Scripture teaches us clearly that without a vision the people perish. Proverbs 29:18a (KJV)
The question is then how do you encourage your children to have a vision?
Not just any vision. But a *God vision* for their lives? For their home educating? For their future?
I will say that I am smack dab in the thick of this concern and focus for my children.
With three teens: 19 year old, 17 year old and a 15 year old this is where my husband and I are living.
As home educators of our children we *hope* and *pray* that our children will rise up and say….
“I know what God wants me to do with my future and these are the steps I believe I am to take to get there.”
However………….that may not always happen. Like that.
Some children may *feel* they have that knowing.
Conversely, many may have no clue in their teen years let alone at younger ages.
Nor may some of our children even have any forethought on such a subject.
So what is a homeschooling parent to do?
The reality that we, as parents, know oh so well is that their future will be before them sooner than they may think.
And *thinking* towards that end {their future} is of utmost importance.
A few things that my husband and I know is KEY in helping our children *Find Their Aim and a Vision* are the following:
1. Discuss their future with them as you go along your way of living life with them.
Let them know that the Lord has a plan for them to fulfill and that they should be open to partnering with Him in those goals that HE has planned out for them.
Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
2. Pray for them. Pray with them. Continually.
Of course we all pray for our children. My suggestive plea here is to pray that they see the vision for their lives that God sees and has for them.
If we train our children with this in mind as early as possible then they will keep that focus. They will realize that their lives aren’t their own to say, “I want and will do such and such.” But they will have the sensitivity to be concerned about what the Lord has to say about their future.
Scripture exhorts accordingly:
Haggai 1:5
Now this is what the LORD Almighty says: “Give careful thought to your ways.
Psalms 119:133
Direct my footsteps according to Your word;
3. Keep them focused on the prize.
For each person the *prize* will be different according to your personal belief systems. But for us the prize is not making *lots of money*, *getting a college degree*, making a name for themselves. The prize that we share with our children according to Scripture is fulfilling what the Lord has called them to do and enjoying it. Enjoying the journey to it.
Ecclesiastes 5:18-20
…18 Here is what I have seen to be good and fitting: to eat, to drink and enjoy oneself in all one’s labor in which he toils under the sun during the few years of his life which God has given him; for this is his reward. 19 Furthermore, as for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, He has also empowered him to eat from them and to receive his reward and rejoice in his labor; this is the gift of God. 20 For he will not often consider the years of his life, because God keeps him occupied with the gladness of his heart.
4. Surround them in places and with those that share your children’s God giving interest.
1 Timothy 1:6
For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands.
One of the best ways I believe to *stir up the flame of the gift of God* within them is to keep that interest, desire or passionate *aim* ever before them.
If you are like my husband and I, there is nothing that we wouldn’t do for our children. And if we know that a God given passion/vision is burning within them then we will do what we must and have grace to do to help them get there.
5. That even if they make plans it’s only the Lord that may allow them to come to pass.
Proverbs 16:9
In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps.
Proverbs 19:21
Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.
We tirelessly, faithfully and diligently try and help our children to continually remember and keep to the front of their minds that in all of their planning and in all of dreaming and considering of the Lord’s plans for their lives that ULTIMATELY it is the Lord and He alone that will bring those things to pass.
That they can find a rest in the *striving* to aim at that goal/vision.
And *resting* doesn’t mean remaining *stagnant.* It means that effort can be made but a resting can be realized at the same time.
The resting also may be the simple fact of the following….
7. Teach them to say, “Lord, I DON’T KNOW what You desire of me to do but I am moving forward with my will consecrated and set apart for you.”
Proverbs 3:6
in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.
With all the above said, I know that the Lord is faithful. And HE will answer our prayers even before we pray (Isaiah 65:24) them and will hear when we do pray to Him regarding the concerns of the future of our children.
Just as much as we pray for them we need to train them to pray to the Lord about their future as well.
Psalms 141:1-2
1 A Psalm of David. O LORD, I call upon You; hasten to me! Give ear to my voice when I call to You! 2May my prayer be counted as incense before You;
Psalms 3:4
3 But You, O LORD, are a shield about me, My glory, and the One who lifts my head. 4I was crying to the LORD with my voice, And He answered me from His holy mountain. Selah. 5
Be encouraged.
Let us teach our children to *Aim* and to have a *Vision* for their future.
More importantly may we teach them to allow that *Aim* and *Vision* to be birthed, formulated and realized FIRST from the loving heart of the Lord…..and then run with it!
Blessings in Abundance.
Angela P.
