There are so many things I want to teach my kids, so many spiritual truths I want to pass on. Like Deuteronomy 6 tells us, God wants us to impress on our children’s hearts the things He is teaching us. As a D6 family we try to look for opportunities during conversations, or plan times to sit down and talk with our kids about important topics and truths. But we also realize that our kids learn a lot from J.J. and me by watching how we do life….how we make hard decisions, react to stressful situations and walk with God in everyday life circumstances.
This is true for every family, and it’s always a process, isn’t it? I love hear how other parents are seeking to live out D6 principles with their kids. So, today I invited a good friend of mine, Micca Campbell, to share her thoughts on how parents can show their kids how to live by faith or fear. Micca has a lot to share on this topic, much of which she covers in her soon-to-be-released book, “Untroubled Heart: Finding Faith that is Stronger than My Fears.” Here is what she had to say:
Psalm 127 paints a wonderful picture of God’s plan for building successful, worry-free families. The Psalmist explains that Lord builds the home, but the parents are the gatekeepers. A gatekeeper is like a watchman or overseer who monitors the family’s activities and decides who and what is allowed access into the home. The gatekeeper should be aware of what is going on in the house and who is influencing the household. The watchman isn’t afraid to let the kids’ friends come over, because he (or she) decides who stays and who leaves, who comes back and who doesn’t get to return.
A good gatekeeper also protects the hearts and minds of the children by monitoring what they watch on TV, view on the Internet and listen to on their iPods. It’s the watchman’s duty to monitor the home until the children can supervise themselves.
The watchman isn’t afraid to let the child learn and grow through trial and error, nor is the watchman afraid to trust the child again after the child has made a mistake. The watchman knows their actions and reactions are teaching their children on a daily basis to live in fear or faith.
As the gatekeeper of our homes, it’s our job to teach our children how to live a life of faith. Unfortunately, as parents our lives are sometimes marked by fear rather than faith.
A few years ago, my husband, Pat, was offered an accounting job that included a big promotion. It was what he had been working for, praying for, and waiting to happen. However, once he settled into the new position, he had regrets. Not only did he have to learn a new job, but he also had to clean up the chaos someone else had left behind. On top of that, the company’s financial status was hanging in limbo. Pat’s worries weighed heavily on his shoulders. As the provider for the family, Pat was deeply concerned about losing everything. He suddenly found it difficult to trust God.
Before I knew it, his concerns and anxieties became mine. Looking back on this frightful time, I can’t help but wonder what Pat and I were building into our children—faith or fear? As Christians, we should be the last people to be afraid of anything. We claim what Paul asks us in Romans 8:31—“If God is for us, who can be against us?”—but act otherwise when the foundation of our home is shaken. Our children shouldn’t see fear in us. We can’t say with our mouths that we trust God and contradict that trust with our actions. So what does it tell our children when we’re afraid to go to the doctor when we begin experiencing symptoms? What does it teach them when we constantly worry about who will move in next door or when we don’t trust God to provide financially? We teach our children live in fear instead of living by faith when we fail to trust God’s ability above our own.
It took Pat and me awhile to admit that our resources weren’t limited to our own finances. We had God’s unending wealth and provision available to us. It was foolish to attempt to get on our own what God was so willing to provide. We decided to trust God—no matter what.
By putting into practice what we learn from God’s Word, we make knowledge a reality in our life. One step of trust leads to another until we find ourselves living carefree in God’s tender care.
In faith, Pat made an appointment to talk with his old boss. He expressed his desire to return to his old job. Surprisingly, they were thrilled to have him back. Pat resigned from the new job and resumed his old position. Looking back, Pat and I realized we prolonged our peace by fearing the outcome. Once we got around to it, trusting God was so much easier—just the lesson we want to convey to our children.
At first, we were overcome with worry and stress, but we realized that we couldn’t be afraid and exercise faith at the same time. Our house couldn’t have two builders. It was either us or God. Eventually, we gave up our restless cares and let the Lord’s peace flood our soul. We simply rested in God. What better place is there to be? Nowhere—especially when our goal is to teach our children how to live a life of faith.
Copyright 2009, Micca Campbell – All rights reserved.
More Mom Give-Aways
Please share your thoughts on this topic in the comments section and you’ll be part of today’s give-away which includes Micca’s book “Untroubled Heart:Finding Faith that is Stronger than My Fears“ and a year’s worth of Family Devotional Magazines from D6.
To be part of these give-aways, click on “comments” below. PLEASE include your email so we can get in touch if you win and I’d love to know where you are from.
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Why is it often so hard to trust God when He has proven over and over again that He is completely trustworthy and knows what is best for us?
Great post.
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Great job, Micca. The part about being fearful to make a doctor’s appointment was so true for me. Diabetes runs in my family and I have been fearful of making the appointment to get a check-up. I need to take good care of my body and trust God no matter what happens.
Stephenie
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I love this devotional today! I am going to read and meditate on the passage mentioned today. I guess I never realized how the stronghold of fear that I had, could affect my children. I,though, have shaken those grave clothes off of myself and have allowed God’s speak truth into me, and that in turn has allowed me to speak truth into others. Praise be to God!
Thanks
Kristy Baca
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This was such a very needed post! We are a family of 5 soon to be 6 on one income . We are in need of a larger , much larger home and a much , much more reliable minivan than the one we are currently driving. Along with extra space inside of it. It can be very overwhelming as a stay at home mom with dad at work all day and into the night. I do the bills , and all finances , ontop of all the housework and caring for the kiddos.
