No greater joy!

Over the years I have come to a point where I just don't want to pray a prayer of salvation with the kids. I don't want to teach them that they are saved by praying a special prayer...so Terah and I pray for their faith and disciple them as we go. Now we "observe" to see if Christ be formed in them. If only we could really know as parents! Remember how you would hear a proud parent in church say "my child put their faith in Christ and asked Jesus into their heart last night!"? I am certainly not saying they were not saved, that is not what I am getting at, it very well could be a profession of saving faith. I think that it is risky telling your kids or anyone that they are saved because they prayed this way, but my point is quite the opposite. I am actually saying this may be one of those proud moments for Terah and I! It is hard to know for sure when you can't just say your child prayed a prayer and then declare them saved. So I say this carefully and prayerfully, but I do believe that Jude has come to a saving faith!!! His desires lean toward the spiritual, his actions indicate an obedient heart, his comprehension of scriptures is amazing, his attitude is revealing good character, and most of all, his prayers show the Holy Spirit's work in his life. I don't know how a five year old could pray the way he does otherwise. They are simple words of course - he is only five, but what he prays is how we all ought to be praying, and he is not repeating anything we have taught him. I just can't think of anything more important than the salvation of our kids, so this is one of the greatest moments to celebrate! Of course we need to be steadfast as Job in pleading with God for their souls, but I am in awe of what God is doing in this boy's life.

I wanted to share this good news! And we should all commit to go before God each day for all of these kids...