And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him. 

 It was by faith that Moses’ parents hid him for three months when he was born. They saw that God had given them an unusual child, and they were not afraid to disobey the king’s command. It was by faith that Moses, when he grew up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to share the oppression of God’s people instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin. He thought it was better to suffer for the sake of Christ than to own the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking ahead to his great reward.  Hebrews 11:6, 23-26

I don’t remember many single, individual days of our boys young lives. I do remember being exhausted, and wondering if we would ever make it! Many times we were in survival mode – making sure they were fed, getting to bed, taking a bath, plus some sort of ‘outside of our immediate family’ experiences. Yet, it is in those early exhausting years of parenting that intentionality is needed. I have gathered encouragement, courage, and motivation from these simple verses.

1. Believe. First, I must believe. believe that God wants to take my minuscule efforts, and turn them into something great for his kingdom.
2. Seek. He expects me to seek Him when exhausted, during the temper tantrum (mine or my child’s), the fun times and the difficult. Ask Him for wisdom to parent, teach, and guide your child into His ways.
3. Be deliberate.  Despite the decree that all male babies be killed, Moses’ parents deliberately disobeyed. Why? Because they knew God, they recognized the gift of their son, and they were not afraid. I don’t know about you, but sometimes I let the fear of today outweigh the courage to discipline, train, and teach for tomorrow. Remember, we are to fear God, not man.
4. Pay attention. Moses’ parents noticed that God had given them an unusual child. I don’t know specifically what in-born traits Moses had, but his parents saw it. Each child given to us has beautiful, God-given personalities, tendencies, and traits. Embrace those, believing that God wants to use your unique child in his kingdom. As parents, you have the inside scoop on your kids – use it to their advantage and to God’s glory. Research suggests, and most child specialists believe that many habits and character traits are influenced during the first five years of life. Embrace the ‘unusual’; God has a great plan.
5. Watch for the Reward. Moses made some mistakes. Your child will make mistakes. God disciplined and called Moses. The scripture gives us a beautiful highlight reel of Moses character and life:
   1. He loved and was loyal to his (God’s) people.
   2. He was sacrificial. He “shared in the oppression” of his people and “he thought it better to suffer…than to own the treasures of Egypt”
   3. He was able to deny himself.  ‘instead of enjoying the fleeting pleasures of sin’
   4. His confidence was in God. “He was looking ahead to his great reward”
   5. He obeyed God’s calling, not fearing man. He kept his eyes on the invisible. (v. 27-28)

We don’t know the outcome or timeline for our children’s lives. But we can believe and have hope for the eternal.

For the love of your family, believe, seek, be deliberate, pay attention and watch for the rewards. You won’t regret it.

What act of faith have you practiced this week?

What ways are you being deliberate? and paying attention?

What ideas do you have to share with others?

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