Chapter One
January 1
Faith
Future generations will also serve him. Our children
will hear about the wonders of the Lord. His righteous
acts will be told to those yet unborn. They will hear about
everything he has done. Psalm 22:30-31
When my children were in preschool and early elementary years, one of my favorite
things to do was read to them. Whether we were sitting in a rocking chair
or propped up in bed, it was fun to read and snuggle at the same time. Although
we learned from many kinds of books, God's Word enriched us more than any
other. Together, we witnessed God's wonders and provisions in other people's
lives, and we were encouraged to believe he would provide for us, too.
I especially liked the story of baby Moses. The king of Egypt had instructed the
Hebrew midwives to kill all of the Hebrew baby boys. Being a woman of faith,
Moses' mother, Jochebed, put him in a basket and hid him among the reeds of a
river. His older sister, Miriam, kept an eye on the basket until Pharaoh's daughter
found Moses and adopted him. In God's plan, Miriam asked the princess if she
should find a nurse for the child, and Moses' very own mother was able to raise
him for some years before he was educated in Pharaoh's palace.
Imagine how often Jochebed must have retold that story to Moses and Miriam
and their brother Aaron before Moses went to live in the palace. The siblings
grew up hearing that God sees and God provides. Later in their lives God used
them to lead his people out of Egypt. In the same way, we can encourage our children's
faith by telling how God has provided for us. The time we spend encouraging
them now will influence their leadership down the road.
God who sees and provides,
Thank you for blessing us with children to nurture and love. Thank you for
giving us your Word to be our guide. Please help us to notice your provisions
and then to rehearse them with our children, strengthening our faith and
encouraging theirs. Amen.
(Continues.)
