There is one question in parenting that has plagued me more than any other. Beyond the basics of *trying to* make sure that my kids are respectful, considerate, well-fed and rested, this one topic is something that has rolled around in my mind since our oldest was in my womb: how do I raise children who have an authentic relationship with God? How do I encourage them towards faith-filled boldness and a humble, undivided heart?

Nothing in parenting is sure. No formula can guarantee our children’s salvation and faithfulness. There are plenty of amazing Christian families with prodigal children; God has all of us in process. But I’m burdened by the sheer number of kids raised in the church that have memorized all the right scriptures and know all the right answers, yet their adult lives are largely unchanged. Some have left the church altogether while others are just showing up and checking the box off of their list of “ought to’s”.

This burden has me asking God: how do we raise a strong generation of men and women that are wholeheartedly committed to You? A generation that trades a churchy mask for a Holy Spirit boldness and love that will change the world. A generation that doesn’t see scripture memory and prayer as a measure of godliness, but as a tool for waging a successful war against the enemy for people’s souls, for our nation’s repentance and salvation.

Dozens of good thoughts, of right thoughts, can answer these questions. But I want to give you one that has continuously come to my attention during my priority times this month in the books of Genesis and Exodus. Even my pastor mentioned it in passing during the sermon Sunday when he said this: “God gives us symbols to remind us of the most meaningful things He has done in our lives.” Not only does God remind us, but He calls us to remind our children using these same symbols.

God told Moses to write about the defeat of the Amalekites on a scroll so that Joshua would remember. He told Aaron to save manna in a jar as a sign for generations to come so that they would remember God’s provision. He commanded the Israelites to consecrate every firstborn so the people would remember God’s deliverance. In the New Testament, He tells us to be baptized and take communion regularly, all to remember Christ’s sacrifice and our new life in him. The examples could go on and on.

God repeatedly uses concrete symbols to remind us of who He is and what He’s done. God understands better than we do our tendency to forget, and this forgetfulness is a spiritual cancer that leads us to either obey out of obligation (legalism) or turn to other things for satisfaction (idolatry). One of His solutions for our memory problem is something tangible that represents His power and faithfulness.

So here’s the practical step I’ve taken: I bought aquarium rocks at PetSmart and paint pens at Hobby Lobby. On the rocks I’ve recorded every significant move of God in our lives that I can remember. They all have key words and/or verses that help me remember prayers answered, lives changed, circumstances redeemed, and/or God’s character revealed. I’ve put the rocks in a bowl on one of our living room tables. In the future when my kids ask me what they are, I can use each rock to tell specific, personal testimonies about a God that is still alive and active today.

Bottom line: There is a gaping divide between the God of the Bible and what most modern-day American churches are actually experiencing. I believe this is the cause of the church’s rapid decline. My hope and prayer is that when the next generation sees personally the mighty hand of God as Deliverer, Redeemer, Healer, Comforter, Bondage-Breaker, and Provider, an unstoppable generation will rise up!

 

Most of us are in the midst of a very real struggle. Though our trials may have many flavors, one commonality unifies: the temptation towards hopelessness. Broken relationships. Devastating diagnoses. Prodigal children. Financial crisis. Infertility. Internal battles that no one may ever know or understand. All threaten to suck the life out of us, to lure us into defeat. They whisper lies about us and our circumstances that can render us paralyzed. How do we stand and fight this enemy of our souls when our arms are up, ready to wave the white flag of surrender?

I believe that Martin Luther King’s life gives great insight into this pressing question. He had to have been one of the most resilient men to ever live! I love listening to audio recordings of his speeches, pondering what it was that made this man press on despite all of the resistance he faced. He was undoubtedly brilliant, but not just because his mind was filled with knowledge. No, he was brilliant because he had trained himself to rise above temporary circumstances and fix his attention on the promise God had given him. With this vision, he pressed on through excruciating setbacks. He is quoted as saying, “We must accept finite disappointment but never lose infinite hope.” His life backed these words.

I believe ours can, too.

