Are there areas of your life, priorities you have set- that you may be convinced God would approve of- but you have never asked Him?
Sometimes I just assume- of course God wants “such and such,” that only makes sense.
We do this a lot in rationalizing all the activities for our children- college funds, private school, advanced classes, camps and vacations. Trying to give them all the opportunities we never had.
Parents are rushing their children from one activity to the next at a dizzying pace- guilt many times leading the charge. We want to give them every opportunity- make sure they have all the tools they need to be successful.
But I have started to wonder…what does God think about all this rushing?
We only have this one life. Are we sure that spending our time in those pursuits truly honors God? Or is this what our culture- our society- tells us we should do.
Each family is different. All of our children are unique gifts from God. There is not a universal answer to this question that applies to all.
No blanket statement that can cover everyone except one. If you claim- As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord- then our schedule should also be under the Lordship of our God and Savior Jesus Christ.
We should ask and seek Him as we make decisions about how we spend our time- and how our children spend their time. We are teaching them, always teaching them about what’s important.
How we spend our time is a powerful witness to what our priorities are and where we place our faith.
So I asked myself, what’s the biggest priority for my children?
As Christian parents, what’s the most important thing we can teach our children?
A life submitted and obedient to God, seeking to bring Him glory.
That’s the way I want to live, that’s what I want to teach my children.
Seeking God comes first.
That means that spending time in the Word with my children and on my own daily is a priority.
Honoring my husband and being a Godly wife is a priority.
Memorizing God’s Word with them and on my own is a priority.
Seeking God through prayer with my children and being obedient to His leading on their behalf and in my own life is a priority.
Serving my children and teaching them how to serve- using my gifts to serve is a priority.
As I make plans, I have found God speaking to me- through His Holy Spirit and through His Word- are you submitting these plans to me? Acknowledging my Lordship in your life over all?
There are some things where I feel the temptation to say- this is just what I need to do, Lord, or this is what we are “supposed” to do for our kids. (Everyone else is doing it…)
But I feel Him calling, asking- Do you have the courage to question what everyone else does?
To lift everything up to Him, to lay it at His feet- and if God says No- to obey?
It comes down again to the fundamental question.
Do we believe that God knows best? (Do we Trust Him?)
Or do we still think that we know better? That we have greater insight into what we need or what our children need than God?
Proverbs 16:9-In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.
It’s ok for us to have a plan- to set goals- to be intentional and thoughtful about how we live our lives. As long as we are always willing to submit to God in obedience when He steps in and changes our plans.
We need to live willing to allow God (through His Word and the Holy Spirit- or another Christian) to speak to us and through that change our priorities or our life’s direction.
Matthew 6:33-34
33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Do we truly believe it? Or do we walk away after reading verses like this and continue to make our own plans without praying and seeking God?
James 4:13-17
13 Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” 14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15 Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” 16 As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil. 17 If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.
When we willingly submit ourselves to God in all areas of our life- we are acknowledging- our lives are yours- use us as you will. We trust that you know best for us, for our family.
God, you know our hearts. You can discern our motives and see clearly the entire course of our life. May we willingly submit to your leadership, trusting that you know what’s best. In submitting to you God, I pray that our lives may be a testimony that honors you and draws others close to you as they see us submitting our lives in obedience to our Savior.
As we step out of the pattern of the world and seek to be transformed by the renewing of our minds- give us courage. Change can be tough. Oh Lord give us eyes to see those areas of our life where we are just wasting time- our priorities are wrong- we need to weed some things out. When we hear your Holy Spirit speaking to us- may we in humility accept your Will for our life. Silence our excuses and rationalizations Lord. May we recognize when we are making excuses for sin and missing out on the rich blessings you long to pour into our lives. Thank you Lord- that as we humbly and fervently seek You- You are faithful. We pray all these things in the power and authority of Jesus Holy Name, Amen.
