How to know when your child understands salvation?
This is a big question and one many parents are concerned with. The decision for salvation is so personal that know one else can make it for you. This is why it is very important for parents to be able to answer the above question and why every parent and child should have Salvation Conversations.
How to have a Salvation Conversation.
Conversations about Salvation are the most important talks you may ever have in your home.
Sadly, many parents don’t talk about this very often. They leave it up to Sunday School and Children’s Church leaders. Although it is great to have your children in environments that teach about the Lord, their primary source of knowledge about Him should come from home.
Don’t rush it.
As a parent, knowing that your children have made a decision to follow Jesus is a great relief! Once you know that their eternity is secure the rest is easy/ right? Well at least it takes some of the pressure off. This is the kind of thinking, however, that causes parents to stamp the word SAVED on their kids and call ‘er done.
It is quite possible that the child is just beginning to feel the first pull or nudge of the Holy Spirit.
So I would like to encourage you today to be patient and let God finish the work He has started. Don’t pull them out of the oven too soon or they just might fall flat!
Being patient.
Getting saved, asking Jesus to live in your heart, giving your life to God; all of these are valid terms but depending on the age of your child they can be confusing. What kid doesn’t want to be saved? I could draw a line on the floor and say the left side is quick sand and the right side is good ground which side will you choose, and every child 6 or under would jump to the right. That only means for that one moment this is the decision they are making. If you ask a young child to choose between good or bad, they will choose good.
Salvation is not something that will usually take place spontaneously in children, especially those who are growing up in church.
Their decision to follow Jesus will be one that grows with them. There will be an initial surrender when the time is right but I think we can all agree that as adults God is still working things out even in us.
Look for the signs
We want to teach our kids they are special and that Jesus loves them from birth. Here are some clues that your child is being prepared to make his or her next step in their relationship with Christ.
- Show personal conviction.
- Admit to wrong behavior and are genuinely sorry.
- Start asking questions about God, Jesus, and the cross.
- Growing away from Childhood beliefs (questioning reality of Holiday Superheros)
- Distinguish between fact and fantasy.
- Awareness of self and putting others first.
- Understand how and choose to show respect to authority figures.
Celebrate every decision.
Just as we celebrate our babies first steps, we should also celebrate the steps they take towards learning about the love of Jesus and wanting to accept that love. When your child first announces that they love Jesus, Celebrate! When they burst out into a worship song, Sing Too! When they begin to ask questions, Encourage! Tell them you know the Holy Spirit is calling them and teaching them about Jesus. You also know that one day they will be ready to follow and live their lives for Him.
Cover them in prayer
This is the prayer that I have prayed over my children.
Father, I call forth the Day of Salvation which you ordained before the foundation of the world that would take place in child’s name’s life. I come against your enemies that would try to stop or hinder the decision child’s name makes on that day. I pray that You would give me and his father wisdom as we raise and teach child’s name about the love of Jesus. Give child’s name the revelation and knowledge he/she needs to receive your free gift of salvation. When that happens, remove any fear or doubt that would keep child’s name from growing into the full potential You have for him/her. As You continue to teach us may we all be used in Your service and for Your glory! In Jesus Name, Amen.
Keep the conversations going!
Try these Salvation Conversations. Tell your kids your story! How did you come to know the Lord? How do you see Him working in your life? How has knowing Him changed you?
It is our job as parents to talk to our children about the Lord.
Deut. 11:18-19
“You shall therefore impress these words of mine on your heart and on your soul; and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. And you shall teach them to your sons, talking of them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road and when you lie down and when you rise up”.
By doing so you will also keep the door of communication open between you and your children. You will be an expert on the subject to them, when they need advice they will come to you and together you can seek the Lord for the answers.
It is never too late to start a conversation about salvation. It doesn’t matter how old your children are, engage them in conversations about Jesus!
I can’t wait to hear how your Salvation Conversations are going.
Madaline
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