What/who do your kids think you care about most?
“And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” Joshua 24:15
Joshua is talking with the people of Israel, recalling everything the Lord had done for them up until that point. Then he told them they needed to choose who they were going to serve: the god’s of their ancestors while they lived in Egypt, the god’s of the culture they lived in currently, or the LORD the one true God. It really boils down to this: will we follow God, or Satan? The devil doesn’t care who we think we’re serving, as long as we’re not serving God.
It’s a choice we need to make each day, and one we need to help our children make!
It’s something that we’ve had struggles with. We’d been having trouble with getting K to listen. If he didn’t like something, he’d immediately start throwing a tantrum, and there was no talking with him until he could calm down… which took a while. Many times I had to send him to his room because he was so loud, and wouldn’t calm down. He also wanted nothing to do with the kids classes at church, when he used to love going to them. We didn’t know what to do. Then a sweet friend told me about something she does with her kids, and told Joe the same thing a couple days later. That night, K decided he didn’t want to try a bite of dinner. A tantrum ensued, and he ended up in his room, yet again. I remembered what our friend said, and decided to try it.
Her idea was this: There’s two plans for us in each situation we are in – God’s plan, or Satan’s plan. Which will you follow?
There are always 2 plans - God's plan, and Satan's plan. Which will you follow? #RealFaith Click To TweetI don’t remember exactly what I said, but it was probably something like this: Are you going to obey God and follow his plan by obeying mommy and daddy? Or will you follow Satan’s plan and rebel against your parents?
Whatever I said, when I started talking to him he got extremely quiet; he listened and then when I was done, turned away from me (he was laying on his bed). It was amazing! I could tell he was really listening, and thinking about what I was saying. I told him when he was ready to eat his bite he could come down, and then I left. He stayed up there a bit longer, and then came down and ate his food!
We’ve since used this with his going to classes, and he hasn’t missed going to one (that we’ve been able to go to) since then. I’m so amazed! But I’ve also realized that I can’t only use this question with the boys, I need to use it on myself too. They’re watching me. Who do they see I’m following in hard situations? Situations I don’t like? Am I following the Lord? Many times, the answer is no.
Choose this day whom you will serve…
It’s a daily thing. We can always start new each day. Each minute! God’s grace and forgiveness are ready to be poured out on us. All we need to do is go to him in repentance. So, let’s choose this day whom we will serve; I want to be like Joshua and reply “as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.”