I often think of a dear mentor of mine (I think she’ll laugh at the thought…) when I am scrubbing the bathrooms. (No, this is not going to be more “potty talk”….click
here to read my post on the
“Throne Room”) I think of her because she often testifies to a time in her life when God spoke very clearly about her calling. It was during a period when she was a stay-at-home missionary’s wife/mother. One day as she was cleaning house, she began grumbling about her lot in life. It was at that time God clearly spoke to her with the challenge that her current calling was like no other. HE had given her 2 captive disciples - her children - for the next 18+ years. She would not be offered a more significant mission work than that!
I have to confess the start of the process to teach my own children to spend time with God and develop a relationship with Him was not exactly that spiritual...
Just before William turned two, he began waking early. His father is an early riser and my brother is an extremely early riser, (2 people he seems to take after) so I knew that it was not likely to work out for me to train him to sleep later. After seeking advice from the above mentioned mentor, Matt & I decided to try to teach him that he could get up when his alarm clock sounded. As he was still in his crib, this did not take long to learn, and the transition to a “big boy bed” was super easy! When he woke up in the mornings and after naps, he simply played with his animals, blankets, toes, etc. until the alarm beeped...then he came running out! Sometime just after he turned two, I decided that he had earned the freedom to have books in his bed. At night, I would place his Bible on his nightstand to look at/read in the morning. I wanted to make a distinct difference between this book and his others, so when he went down for a nap I would put a small basket of books (Bible excluded) on the nightstand.
Slowly, we began instructing him to “spend time with God” to start his day. He, of course, did not know what that was to look like, and I was hesitant to tell him. I did not want to put God in box for him. I am not sure how many times over the years, he has said, “Mom, tell me what to do.” And I have said, “Go back and just listen; God will tell you what you are to do.” He of course, sees Matt & I reading, journaling, praying, singing, listening, etc., but given my son’s bent towards legalism, I did not (& still do not) want him to think that there is a correct way to “have a quiet time”, and I certainly did not want him to miss God’s voice because he was trying to stick to a routine.
The Blessing: William felt the draw of the Holy Spirit and accepted Christ as Savior last September. During rest time, on a Sunday afternoon, William came to Matt and said, “Daddy, I need to have Jesus in my heart. Will you let me pray and ask Him to come in?” Matt said yes, but gave him no prompting. William’s words were the overflow of his heart. He confessed his sin, asked forgiveness, professed Christ and committed his life. Amen! Praise His name that HE draws man’s heart.
Now, as parents I do believe that we are called to instruct, lead and disciple our children, but personally we have not wanted our children to ever feel that they had to follow Christ because they were being obedient to us or manipulated by us. We have a set morning Bible study; we are in our 3rd year of reading through the Bible in the evening for family devotion; and of course, I am teaching Biblical percepts over the course of our day. However, I feel some of the best advice we have been given is “to allow our children to see us vulnerable before God, ask God questions and praise & thank God for who He is and what He does in our lives.”
Grace just turned 5 this summer. She has been asking very pointed questions over the last year and even raised her hand at our church Sports Camp to say that she would like to have Jesus in her heart. We are moving very slowly with Grace because as mentioned, I would never want to manipulate her or push her before she is mentally ready. Grace is my highly sensitive child, but also highly distracted. She has had the same above mentioned training with quiet time and “be still & listen”. However, 9 times out of 10 she has chosen the route of “play with animals, blanket & toes” rather than books or spend time with God. When we are having morning devotion or talking about spiritual things, she is always quick to say, “oh yes, I want Jesus in my heart”, but truthfully, I am praying for wisdom on how to proceed with her.
The Blessing: When she makes a decision for God, I know she will be certain of her choice and fully understand the commitment. We have had a few sweet glimpse of the Holy Spirit working in her life:
1) Grace has been a part of the preschool program for Bible Study Fellowship since she was two. One of the activities each week is teaching the children to listen to God. They have the children lie on their backs and simply pray/listen silently. One day shortly after moving into our house in Roanoke, I sent Grace to the playroom for room-time, but upon passing the room I thought perhaps she had fallen asleep. She was on her back with her eyes closed. However, as I watched her, I noticed she was surrounded by her dolls…all flat on their backs as well… Then she said, “Yes God, I love you, too.”
2) Were it not for a fiend of mine having testified to the exact experience, I would not have been in tune with how I feel the Holy Spirit has been trying to speak to Grace. However, I am thankful that I am continually reminded to be open to how God would like to move, because shortly after Grace turned 3 she came to me with the oddest news. “God spoke to me in my ear” she said. I asked her to explain. She said, “Like a whisper. I felt God in my ear. He said that I was to listen to Him.” Not wanting to seem surprised or doubtful, I simply encouraged her to listen to God. A few weeks later, I found her on her bed staring out the window. She said, “God spoke to me in my ear again. He told me to obey.” (So far, I liked the things that God was telling this child!) A few days later, as she was bouncing up the stairs, I asked her if God had been speaking to her in her ear. Her response was priceless…."No, I have to be still, quiet and listen to hear God. I have not had (made) time.”
Wow, what we can learn when we only take time to be still, quiet and listen! Notice, I said
take. We are all given the same 24 hours in a day. No more time will be
made especially for us. It is our responsibility to
take the time to do the things that we know are beneficial for ourselves and for our children.
I hope this has been encouraging to you personally or maybe as a parent. Christ wants a personal relationship with each of us. We do not become “Christians” simple because of our parent’s faith. It is a choice that each of us is called to make. Will we choose to accept Christ as savior and commit our lives to Him? I am praying for you and your children today.
I do not have all the answers. I am still on a journey of growth myself, and my children are yet young; however, anyone is welcome to email and ask further questions on what it means to have a personal relationship with Christ, how to grow in your relationship with Christ, ideas for teaching your children about God, etc. I will do my best, with Christ’s help, to answer any questions.
Growing In Him Each Day,
AT
“See how great a love the Father has bestowed on us, that we would be called the children of God; and such we are.” 1John 3:1
“Truly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become like children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18:3
Click 
I confess that more times than I would like to admit, I lack both patience & wisdom...and it would be a true assessment to say that in those times, I often end up with a stinky mess! 
Well, I am not sure there is anything more to say. Grace was excited to find Kitty, but I guess she is getting big too fast, and yes, I have to admit, I am getting old and sentimental.
