Biblical Habits

 Proverbs 22:6 "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."

Having our children actively involved church has always been a priority of ours. Every Sunday, Sunday evening and Wednesday evening we were there. Sunday school, AWANA, Children's church, etc, we were there. I even had the children involved in Bible Study Fellowship with me weekly. So it was only natural to make sure Bible reading/lessons were incorporated into school once we started our homeschool journey. 

But even with all of the activities and intentional prayers at home there was lacking. I didn't know it then. Yes, I felt that desire to do more but I couldn't figure out what else there was for us to be involved in. We did periodical Bible reading as a family but try as we may, it never lasted for various reasons. Kids were so young they couldn't hold attention, they needed to go to bed, they were disruptive, etc. It was always something. I tried doing personal quiet times whenever I was awake super early or had time during the day. But with schooling six kids, now, I get very little to no free time.

Then God stepped in on our behalf. He gave Andy the desire to listen to sermons via YouTube, which led to him sharing some with me, which led to me playing them at home where the kids could hear them. It led to discussions between the two of us. It led to Andy growing in his faith in a way we didn't know he needed. It led to Andy's spiritual leadership growth in our family and naturally stepping up even further to be that example our family was so desperately needing. It led to us reading the Bible every night together as a family.

We started November 2023 using the One Year Bible. Andy pulled it off the shelf to read but most of the children got their Bibles and joined him. So it just naturally turned in to a family ordeal. We stuck to it. Through illness, busy schedules, visiting family and exhaustion. We completed the One Year Bible. And that reading time led to discussions with the children, explaining events that we were reading, answering questions, talking about dragons and using YouTube to visually see the temple being built in the book of Ezekiel. And now we have started using Bible Discovery TV. Every night after dinner and clean up, we're all on the couch with our Bibles and highlighters (to mark the emphasized verse) ready to read the 3 or 4 chapters for that evening and watch the Bible Discovery discussion. Its so educational and presented in a way that is easy to follow along. 

Andy's journey to spiritual growth has also helped our marriage. We weren't struggling, having issues or anything. We have always had a solid marriage (not perfect by any means because we're imperfect people) but his constant desire to grow and know more has positively influenced our relationship. We talk about the Bible every day, something we've learned or how the Holy Spirit opened our eyes to wisdom we didn't have before. We've grown our covenant relationship we started the day we got married with each other and with God. We're understanding the Bible better together and we're understanding each other better. His love for Christ has grown which has grown his love for me. He loves me better because he loves Christ better. I look at my sweet husband and my love for him is so much stronger than it was 15 years ago when we started our life together. Its helping us teach our children better by example and by actual teaching. Our children are being influenced by our daily habits. 

It has helped me humble myself even more. I've grown in patience and forgiveness. I'm quicker to show grace and apologize to my children and my husband when I mess up. I've pushed Christ higher up on my priorities which has made it easier for me to love and serve my  husband and my children. My desire to serve Christ has grown my desire to serve our community and love others.

Having that spiritual leader in our family has been a necessity. Having that foundation to support us is EVERYTHING. Without God, without our foundation in Him, our family wouldn't have survived. We see the growth in our children because of Andy's spiritual leadership. They WANT to read the Bible. They WANT to learn. They WANT to participate. Even the two youngest get their Bibles and join us, repeating a verse, just so they can be included. They may not last the whole 30-60 minutes, but they know we're doing it, they expect it, and they hear it. Our children are growing up seeing their parents prioritize God, the Bible, and each other. They are seeing the shift in our marriage, they are seeing the growth in our marriage, they are witnessing genuine love, affection and intimacy. Intimacy in the way we talk to each other, in the way we treat each other, in the way we share joy with each other, in the way we share our love for Christ with each other. They see me living out submissiveness while Andy takes the spiritual leadership over our family while at the same time they are seeing us work together in our family with mutual respect of each other. 

Keeping God first, loving God first, above everyone else and anything else, will make all the difference in any relationship. How and why would you want anything different?

I encourage everyone to start now. Start taking the time to read the Bible as a family, having those discussions as a family. Age doesn't matter of the children. Let them be involved. Let them hear the discussion. When its a hard topic, still discuss it. Let them see the Biblical rolls of husband and wife, father and mother. Live out your roles. Laying down that Biblical foundation will be the support needed to grow a family that will, God-willing, continue on in generations, that will influence the children to be amazing leaders in their own family and society, that will make all the difference in others lives.

God first. Always.