The myriad of emotions reach new levels this year as the kids anticipate the beginning of a new school year. Routines return and minds learn. Not that they aren’t learning during the summer months, but I think it’s a different kind of learning. Each school year brings different concerns such as all the classmates, teachers and others who will now return to influencing my children on a daily basis.
I am trying to teach my children to seek the Lord but how do I do that while they are in school? They learn by repetition, seeing my example, and experiencing something as in hands-on learning. I know seeking the Lord in school is something they will have to learn by experiencing it alone. I talk about it before and after their day but they still have to go about doing it alone. Now throw in their friends and classmates who may not hold the same values as I do.
Negative Peer pressure. While I am to reach and save the lost…and my children are no different, do I instill these values in them? Sometimes I wonder if it goes in one ear and out the other. This summer I think the kids heard and listened to me less than 50% of the time. What makes my children different than those who may not know the Lord? They are ‘good’ kids but face it, does that mean they are saved? …Everyone is a kid once. I know what it’s like. Sometimes I gave myself more negative ‘peer’ pressure than my friends and classmates would.
CNN article by John Blake comments on Kenda Creasy Dean’s book “Almost Christian.” She draws conclusions after conducting a study of Christian teenagers who were actually “indifferent and inarticulate about their faith.” Are the teenagers becoming ‘fake’ Christians? Not only does it concern me because I have a tween (age 10-13 year old) but because of all the teenagers who are our future.
Back to basics. How do I teach someone to seek the Lord? For the answer, I have to consider the following:
- How do you find what you don’t know you are looking for?
- How do you find when you can’t see what you are looking for?
- How do you find if you can’t hear what you are listening for?
- How do you find when you can’t feel and are numb?
- Why find something you don’t know you need?
Students (and not just students!) may or may not know about the treasure available to them in Jesus Christ. They may not be looking or listening. They may be too numb from all the violence in television, video games, and movies. They may be numb to worldly views because it is so widely accepted. They may not care because they are stubborn. Jesus has been there this entire time but they may not know it. I can teach them all day long but only Jesus can do something about it.
JESUS CHRIST CAME TO SEEK THEM!
Isaiah 65:1 “I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me; I was found by those who did not seek me.”
Luke 19:10 “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”
He seeks the lost. He seeks to save us. He seeks each and every one of us whether we are older or younger or in between the years. He seeks all of us. In school and out. HE SEEKS US FIRST.
I know He seeks me. I seek Him. I’m comforted that He also seeks my children. But I’m a mom. I want to help. How can I help my children and hopefully in the future my grandchildren or any other children I want to help?
2 Chronicles 7:14 “If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”
Humble myself. Pray. Seek His Face. Turn from my wicked ways.
Pray. Pray. Pray some more. Pray without ceasing. Pray with them. Intercede on their behalf to the Lord.
Moms in Prayer offers the opportunity to do just that. A small group of moms/grandmas meets at 6 pm on Wednesdays in Sunday School wing behind Kids.Christ to pray four steps of prayer: Praising God, Confession (silent), Thanksgiving, and Intercession. Come to pray with us or pray on your own. We need to cover the children in prayer. We need to cover our schools and our community in prayer.
~Shelley Rindfuss
