Come to Christ each Day

But those who hope in the LORD
  will renew their strength.
  They will soar on wings like eagles;
  they will run and not grow weary,
  they will walk and not be faint.  —Isaiah 40:31

The Bible frequently describes the Christian life using the language of warfare. We are to overcome evil with good. We are to fight the good fight. We are to put on the full armor of God. The Word is the sword of the Spirit. This imagery is not given to alarm us but to remind us that the world around us is not a friendly place for Christians. But while the world is not friendly, God himself provides refuge and encouragement.

The task of parenting is indeed a daunting one. It is a huge responsibility that can be overwhelming. Humanly speaking, it can even be frustrating. Where do we turn for support and relief?

 

In the last post we looked at Psalm 119:32. That passage pictures the child of God running joyfully and freely along the path of life as he embraces the commands of God. Often, this is not the attitude that first comes to mind about parenting. Renewed strength may seem like a fantasy to parents engaged in the daily struggle of confronting children with their need of a Savior.

Where do you begin? Realize that your own relationship with God must not be static, but growing. Tedd and Margy Tripp put it this way in Instructing a Child’s Heart:

The power of the gospel is not just for our children; it is for us. The power of grace in the gospel will cleanse us, forgive us, change us internally and empower us to be all that we need to be to instruct the hearts of our children... Come to Christ each day knowing that you can do all things through him who gives you strength. (187)

Recall this observation from the last post: if you think the Word of God is restrictive, your children will think the Word of God is restrictive. If you act as if obedience to Christ is a heavy burden, then you will not be the encouragement to your family that God calls you to be. If following Christ is drudgery to you, then others will have no desire to serve the God that you serve.

Before you pray for God to impact your children, you must pray for him to impact you. Flee to his Word to find refuge and strength in God. If your grasp of the greatness and glory of God is based only on vague memories from past sermons, don’t expect your children to be pleased at the prospect of obeying God.

Your appreciation and awe for God and his Son must increase, not decrease—God’s greatness must be more than an academic fact. It must be so much more than that! God’s greatness must be a relational anchor that gives you stability, providing strength and confidence for the challenges of parenting. Think of passages such as Isaiah 40 that speak of the power and greatness of God. For me, such passages as Deuteronomy 32:44-47;Psalm 46; Psalm 103; Psalm 139; Isaiah 40; Job 38-42; Eph. 3:16-20; Romans 8; and Revelation 21-22 help me to grow in my appreciation for the greatness and glory of God. No doubt there are passages that you can add to these. Why not take a moment to do so right now? As your children grow older, so must your own appreciation for God. If you are not growing in your amazement and wonder at God, the new challenges you face with your children will overwhelm you.

Let me know what passages help you to appreciate God and to grow in your awe of him. In the next post we will take a look at the glory of God and the price of gas.

Comments

[Emily]

1 Cor 13:4-8 is of particular encouragement to me during trials. "Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. LOVE BEARS ALL THINGS, BELIEVES ALL THINGS, HOPES ALL THINGS, ENDURES ALL THINGS. LOVE NEVER ENDS." Aren't we so blessed to receive from God all grace and sufficiency to be upright and loving in every situation?! What a WONDERFUL God!!!

[Jay Younts]

Great passage for the theme of this post. Thanks, Emily for this encouragement. The love of God does not fail!

[Dan Delavan]

I Corinthians 10, with the "pinnacle" of vs. 13. There are tons of dangers on the road, with some navigating them safely, and others being destroyed by them; BUT GOD IS FAITHFUL...