Discipleship/Parenting

Discipleship and Parenting are HARD.  They are really one and the same, if done properly.  There are so many similarities.

If you are truly discipling/parenting someone, it is rewarding, discouraging, greatest joy you will ever know, dissappointing, hanging in there when you are DONE, being honest even when it hurts, exhausting, time-consuming, fulfiling, gives you purpose, etc.  I could go on and on.  Those who have discipled or parented someone know all those emotions.

That is why the church is lacking in true discipleship.  Why it is a challenge for me, too.  It is not always easy, rather is almost never easy.  Because they do not know, so you constantly are having to teach, pour, direct to the Word.  And then when they don't listen and do the same stuff they have always done and mess up, you have to be there to build them back up again, and encourage them and remind them to turn to Jesus again, and not you.

But Lee and I have seen this effective in so many lives in our past.  Lives that were completely turned around because of Jesus and someone discipling them...for the long haul.  Because we are his hands and feet.  That means He does the work, we are just the body He needs to communicate through at first.

I think of how many times I have to lay aside my own to-do list to walk through something with someone, but it is always worth it.  Or most of the time.  Because we have a free-will.  And just because someone turns their life over to Christ doesn't mean they always walk it out.  They have the choice to walk away.  Because that is easier.  Or seems so at the time.  But it is still worth it.  There comes a point obviously, where you need to let them be on their own, but at first every new believer needs a seasoned believer to walk, every day with them.

Praying with someone to accept Jesus is easy.  Praying with someone day after day, is hard, but still easy.  It just depends on your heart.  Are you able to put aside some of your agenda to walk with Him in His agenda? 

Trust me, His agenda is always more fulfilling.