Desire of Nations

SHIELD YOUR CHILDREN I

Specially the day that thou stoodest before the LORD thy God in Horeb, when the LORD said unto me, Gather me the people together, and I will make them hear my words, that they may learn to fear me all the days that they shall live upon the earth, and that they may teach their children. — Deuteronomy 4:10 (KJV)

Parenting is not an easy task; it is a demanding and challenging responsibility. The moment God gives a fellow a child, He has given that fellow an assignment, and the assignment is to train the child in a godly manner. Proverbs 22:6 says, "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it." Nowadays, parents often allow television, social media, and other forms of entertainment to shape their children's lives. Sadly, what they do not know is that there are numerous evils out there waiting to destroy the lives of children all over the world. This is why parents cannot afford to be careless. They must ensure that they shield their children from the deadly and demonic influencers that are out to destroy them and make them deviate from God's purpose for their lives. If you are a parent, then you are your children's first role model. Children are very observant; they typically remember what they see more than what they hear. They observe the actions of their parents at home and tend to replicate them. Therefore, you must ensure that you exhibit Christlike attributes at all times if you really want to train your children in the way of the Lord. I remember an occasion when a group of children were asked to sing a worship song each. When it was the turn of a particular woman's children, the three of them were unable to sing a worship song. I later discovered that their mother could also not sing a single worship song. Children typically imitate what they see their parents do, rather than what they are told to do. Some parents live so carelessly that they make it easy for the devil to visit their children. For example, if a parent feasts on immoral pictures and videos daily, it will be hard to protect his or her children from the sinful influences of the world. Also, if a parent watches skits and videos where vulgar language is used, the parent will find it difficult to shield his or her children from corrupt speech. Beloved, a city without walls cannot protect its inhabitants. If you are a parent, do not be like a city without walls for your children. Take your relationship with God seriously so that He can fortify, empower, and teach you how to train them up in the way they should go.