On the night before his assassination, he gave a speech in Memphis called “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop”. In the days prior, he’d faced extreme difficulty and numerous death threats. His final public words give great insight into how he was able to stand unwaveringly despite all of this:

“Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I’m not concerned about that now. I just want to do God’s will. And He’s allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I’ve looked over. And I’ve seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the promised land! And so I’m happy tonight. I’m not worried about anything. I’m not fearing any man! Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord!”

This mountaintop reference is symbolic of Moses’ encounter with God on Mount Nebo. God showed Moses all of the land surrounding him and made a promise that his descendants would possess it. MLK, like Moses, speaks of a similar mountaintop experience with God where he had been given the promise of success for his people.

Martin Luther King’s unshakeable confidence, his fearless resolve, came from his encounter with the Promise Maker. One brush with God- one experience of His glory- one word from His mouth- and suddenly fear was defeated. Discouragement was buried under a mound of hope. Doubt was swallowed up by belief.

Charles Spurgeon once said, “I have learned to kiss the wave that slams me into the Rock of Ages.” May our struggles cause us to draw near to the Lord. May they make our ears attuned to a promise from His Word that will bring renewed hope, belief, and resolve. Seek Him through His Word and prayer. He will never turn away those desperate for His presence.

“My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart you, God, will not despise.” Psalm 51:17

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21

 

I’ve believed in Jesus for as long as I can remember. As a little girl, each time my family and I went to church, I’d repeat the salvation prayer with the pastor at the end of the sermon. I guess I wanted to make sure it took the first 10 times! Even with this intellectual belief, though, there was no real life change. My heart still desired the same things and my mind still relied on its own way to get them.

Last Saturday morning, my eyes were opened to new meaning behind a well-known account in the book of Genesis. A man named Jacob, a child of God and heir of the covenant promise, also had an intellectual belief that hadn’t changed his behavior. He habitually relied on manipulation and deceit to get what he wanted. As was common in this day, his life reflected the meaning of his name: “he deceives”. How’s that for an omen?

What I find interesting, though, is what God used to change Jacob. Here’s what happened in a nutshell: Jacob is met by a man that wrestles him all night. The man couldn’t overpower him, so he gives Jacob a dislocated hip. The man changes his name, and then it dawns on Jacob that the man was actually God. Weird. But what does this have to do with life change? Here are some things I believe are worth noting:

1. God brought Jacob to a point of exhaustion. A typical collegiate wrestling match lasts only seven minutes, but by the time it’s over, these tip-top athletes are panting and dripping with sweat. Jacob wrestled God All. Night. Long. In effect, God wore him down. God had to first rid Jacob of his own strength before true life change could be birthed.
2. God gave Jacob a weakness. Even after all of this wrestling, Jacob still refused to submit to his Contender. So scripture says that God “touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man.” Since Jacob wouldn’t give up through exhaustion, God stepped it up a notch and gave him a weakness that encouraged submission.
3. God prompted Jacob’s repentance. Giving another person your name during Jacob’s time was an act of yielding. God asked his name, and Jacob finally surrendered and admitted his sin of self-reliance. “Deceiver (Jacob)”, he answered.
4. God changed Jacob’s name. After God exhausted Jacob’s self-reliance and prompted his confession, the soil was ready for God to plant a new seed in Jacob’s life. He changed his name to Israel. In doing this, God changed his trajectory from deceiver to overcomer. No longer would he rely on control, manipulation, and deceit to obtain a blessing; his reliance would be on God alone.

If you, too, are worn out from your own way, I encourage you to hear God’s loving invitation from James:

James 4:6-10 (Amplified)

Therefore, it says, “God is opposed to the proud and haughty, but[continually] gives [the gift of] grace to the humble [who turn away from self-righteousness].” ⁷ So submit to [the authority of] God. Resist the devil [stand firm against him] and he will flee from you. ⁸ Come close to God [with a contrite heart] and He will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; and purify your [unfaithful] hearts, you double-minded [people]. ⁹ Be miserable and grieve and weep [over your sin]. Let your [foolish] laughter be turned to mourning and your [reckless] joy to gloom. ¹⁰ Humble yourselves [with an attitude of repentance and insignificance] in the presence of the Lord, and He will exalt you [He will lift you up, He will give you purpose].