Raising Successful TeensSample

All Your Heart

You may feel burdened about the state of today’s teens. I find great comfort in the words of the Hebrew prophet Jeremiah in Jeremiah 29:11. No matter how maddening the world is, God is still in control. He wants to bless your teen with an abundant life and remind you that you are the one He chose to help convey this truth to her. 

What is the key to inheriting this promise? The answer is found in the next two verses in Jeremiah. The key words for you and everyone in your family are all your heart. We find hope when we choose to seek God wholeheartedly. 

Satan knows that if he can prevent your teen from pursuing a committed relationship with Jesus Christ, he likely has gained a soul. Satan knows the good plans God has for your teen, and he schemes to release all hell on earth to keep him from becoming everything God promises. 

But Scripture tells us in 1 John 4:4 that “The one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world” (1 John 4:4). Although Satan is out to end it all for my kids and yours, we have One on our side who is greater than any lie from Satan. No matter how hard Satan works to deceive, we, too, must work hard to empower our teenagers to understand the errors of this culture. 

Your goal isn’t to have a perfect teen. It is to be a guide toward truth as he navigates an ever-changing world. I want my daughters to live in obedience to the standards set in Scripture. I want them to know the difference between right and wrong and choose to do what honors God. I want them to become everything God desires for them. 

Jesus said in Matthew 22:37 that the greatest commandment is “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength” (ncv). Our calling, and our privilege, is to raise children who aspire to love Jesus Christ with every facet of their lives. 

God, you have plans for a future and a hope for [teen’s name]. You are greater than anything he will encounter at school, at home, at work, or in the world today. May each of us in our family seek you with all our heart. Amen.