Daily Devotional
We are Called to Create a Desire for God
“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.”
Proverbs 22:6
July 24, 2023
Ponder This
Do you know the word “train” comes from a Hebrew root related to what the midwives used to do when the little Hebrew babies were born? They would take an index finger, dip it in olive oil, and then dip it in crushed dates. Then they would take the little newborn baby and touch the pallet of that baby. That would begin the nursing instinct. It was to create a desire in the heart of that child to take nourishment. As a matter of fact, if you take your finger and rub it right back over the roof of your mouth, you’ll find instinctively you want to swallow. And that was the root of this word, which means to train up. It literally means to create a desire.
Oh, if parents today could create a desire for God in the hearts of their children. That’s the idea—create a desire in the heart of your child for God and when he’s old he will not depart from it. That’s what many have done throughout the generations of God’s people. And that is what God is calling us to do.
- What are some ways to train children with a desire for God?
- How can you actively be involved in this work with your own children or those close to you?
Practice This
This week, take one action toward training children to have a desire for God.
FOR YOUR GIFT TO THE MINISTRY
Front Porch Moments by Gayle Foster
WITH KEY INSIGHTS FROM HER FATHER, ADRIAN ROGERS
I try to unplug each morning with Jesus with just my rocking chair, my Bible, and a pen.
Having a secret place is very important because I know that Jesus is always there waiting for me. I know where I can find Him! His presence is everywhere, but there are places where it is so thick you can cut it with a knife. You may not even have a front porch, but there is a secret place for you as well. God’s invitations are for anyone who will respond. There is no more important request than the one found in Psalm 27:8: “My heart has heard You say, ‘Come and talk with Me.’ And my heart responds, ‘Lord, I am coming.’”
