Bible Discussion Thread

I need prayer. Prayer for my family to become closer and to become more closer to Christ.

Sister Keyonna

One thing I had GREAT success with in my home was instituting a daily "Family Time" (actually GOD-focus time) with my children (I was a single father at the time). This was a time wherein we'd gather together to read and learn the Word, discuss what is going on in our lives and openly pray for each other and for our family. This time period was NON-NEGOTIABLE; everyone had to attend on a nightly basis (usually around 7pm). Nothing was permitted to push Family Time onto the backburner (this is based on CHRIST's instruction that if we would put His kingdom FIRST everything else would basically fall into place).

This drew us closer together as a family and closer to CHRIST. Additionally, I gave them teachings on issues I knew would confront them as they progressed in life and in school. And I'm so glad I did.

As a result, I experienced essentially zero serious issues with my kids throughout their middle and high school years. Zero-rebellion. They turned out great and are doing great. And they've always shown the utmost respect and love for me as their father.

There's something extremely important about giving family members, especially kids, this nightly opportunity to express things they are going through. I know it means a lot to them to hear the other family members praying specifically for them and encouraging them. It's SO important!

If there's one thing I would recommend so strongly to all Christian couples (husband and wife) and Christian families, it is making this commitment and putting GOD FIRST in your home and relationships. IT WORKS.

Not only is it a "good idea", GOD COMMANDS us to do this. Please read and REFLECT on Deuteronomy 6.5-7. GOD DESERVES and DEMANDS more than our one-hour a week sitting in a pew. He is to be ABSOLUTE FIRST in our lives, in our hearts and in our homes...every day.

When we truly grasp this- that's the game-changer! GOD honors those who honor Him.

Brother James, such good advice. I wish we had been more diligent in this regard when raising our kids. This is one of my regrets as a parent, one that I have sought forgiveness for from our Lord. We could have done better in this way. We thought that God would preserve our children in faith that we taught and exemplified to them. We underestimated the power of the "world" and the evil one. And we did not see their defection from the faith they possessed in their late teens coming. We were pretty shocked by it, and had much remorse for where we had let them down even though we had done a very good job parenting them as a whole. But we had to face the fact that we could have done better. God loves our sons, and He is able to restore them to faith when He wills it. But we have had much heartache over this even though we place them into His hands each time we pray for them.

Thank you for sharing how you fulfilled God's command to teach our children properly concerning God and our relationship to him and being faithful in praying for one another. I hope that they continue this example in their own families and that others who still have young ones will prayerfully work at this most important aspect of training our children up in the ways of the LORD.

Amen to you .