Alicia Searl
Make Disciples in a Volatile World
“And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others.” 2 Timothy 2:2
It is an honor to be able to disciple our children! While it can be a daunting task wrapped in a slew of challenges, God still chooses us to help our children grow and grow closer to Him. We are called to lead and train them up in the way they should go. By striving to set a firm foundation, we set them off into the world, knowing who they are and Who they follow.
While they will stumble and fall into God’s grace, as will we, thankfully, God equips our children (and us) with tools to make disciples. First and foremost, we have God’s living and breathing Word to lead us all. His Word comes to life as we proclaim it over our children. While we may share Scripture and read from His Word, our children do best by seeing it in action. We must model for them what it looks like to live for Christ and love others well.
How do we make disciples in a volatile world?
-Keep it simple and remember growth is a process.
-Help them learn and grow from their mistakes.
-Lead them to find their spiritual gifts, talents, and passions to share with others.
Seek God’s Approval Alone
“Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings or God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.” Galatians 1:10
It’s easy to sit around with other parents and compare notes. We yearn to seek advice, gain wisdom, and ensure we aren’t alone in this challenging parenting journey. But, if we aren’t careful, it can quickly turn into heavy conviction, misguidance, or hasty judgments.
God tells us that we are to love, support, and encourage one another (1 Thessalonians 5:11). We are also told that iron sharpens iron (Proverbs 27:17) in reference to not doing this life alone and coming alongside fellow brothers and sisters for mentorship and guidance.
Comparisons or trying to win the approval of others will only rob us of our purpose in parenting and steal our joy.
How do we seek God’s approval?
-Amid the challenges, God still choose YOU as their parent.
-Look at your child as a precious gift.
-Support your friends and applaud their efforts; we’re all just doing our best.
-Get involved with the right community that will encourage you to be a better parent.
Be Intentional
“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” Ephesians 5:15-16
Distractions are everywhere. They are loud, and it has become rather obvious that we (as a society) have become rather good at tuning things out while getting sucked into things that are numbing and mindless. We are warned about this in the book of Ephesians. In the Scripture above, Paul reminds us that how we spend our time is invaluable to God.
As parents, we must be aware of these situations but also strive to be intentional about sharing the dangers and crippling effects that all of these distractions have on our whole body – heart, mind, and soul. From phones to social media to binge-watching shows, we must create space in our day to just be present with our families.
How can we be intentional?
-Look up and talk with your child, eye-to-eye.
-Set boundaries around technology for all members of the family.
-Allow for opportunities to engage with others without the use of any screen.
-Have fun as a family – get outside, make dinner together, and laugh together.
