Training

Each year in March, we turn on our television and see college basketball teams battle it out, doing their best to win each bracket.  Every team wants their chance to play for the NCAA championship game, but only one will win.  We call it “March Madness”, and even the nominal fan starts asking “Who is in the big dance this year?” meaning, who has made it to the final four?

These teams didn’t just wake up one morning and play top notch basketball.  Most of the teams, (although loaded with talent) aren’t skilled enough to make it to the final four.  Only the ones who are trained are ready for the championship game.  You have to be mentally, physically, and emotionally ready for a challenge like that.  Years of hard work and training are invested.

Why do we treat our children differently?  Proverbs 22:6 states “Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.”  In other words, train your children in the Lord.

As Christian parents:

• Pray with your children!  If you pray (out loud) with your children everyday, it builds their faith.  They learn from an early age that their parents believe in a living God (although unseen) and they will trust in God too!
• Read your Bible with your children.  Spend time explaining and sharing the stories from the bible with your kids.  Talk about Noah, David, Moses, Jesus, etc. with them when you ride in the car.  Unplug the Wii and Xbox.  Plug into God’s word.  Engage your children daily and keep the Bible in front of them.
• Ask them Questions.  Children respond to situational questions.  Ask them “What do you think about __________?”  Make them stretch their spiritual minds and make God applicable to their lives.
• Make God a priority!  If you spend your Sundays at the baseball or soccer field and skip church, what message does that send to your kids?  The answer is “God is optional!”  What you do now affects them for the rest of their life.  Lead by example and show them that your relationship with God is the most important thing in life.  It should be theirs too!
• Don’t expect the Church to do your job!  If you expect your local church to teach your child everything about God and His word, it will never happen.  It starts at home.
• Love your spouse.  Your children are looking at you to see how you treat their mother/father.  How you treat your spouse directly correlates how your child sees God.
• Fathers, remember that you are and earthly example of your children’s heavenly Father.  If you break promises to your children, they will grow up and see God as a God who doesn’t keep His promises.  If you are not affectionate with your kids, they will grow up and think God doesn’t love them.  If you are abusive (verbally or physically) with your children, they will grow up and see God as a bully.  What you do now will shape your children’s relationship with God for the rest of their life.

It’s a tall order.  Don’t expect your child to just wake up one day and be a mature Christian.  Train them and put in the time.  You’ll be glad you did.