What does it mean to fortify your children with God’s Word? Before we delve into the message, let us first understand what the term “fortifying” means. To fortify means to strengthen or make a place resistant to attack. The term is also used in the food industry. For example, you might hear that a beverage is fortified with Vitamin A and D. This means the product is loaded with vitamins, increasing its nutritional value, which benefits anyone who consumes it. When it comes to the Word of God or scripture, we are referring to improving, strengthening, securing, and positively enhancing your child's life by instilling God’s Word in them.
The Bible provides us with instructions on how to do this. Deuteronomy 6:6-7 encourages us to share God’s commands and His word with our children continuously, not just once in a while. We can do this at home, during family devotions, while doing everyday activities like cooking and cleaning, and by incorporating God’s word into everyday discussions. We should share the word of God with them when taking them to school, going shopping, visiting the library, attending church (i.e. to and from), and wherever else we go with our children.
Regardless of your child’s age, imparting the word of God to them is essential. Even with toddlers, planting the word of God in them is essential. While you might not see immediate results, as the child grows, you will begin to observe the seeds you have planted taking root, such as them singing Jesus’ songs, reading Bible storybooks on their own or with others, as they get to the age where they are able to read, and also engaging with Christian cartoons or children’s shows. Brethren, your children are extremely valuable to the Lord. They are a heritage from the Lord God as stated in Psalm 127:3; they are essential to His divine plan for the future and should be properly cared for and nurtured spiritually, physically and mentally. Our children are His vessels to propagate the kingdom, and He has entrusted them to us, making you and I steward over them.
Raising our young ones is a vital part of our primary assignment as parents, and it is necessary to seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit to help train them in the way of the Lord. Proverbs 22:6 emphasizes the significance of training children in the way they should go so that when they are older, they will not depart from it.
Now you may be saying to yourself as you read or listen to this message, why, despite praying for your young ones every day, studying the word of God with them, and ensuring they attend church services, they seem to drift away now that they are teenagers or young adults. The fundamental thing to remember as we care for these children, God has given to us is that we live in a fallen world, and just as God is interested in your child, so is satan. Satan consistently tends to replicate what God does, and children are a weapon or tool in his hand. His assignment is to use and destroy physically and spiritually. And sadly, we see that all around us, how so many young lives have been destroyed by the enemy through violence, drugs, suicide, and other means. John 10:10 states, “The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” Jesus came to give life, but the enemy’s job is to take it away. Once you understand this, you will realize the importance of never giving up on your children. Instead, continue to pray for them, intercede for them, always plead the blood of Jesus over them wherever they are.
Regardless of the lifestyle or behavior they are exhibiting, continue to pray and speak positive things into their lives. The words that you have planted in their lives will mature and eventually yield results at a time you least expected. As long as God has not given up on your child, you absolutely cannot give up on them. The mighty hand of God shall continue to shield our children from all manner of evil in Jesus’ name.
Beloved, teaching our children about God, His commands and His laws is so crucial to God as we see illustrated in our primary text. Fathers and mothers were commanded to teach God’s word diligently to their children, the word of God must be memorized, and written everywhere, if we read on to verse 9, it states “You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates”. It was important to God, that generations of believers emerge that genuinely love and worship God and are passionately willing to propagate the kingdom.
And so, I highly encourage you today to fortify your children, and any children under your care with the Word of God. The word of God brings life, transformation, peace, protection, divine health and strength into every life and heart. Pray the Word over your children daily as you also teach your children about the Lord and see Him move greatly in their lives. Be like the parents in Matthew 19:13-15 who brought their children to Jesus so He could lay hands on them and pray for them. Jesus received them and blessed the little ones despite disciples’ objection to having them there. My prayer for you today is that the Lord will continue to strengthen you as He uses you and others to impart divine knowledge through the Word of God into our young ones in Jesus’ name.
