It is a glorious moment when your child or student steps out and speaks up for Father!

Whether that’s preaching in a youth-led meeting, singing worship songs, leading a Bible study, sharing the Good News in any way, skits and mission trips, or the first steps—accepting Jesus as Savior and/or being baptized–any which way it happens, it is such a moment of celebration!

Great rejoicing!

Parents and youth leaders alike rejoice!

I celebrate with you!

It’s such a powerful witness—even to adults—to experience the purity and conviction from which the children and students speak, sing, or portray.

Lions and weeds

Yet. . .

There’s an enemy, who prowls about as lion, stealthy, looking for who he may eat alive. This is Father’s ancient enemy who hates the witness that these children and students give.

This enemy will attempt to steal the witness of your children and students by tempting them. If they take the bait, he steals their witness, and holds them in captivity (until the sin is repented for—which is always available through Jesus, but there is a better way to keep them from entering that whole cycle which attempts to steal their witness and destiny).

That is why some who started so strong when they were young are now not walking Father’s right paths.

If Father’s ancient enemy cannot maneuver them into sinning, then he’ll sow weeds in the garden of their faith for the purpose of throttling its growth and expansion.

When you’re cultivating a garden, the plants start small and tender. They grow and yield vegetables and fruit. However, it takes cultivation—water, weeding, fertilizer and care for them to become strong and mature enough to yield their specific fruit.

Cultivate your kids!

Your children and students are graced by Father with gifts and a witness for Him now—but they need protection from that prowling lion and they need cultivation of the tender, young plant that they are.

Celebrate and rejoice as they step forward for Father in any way!

Then, add the following prayer strategy for them (daily, if possible).

In fact. . .don’t wait for them to step out, go ahead and add this prayer strategy on their behalf today!

Prayer strategy (daily, if possible)

Father, seal all Your work in my child or student (name them) with Your Holy Spirit. Send Your angels to war on their behalf and to keep their footsteps on Your right paths. Rearguard and seal them and all the progress that has been made with Your glory in the mighty name of the Lord Jesus Christ, amen.

Crystal Wade, copyright 2021