October Devotions to Encourage Your Kids – October 16-21

Isaiah 40:31

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Patience is a hard virtue to teach children but at times we have no choice. Sometimes life just puts us in the place where we simply have to wait. And wait. And wait. When we are forced to wait on the Lord let this be an opportunity to teach our kids how to trust the Lord in the midst of it. Even if it is a large challenge that affects the entire family such as waiting on a promotion at dad’s work or waiting on a house to close, we can teach our children that we can remain faithful and thankful with grateful hearts while we wait.

Joshua 1:9

Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.

Kids want to be strong. One of my sons admired Samson when he was young because he admired his strength. Of course, when my son grew to be a bit older and started to understand the sin Samson fell into, he no longer viewed him as such a quality role model, but in his innocence, at a young age, he truly admired the strength of Samson. We should encourage our children to be strong, especially in the ways of the Lord so that when difficulties come, they will be reminded that God is with them and they don’t break down and fall apart. When your child knows the God of the Bible for themselves, then they can walk in that strength no matter where they are.

Matthew 11:28

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

School work takes a lot out of a kid. Memorizing the times tables, learning new vocabulary words, writing reports on a topic that seems to drag on and on. Learning is work, whether your child likes it or not. Sure, we try to make school fun and enjoyable but there will be days when your child would rather be outside, running in the sunshine rather than working on a line graph at the kitchen table. Remind your child that even when days seem long, hard and difficult that the Lord will give them rest in the midst of it. Being a hard worker is a wonderful character trait that should be coveted. The harder they work, the easier it will become, especially when they are doing it as unto the Lord.

Deuteronomy 31:8

And the Lord, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.

Wow. This scripture is packed full of encouragement for the weary soul. When a child feels left out, or if they feel as if they have been rejected, ignored or forgotten, this is an encouraging verse for their heart. Even if they feel this way about a parent, they need to be reminded that the Lord will never let them down as people on earth do.

Psalm 32:8

I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.

When our child gives their heart to the Lord, and says, “yes,” to Him, they have no clue what is ahead. When the thrill and the excitement of it all dwindles down, they need to be reminded that God will teach them His ways through His word, through parents and teachers. God will show them the way to go and they do not need to fear failure.

Romans 8:31

What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?

God has a plan for our child and He will fight for it to come to pass. God does not want them to fail but to succeed. Encourage them in this and be the one who sees their future and not their past mistakes. If we hound them for their past sins, we are siding with the enemy and not God. Remind them that they are a new creation in Christ and that we enjoy seeing the positive change God is doing in their lives.