(This post was written by Gina McClain, Director of Children’s Ministries)

I don’t know about you, but I’m one of those weird people that wants to do things right.  Not that I actually do.  I tend to make more mistakes than not.  But it doesn’t prevent me from wanting to know the right things to do!

I recently heard from author Vicki Courtney talking about the things that prevent our kids from growing in a relationship with Jesus.  She calls them ‘Family Faith-Busters’.

Curious?  Thought you would be.  Here’s what Vicki had to share…

Family Faith-Buster #1

Model something other than love of God as your ultimate affection.

Deut 6:4-7 uses the word Love (‘aw-hab’ means “to have affection for”).  One of the problems we have today is that we focus too much on the affection God has for us.  What is our primary affection?  Are we modeling something else?

Family Faith-Buster #2

Fail to acknowledge your role as the primary disciple-maker of your child.

By not laying hold of our parental role as the key person to demonstrate what it looks like to love Jesus with our whole lives, we diminish the chances our kids will love Jesus with their whole lives.

Family Faith Buster #3

Focus more on the common behavior modification than heart and habitation (i.e. “being”)

Don’t attempt to correct the sin before you explore the heart issue that brought about the sin.  We cannot make kids love God, respond to conviction, or repent from sin.  Only the Holy Spirit can do this.  But we can return to the practicality of pointing out sin and unpacking the heart issue behind it.

These resonate with me in a big way.  In fact, I’m thinking about posting them on my mirror so I can review them daily.  Something to remind me that I can intentionally help my kids fall in love with Jesus or unintentionally lead them to fall in love with this world.

There’s one more thing I discovered listening to Vicki Courtney.

I want to be like her when I grow up.

Check out some of Vicki’s books like Five Conversations You Must Have with your Daughter