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I rarely keep New Year’s resolutions. My intentions are always good, but my follow-through could use some improvement! While buying groceries yesterday, I scanned my basket. I began scolding myself for not having healthier options for my children. Mixed in with the veggies and fruits were the frozen pizzas and sugary juice pouches.
Maybe my resolution for 2017 should be eating healthier….Wait! Yes, the Twinkies are on sale….
I am like most parents- great intentions but I get distracted when reality sets in. I have the tendency to set all these goals but make no plan to achieve any of it. And frankly, I’m sick of looking back and seeing time wasted. As I mentioned in my post on reflecting on 2016, I know this season is to pour into my family.
So instead of making resolutions that I may or may not keep anyway, I decided to change my attitude on a few things that were set in motion in 2016. Many of us know these are important but our attitudes need adjusting. And the good thing is I am only challenging you with TWO attitude adjustments for 2017!!! Read below:
Attitude #1
2016: I will talk to my children about God and be available when they have questions.
2017: I will take a proactive stance on teaching my children about God and His truth.
As parents, we often think when our children have doubts and questions, they will approach us. Sometimes they do, but often they don’t. It is our duty to teach our children God’s word. It is our charge to live God’s truth out daily in our own lives. I want to raise children that not only believe in God but are sold out for Him.
Resolution: Attitude #1 and #2 go hand in hand. Don’t wait until your family has a question related to faith. More importantly, don’t wait to teach them after they have been questioned by their peers for their faith. Be proactive in your teaching. Prepare them. For us, especially this past year, we are digging into Apologetics. I stumbled upon this type of study when teaching Rhetoric and Fallacy. Both books listed have really encouraged deeper discussions. I also often refer to another book specifically for parents. I think this particular book might help navigate deeper discussions and really help the parent to learn more as well.
Attitude #2
2016: The Bible is important.
2017: The Bible is important and we will study it as a family, as well as individually, to know God and His truth.
If I’m honest, I struggle with studying scripture. I often don’t know where to begin. I find myself skipping God’s word and putting a greater emphasis on praying to God. Both prayer and studying God’s truth are important and must be done. I want to study God’s word with my children on a daily/weekly basis. I want God’s Word to penetrate every area of our lives and when we seek answers, I want [it] to be the first place we turn. If I never introduce them to God’s Word and teach them how to study it, they will not fully understand God.
Resolution: I like devotionals and books such as the ones I have listed, but nothing replaces studying God’s Word. A mentor told me to pick a book of the Bible and read a chapter or so a night. He then told me to write down what God revealed to me. What verse or word jumped from the pages?
For 2017, my family has decided to start from Genesis and read in my Apologetics Bible I received at Christmas. Along with a chapter, we will read an article from a leading Apologetic teacher. (child friendly reads but still challenging.)
Let’s make 2017 a year we take back our families.
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