our cultivated life: follow me {intentional training}

January 25, 2013

follow me {intentional training}

Our children are little sheep.

Little sheep who are following their mama sheep who needs to be following the Shepherd.

We need to be saying to them, "follow me..as I follow Christ."

It has been heavy on my heart lately just how much our little ones are looking for direction.

Their little hearts are seeking for something to follow, someone to imitate. They need direction. It is our job to lead them in order to keep their "heart on the right path." (Proverbs 23:19) This is the most important job we have as mothers.

The heart is so central to our being. It is the source for our thoughts, fears, desires and prayers. Scripture gives great significance to the role of the heart.

"The heart is the wellspring of life." Proverbs 4:23

Mamas. Our children are looking to us for leading. Their hearts are made for worship. If we don't instruct them in the truth and reveal to them God's purpose for them to know Him and enjoy Him, the little idol factories of their hearts will seek out selfish objects for this worship. It is our ultimate job to pour truth into their little hearts and show them the path to follow.

We are leading them through the daily instruction we are providing. Here is the key. We are instructing our children whether we are being intentional about it or not. What we say and what we do teaches, whether positively or negatively. The way in which we react to others, the things we fill our time with, the attitudes we exhibit. All of these instruct our children.

We are always teaching and they are always learning.

Life is a constant classroom and our homes are a place where our children are constantly learning. We must teach them diligently according to Deuteronomy 6:7. As we sit in our homes and walk out among the world. When we are lying down and as we are rising up. Basically, all of the time and in everything that we do! We are to instruct them in truth and righteousness. Scripturally how they are to live, think and believe. We must teach them to love the Lord with all of their heart and to love and serve others.

I think it is so easy sometimes to grow weary and complacent in our mothering. Telling the little toddler at our feet the same instruction day after day. Dealing with sin issues in our preschoolers and older children and wondering why they haven't "gotten it" yet when it seems to us as though we are a broken record repeating the same instructions day after day.
But maybe we are the ones missing the point. Maybe we aren't aiming for their hearts. Yes, I think that might be a huge factor. I know it is for me. You see, they aren't going to "just be good" for the same reasons that we still struggle in sins. We all need rescuing and praise God there is a Savior who is able to do just that!

Mamas, we MUST be following after Christ because He is the ultimate example for how to live. If we simply follow Christ, then our little ones will be on the path with us. And by His grace, day by day, we will grow more into the likeness of Him.