Have you heard or made these types of comments:
” I don’t want to raise kids in this culture! Look how horrible the world is!”
“Technology is ruining our lives!”
“I feel sorry for my kids having to grow up in this world!”
“I am so glad I wasn’t a kid in todays culture!”
We all have heard this, or said it ourselves (I am guilty of this!). And truly, up until recently I was saying these comments on the REGULAR! BUT, I heard a great inspiring man of God encourage us as parents to STOP condemning the future (our kids)! We need to be lifting them up! We need to be showing all the positive, great opportunities that this next generation gets to embrace! YES, we need to teach care, discretion, and provide healthy boundaries! But at the same time not look at the future in FEAR but with FAITH!
I know biblically speaking that the world will continue to have sin, and that sin will progress, even though there is nothing new under the sun, as we get close to the end times, we need even more to be aware of the devils schemes. I also know biblically speaking that the world is going to come to an end, and in the end times life is going to continue to have heightened trials and tribulations. Today we are closer to the end then yesterday and it will continue to get closer and closer each day! However, even though I know that is TRUTH, I also know TRUTH in the word of God says,
Psalm 118:6
The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?
Deuteronomy 5:5
Do not be afraid of them; the Lord your God himself will fight for you.
Proverbs 3:21, 23-24
My son, preserve sound judgment and discernment . . . Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble; when you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
Isaiah 12:2
“Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.”
Do NOT be afraid! God speaks this message to us LOUD and clear in his written Word! THEREFORE, I CAN NOT AND WILL NOT CREATE FEAR IN MY CHILDREN! Words are powerful and the more we say them, the more our kids will embrace them! So do we want to cultivate a spirit of fear or do we want to cultivate a spirit of faith, faith in the promise that Jesus has given us!
In fact, while listening to this man of God, Isaac Toplin he helped me open my eyes to what I was missing about the AWESOME OPPORTUNITIES that this next generation has! Opportunities like:
- Being about to reach a MASS amount of people, through the internet, Facebook live, blogs, podcast, Vlogs and MORE! What a time for a revival! Our kids are growing up in a time of life where they will know how to reach the masses, and we want to encourage them with the message they want to spread!
- Entrepreneurship!! There are so many more opportunities for this coming generation with technology and new engineering ideas coming up. More and more people are being able to have home business and small business, allowing them to be able to be home with their families more! Stay at home moms even have an opportunity to be part of encouraging others all while still being able to embrace their calling of being home with their kids!
- Being a Dreamer and Creator, thinking about how with the amazing technology advances, that if we can teach how to dream up ideas they are in the generation that can actually create them! Thinking about 3D printers for example (something that can seem intimidating to me), the next generation will be thriving in what they can do with those, and we want to teach them not to fear it but to use that technology for God’s Glory. I read the other day the amazing body parts they are 3D printing, even at the local hospital by me: OHSU. They are using them for all sorts of things: from a lady born without a ear, to open heart surgeries using values made of the patients cells instead of a pig or a cow value, like they have done in the past. Some amazing work is being done, and honestly it can terrify me a bit, but I need to figure out a way to dream with my kids, and show them the possibilities not the limitations I see.
God’s work in our lives and in the world is NOT OVER YET! So I for one, need to stop acting like my generation is the last “good” generation. YES there are BAD people in the world, YES there are a LOT of bad things in the world, but NO, I can NOT fear, NO, I can NOT let worry consume my life. If I fall victim to worry and fear, I will be imparting worrying and fear into my kids and setting them up for failure as they become the leaders in this next generation!
WE ARE RAISING THE FUTURE
AMEN!
If you want to check out the video Isaac made about this topic that was so inspiring to me check it out HERE!
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Great words of truth. While the world keeps on going its way, God remains the same, faithful to his followers, and powerful to overcome. Thank God the children of this generation can count on him to be “The Almighty” just as he has always been. And that is what our words ought to focus upon.
So true! If we as parents raise our children in an upright manner, they will be raised in a world that glorifies God.
AMEN!