Turn your heart toward your children

In Luke 1:17 we see that on of John the Baptist's ministries would be to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children. This was about getting Israel to get their children to love and serve God. You see that by the follow up section of the verse that says "the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord." John would get a people ready to serve God, and accept Jesus when He arrived.

Luke 1:17 And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.

There is a great lesson here though for us even today. We should be in love with our children. We should be turning our hearts towards them.

What does it look like when we turn our hearts towards our children. I believe the following ideas might be a good start.

Parents should make spiritual training a priority

Deuteronomy 32:46 And he said unto them, Set your hearts unto all the words which I testify among you this day, which ye shall command your children to observe to do, all the words of this law.

47 For it is not a vain thing for you; because it is your life: and through this thing ye shall prolong your days in the land, whither ye go over Jordan to possess it.

Parents should share their testimony of God’s work in your life, your struggles and how God gave you them victory

Psalm 78:4 We will not hide them from their children, Shewing to the generation to come The praises of the Lord, and his strength, And his wonderful works that he hath done.

5 For he established a testimony in Jacob, And appointed a law in Israel, Which he commanded our fathers, That they should make them known to their children:

6 That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; Who should arise and declare them to their children:

7 That they might set their hope in God, And not forget the works of God, But keep his commandments:

8 And might not be as their fathers, A stubborn and rebellious generation; A generation that set not their heart aright, And whose spirit was not stedfast with God.

Parent should spend time with them, invest in them

Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: And when he is old, he will not depart from it.

Separate them from worldly temptation and influence and to Godly influences

Solicit God’s touch on their lives

How are you preparing yourself, your heart, your family, and your ministry to fulfill the great calling God has for you