(Not going to make friends here, but that is okay, every soul is bound for heaven or hell. Eterntiy is at stake.)

Your children have an eternal soul.

Those words hit me hard. Of course I know that, but for some reason, that statement jumped off the pages. No doubt I have heard those words multiple times, but the ability to guide them toward their eternal destiny is a heavy burden. Yet, many families believe they have completed their duty at the church doors. We must do more.

Today’s Christian children are spiritually illiterate, lacking the ability to articulate their faith.

What are you doing to deepen your child’s understanding of God?

When we prioritize sports, dance, ________ (you fill in the blank), over spiritual development, we lack the urgency of our calling. Kids can do all kinds of things with a ball, but do they know what to do with God’s word? Why do we wear extracurricular activities like a badge of honor, being the parent in the bleacher or stands? As if that makes a successful offspring. We should be spiritually training our children, not just fulfilling the role of carpooler and bench warmer. Yes, those things are good, but are they the best we have to offer our children?

Christian parents must take back their spiritual authority and disciple their children. We must stop outsourcing our role as spiritual leader.

 “The overwhelming majority of American parents today lack a biblical worldview and a robust faith that they can pass on to their children, which could dramatically hamper the spiritual development of the next generation,” according to Tracy F. Munsil, Executive Director from the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University. Only 2% of Christian parents can actually articulate their biblical worldview.

We have got to do better.

What is your biblical worldview? What do you believe? And why? If you want kids who chase after God, then you must understand that training starts at home. There is a big different between raising good kids and raising godly ones.

This is not a doomsday message but to place urgency with this call that God gave to all parents.

It begins with you. What spiritual disciplines do you practice? Reading your bible? Praying? Bible study?

God is stirring hearts to get back to intentionally speaking His truth into the hearts of children. This should happen daily.

Where do you start?

Pray with your children.

Verbally speak a blessing over them daily.

Study one verse and memorize it as a family.

Write down what you believe. What are your foundational truths?

Create a family mission statement.

Create goals to get you closer to your desired life.

Create a spiritual journal with all the things you want your kids to know about God.

Children have a free will; however, it is up to you to teach them about their heavenly Father. The power lies in the guiding not the outcome.

Deuteronomy 6: 6-9 (ESV) “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”

Embracing an eternal mindset should cause us to step up our game. Your child is forming their belief system, which will carry them beyond this life. Where do you want them to spend eternity? Get your head in the spiritual whelm and begin pursuing spiritual formations that will build a solid foundation. It is not too late. This is within your skill set, otherwise God would not have laid it in the hands of parents. As you rise to the challenge, storm heaven’s gates on behalf of your children. The Holy Spirit will guide you. Find a mentor if needed. Read good books. Pursue other parents who are striving towards raising godly kids. Get yourself around a community of believers who are active in their pursuit of discipling their children or create one yourself and invite others on the journey. God will guide you. Just ask.