So I need to hear this often to have faith , to not fear , to allow the burden and worring to be lifted and given to my husband and ultimately to God ! Thank You , again ;o)
Nicole
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Worries and fears are not the legacy I want to leave for my children. When things get out of control, I try to control and not trust God. Thank you for giving me a reminder to trust God.
Christine
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Thank you for such a beautiful post. Fear can consume our lives if we let it; not only in our financial situations, but in our health and what type of adult/teen our children will be. I think it is also very important that we pray for God’s will to be done in our lives and that we listen to how God speaks to us. He is stronger than any problems that come our way.
I have 2 very dear young women in their twenties who I am mentoring and both are focusing on the lesson of “Overcoming Fear with Faith”. I would love to share this book with them. Thank you for the opportunity! Beverlydru at gmail.com
Oh, this post was just wonderful. I have dealt with fear my whole life and now that I have a growing family of my own – I really don’t want to pass that along to my kids!
This post, and Micca’s thoughts REALLY made a few light bulbs go off in my head this morning. Am I passing along faith or fear? Wow. So powerful.
Thank you so much for sharing! I want that book!
Have a lovely week!
Blessings,
Kate 🙂
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Columbus, OH
This is so appropriate, especially during this unknowing economic crisis. Do you think is wanting His people to believe in Him more? And we shall….
Leslie
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WOw thanks for the reminder. Reminded me of a time about 8 years ago. I struggled through situational depression after losing a Sister in law to suicide, then a diagnosis of my husband’s disease 6 months later…It was a horrible time, and I probably instilled fear into my children. Never thought of it that way. Today I am in a much better place, and thank God for showing me what it truly means to suffer depression. I know how it is for other people. I can help them through that….
Shannon
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Our family is trying to do that, put our worries and cares in His hands. We have a ways to go.
Lisa V
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I so needed this! My company is in the middle of a major layoff – 50% of my department – and I’m waiting to hear whether I’ll lose my job. The job market in the area we live is horrible, but we can’t move b/c of my husband’s job. I’m trying to have faith but feel like the man who asked Jesus – “I do believe; help my unbelief.” I hadn’t thought what my fear might be showing my kids. Thank you!
Fear is one of the biggest things I deal with. It taints everything.I don’t want to pass this on to my children. I would love to have this book.
Brittany
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Renee,
It seems like God truly knows when we are struggling with something and he is trying to teach you a lesson. Most recently mine has been FEAR. It began a couple of weeks ago with our Beth Moore Bible Study being on Fear, my own personal quiet time leading to scripture on Fear & having faith, such as the other night I found a scripture in Micah 7:7 that I absolutely loved that reminded me that my God hears me. How often do we find a scripture out of the blue in Micah? Then Friday night I was able to hear Micca speak at a conference on what else but Fear, Removing the Mask. It was awesome and I loved her, So did my college age daughter. I seem to have the most fear over the protection of my children. Why do I have such a hard time remembering that they are Gods children in the first place he has only entrusted them to me for a while here on earth. I believe the most important thing for us to teach our children is even when we do fear, and I think we will as we are human, they see us praying and taking all to our heavenly Father in prayer. That has paid off for me so much, because now that my children are teens they do the same thing and they often ask me mom please pray for me. The sweetest thing is when my 16 year old (14 then) was staying the weekend away and she called home and I was not feeling well and she prayed for me over the phone.PRICELESS!
I am sorry for such a long post, but as I said fear has been what God has been dealing with me on lately and this was just one more way for Him to speak to me.
Have a blessed week.
Hugs,
Margaret
Thank you so much for such a wonderful post! I am contantly worried about something, I actually worry so much sometimes that I am literally sick. This is something that I do not want to pass on to my children.
Our family has had such a hard time financially, I have had to take a job outside of the home for the first time in years, and now am worried about the little ones being in daycare, missing work, and on and on. I expressed these fears to my Grandma the other day, her response was ‘if you worry, you haven’t given your life over to God 100%’ so your post was great for me today, I will definatley check into the book that you are giving away. Thank you so much!
God Bless,
Cristy
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Renee & Micca, thank you so much for your post today. I have long struggled with fears and do not want to pass that legacy to my children. It's a stronghold that I am currently battling and looking forward to conquering with Christ's provision! I needed this reassurance to stay the course and continually seek Him to build my home.
Thank you!
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Why is it often so hard to trust God when He has proven over and over again that He is completely trustworthy and knows what is best for us?
Great post.
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Just the message I needed to hear as I woke up overwhelmed with all that is going on. It can be easy to give into stress and worry and it’s bad enough thinking about the effect that has on me let alone my 3 little ones.
Obviously this is the message I needed to hear – my pastor preaced on the same verse yesterday! And really if God is for us, who can be against us? Thanks for the reminder!
Blessings,
Jill
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Riceville, IA
Renee & Micca … I can't tell you how much I needed this today! We are struggling to get by on one salary … and I do mean struggling! We trust God every month to keep our heads above water. All while trying not to let on to our 4-yr-old our struggles! Thank you for the reminder to trust God above everything else.
carlyn
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clayton, nc
Just the message I needed to hear as I woke up overwhelmed with all that is going on. It can be easy to give into stress and worry and it’s bad enough thinking about the effect that has on me let alone my 3 little ones.
Obviously this is the message I needed to hear – my pastor preaced on the same verse yesterday! And really if God is for us, who can be against us? Thanks for the reminder!
Blessings,
Jill
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Riceville, IA