1. Makes kids wise for salvation (2 Timothy 3:15)
2. Thoroughly equips them to do good works (2 Timothy 3:17)
3. Prepares them to respond to those who ask about their hope (1 Peter 3:15)
4. Readies them to withstand the culture’s onslaught that attempts to indoctrinate and deceive them (Ephesians 6:10-18)

After the Lord freed the Hebrews from slavery, Moses knew that God’s people needed a dramatic paradigm shift regarding parenting. He implores parents to do whatever it takes to train their kids about walking in God’s ways: ‘Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and your gates’ (Deuteronomy 6:7-9).

• His people would live safely in the land (Leviticus 25:18)
• All would go well with them (Deuteronomy 12:28)
• God would bless them in the land (Deuteronomy 30:16)

I had the privilege of speaking to moms in several villages in Uganda last week. Uganda has the 2nd highest fertility rate in the world – 6.65 children born/woman.  What do you say to them about training their children spiritually when the physical needs of clothing, shelter, and food are so overwhelming?   Elaine Moody spoke before me and told the ladies about how everyone of us must relate to God with our spirits (John 4:24)
This led right into my speaking to them about training their children’s spirits to be sensitive to God.

I shared with them about Samson’s parents who asked how to order their son and the only instruction given was what the mother was to eat during pregnancy.  This led us to examine the fact that there are 9 fruit of the spirit and 9 months of pregnancy.  Meditating on one fruit of the spirit each month and praying that fruit for your unborn child can help his spirit grow as his little body grows. (see previous blog post on this subject)

I told them that Deuteronomy 6 instructs us to teach our children as we lie down, as we rise up, and as we go.  I showed them pictures of things they might see, hear, taste, touch, and smell.  I sang songs they could sing with their children to remind the children that God has given them the senses to enjoy His beautiful world.  I told them to involve all their senses in helping their children learn about God.

I don’t know how much the moms took away from the time we had together.  I can only pray they caught the passion to train their children’s spirits to relate to Christ . . . for He is our only hope whether we live in a well-built home in America or a mud-brick home in Uganda.

I am writing this post from Jinja Africa, loving and being loved by children who may never know the wonderful privileges we are blessed with in America. Please remember to tell your children why we celebrate. Make them aware how blessed we are!!!

Check out these sites for ideas:

http://www.trainupthechild.org/2011/07/01/why-we-celebrate-the-fourth-of-july/

http://ministry-to-children.com/freedom-from-sin-lesson/