My devotional was on point today, since it is Father’s Day! Of course the sermon today was directed at fathers, but there were a lot of good points that I want to use for myself.

A father is someone to look to for direction. Someone to go to for Fatherly advice, and someone who will demonstrate the love of God. I am not a parent, but I am an aunt. From this point on, substitute “person” for father.

I want to be a more proactive Christian influence in the lives of the children around me. I want to demonstrate the love of God, our father and learn to Respond, not React; to speak the truth IN LOVE ( borrowed from pastor John).

Ephesians 6:4

4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, (A)but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

What does that look like?

We need to do whatever it takes to give our kids a fighting chance in a world that wants to destroy them. This is tough, especially now that we are living in a world that screams to our kids to do whatever they want. Kids are being medicated and over medicated, have developed untruths about sexuality and personhood that are so far outside the biblical realm that I’m surprised a rain of fire has not yet destroyed us all.

God is in charge. The destiny of our children is in God’s hand. The Lord gave parents a wonderful role to play in their children’s faith life, but we must realize that God, not us, is the source of that faith.

We can commit a child to God, knowing that God will deal salvation-wise with him or her in his time.

Salvation is by God’s grace. Your child’s faith-decisions are between him or her and God’s Holy Spirit.

I feel helpless when it comes to some of the kids in my own life. I am a no-one to them and had no part in raising or passing my beliefs to them, helping them become next-generation Christians. My influence in their world has only brought anger and cruelty. So I pray for them. I love them even when I can’t condone their lifestyle choices.

The overall goal is for our children to have a desire of their own to follow God, not a desire for the world.

I want to take my roll as a Christian seriously, leading a new generation to Jesus. The next generation… what else is worth investing in?

Dear God, help me be a positive influence to the children in my life. Give me the wisdom to give advice based on biblical reason and not worldly things. Please God, help me keep my mouth shut when I need to and to always be someone with open arms when needed.

James 1:5

5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God,(A) who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.(B)