Guarding Your Child's Heart (Part 2 of 2)

If you read Part One from last week, you know that God has called us, as mothers, to guard the hearts of our children.  “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” (NIV)  God has specifically assigned to us the young hearts under our care.  It was written out before we were ever born (see Ps. 139). 

I told you to think of yourself as a gatekeeper to the heart of your child.  Is this an easy calling?  Not in the slightest.
Everything and everyone is vying for the affections of our children.  It is a real-life raging war and you are in the middle of it.  Remember - strategically placed there by God himself for this reason.  That is why we need to take it so seriously.  We will be held accountable for how well we perform this duty we have been called to, so we need to go at it with our whole hearts and minds engaged.

Guarding hearts affects every area of your child’s life.  Our senses are bombarded constantly with outside influences; we feel this as adults, how much more is this true for our children?  We cannot stay ignorant of the spiritual battle taking place around us.  “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:12) 

Your children live in this time of present darkness, right in the midst of a world where Satan reigns and evil runs rampant.  If you don’t protect them (as God has commanded) who will?

Be vigilant about who your children are with (adults and other children) especially when you are not with them.  Be fully aware of what you allow their eyes to see and ears to hear; remembering that there is no such thing as “neutral” in this world.  God is clear about this “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.”  Matthew 12:30.  If it is from the world it is not good for your children.  No neutrality!

This may (should) cause you to rethink many things such as: television (what do you watch or is it beneficial in any way, does it glorify God?), music (God wired us to love music for good reason, but it is also highly influential and has powerful abilities to manipulate our affections) , media of any kind, video games, where they attend school (the world reigns in schools and you are not there to be a gatekeeper, be sure you fully trust those who fill their hearts up for 7-8 hours every day), sleepovers, how you celebrate holidays (be mindful of what are you celebrating), what friends they hang around with, the list goes on.  There is so much competition.

Start early and don’t give up when they turn 5 and go to school OR 13 and don’t want to hang around you anymore OR 16 when they begin to have a social life outside the home.  These are some of the most important times to remain engaged.  Stay vigilant, lovingly vigilant. 

Am I telling you to “shelter” your children?  Well, duh, yes!  Why do people often think sheltering our children is a bad thing?  It is our job; anything that causes you not to shelter your child is from the Enemy.  Quit allowing him to bend your ear.

Protection and smothering are two different things, exposing children to evil is not the answer for building them up to withstand it.  The goal is not increased tolerance.  The goal is a heart kept as undefiled by the world as possible until the child is responsible for guarding their own heart. 

The only way to train a heart to stand up to evil is to train them with the only weapon capable of defeating it, the Word of God.  Teach them how to wield the Sword.

Do not think we are stealing control over our children away from God.  Quite the opposite.  When you become engaged in this battle like you should, you quickly realize that you have no control.  “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.” (Prov. 3:5) You have to rely completely on the one who created those young hearts.  God alone can fully guard their hearts.  That is the foremost goal we must always keep in mind, we want our children to learn to give their heart over to God.  He alone protects hearts because he, as their Creator, is the rightful owner and Lord over them.
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Mother, be that active gatekeeper to the hearts of your young children.  Train them with the Sword of the Word of God.  Teach them how to protect their own hearts by following God’s ways designed for their protection.  Show them how to keep their heart soft and ready for God’s directions and how to not harden it against him.  Lean on God daily for his guidance in this, he is faithful in giving wisdom to those who ask for it, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” (James 1:5)
Mothers, take a stand and take hold of your calling.  Lovingly and vigilantly guard the hearts of your children!