, let them see you do it first. Develop your own spiritual disciplines. Make it a priority in your life to be intentional about praying, reading your bible and let God's love in you overflow onto your children by you loving them, forgiving them, not comparing them, encouraging them, complimenting them, randomly hugging them- you get the idea and when your kids see that you are passionate about God- your passion will be cantagious and your kids will see the importance spiritual habits.
Do: Make a short list of the ways you want your kids to build spiritual habits. Then see if you do these. If you don't, do it for a week and let your kids see you do it. Then ask them to join you or do it themselves in their own private space. The idea is, don't ask them to do anything until they see you do it first.
Pray: God, help me to do the things I want my kids to do. Give me the strength and discipline to build my own habits so my kids can see the importance of it. Amen.
The eDevotional is written each week by a team of volunteers from Timberlake Church.