Growing (Up) In Faith

And back when we lived in New York City, I knew a dad who, whenever he encountered a down-and-out person on the street, offered a gift of food—an apple or a sandwich from a nearby deli. In addition to regular prayers at meals and bedtime, try to look for opportunities to include your child in spontaneous, conversational prayer. Talking to God in this way shows how prayer can be a part of daily life.

This is the intimate, natural way that Jesus prayed. Even as our kids grew older, Tom and I kept praying with them. Many times while sitting in the car in a college admissions parking lot, we would take a moment to pray, asking God to walk alongside our child throughout his or her visit. Together we placed our hands on the fat envelope and asked God for His will to be done regarding the results.

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One Christmas Eve when Katy was five years old and I was tucking her into bed, I found myself gently steering our talk from Santa Claus and the presents under the tree to what we were actually celebrating. Without planning it, I suddenly found myself telling Katy who Jesus was for me and the story—a simplified version—of how He had come into my life.

Then we prayed one of the simplest, most profound prayers I know:. Jesus, I love You and believe in You. Please come into my heart now, live in me, and be my friend and savior. It is important to remember that our children really do believe and take to heart what we tell them. Just the other day, our now-grown son Brinck was pulling out of the driveway after a weekend visit home.

He knows , I thought. For this ever-worrying, ever-praying mother, this was not only good news. It was the best news I could ever hope for. Consider a few of the questions my daughter, Katy, and son, Brinck, asked when they were young: Here are just a few examples of their struggles with painful childhood emotions: Mommy, am I fat?

Remember, actions speak louder than words.

Pray with your child. Tell your child what you believe. Growing up in God, I have learned that fear is something to give Him. These were goals God put in my heart. It is a favorite Bible verse that has sustained me through some pretty overwhelming times. The problem with fear is that it paralyzes us, stops us and prevents us from living the life we want — the life God wants for us.

Kim Dolan Leto

Yet I knew I was supposed to do it. Have you ever had a dream in your heart? Our dreams can be fed or starved. Choose to feed yours with faith and starve your doubt. False — Evidence — Appearing — Real. Think of a time when you did what you feared and you got through it.

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You know that the outcome was more than just a rewarding feeling. You grew in confidence. That confidence is in fact the evidence of the personal faithfulness of God to you. This is the process of turning your attention from the lies of Satan and placing your hope and daily life in the guidance of God. Take the time to learn. You are worth the investment. But, why do we allow these past experiences to creep into our current goals and talk us out of what we know we are capable of doing?

If you are stuck in this cycle, you are not alone.

The key to remember is that God is the one that can do a new thing in you. He is the source of that transformative power. We are not our past. Yesterday is gone forever. Life always brings about change, but God is sovereign and we can count on Him to help us begin new — again and again. I know I have. This sounds obvious, but be mindful of the words you speak about yourself and your goals. Honor your self-made promises.

GROWING UP IN HIM (CHRIST JESUS) - Principles of Faith Christian Center

When you commit to something and to God , then do it. Nothing has ruined my confidence more than saying I was going to do something and repeatedly giving up on it. He knows that you are so worth it! The Bible is recognized as the very God-given direct communication to us. We set it apart from other writings as a book — a message that is truly special from God.

It certainly can be considered a handbook for life — an effective tool to guide you. Use the Bible to strengthen your mind and enable you to reach your goals. Tap into the power of God. Challenge yourself to think about the way you talk to yourself. Is it the way you would talk to a friend? Is it positive and encouraging or negative and demeaning?

Give yourself a break. Become your own cheerleader, encourage yourself the way you do your closest friends and children. Reject negative and debilitating thoughts they are not from God. They never get us anywhere—especially not to our goals. I prayed for temperance over my appetite. I really love to eat. So, this was an area where I felt powerless. Making a conscious effort to ask God to help me enjoy food and empower me to be mindful of portions helped me achieve balance.