Every prayer you pray, every family devotional time you have, every truth about God that you put in your children's hearts, is like a little seed you are planting in their lives.
Sure, it's hard work. It's a daily task. You have to keep planting and watering those seeds. You have to keep nurturing those tender shoots. Sometimes you have to prune a little here and cut a little there. And it's painful. It's tough. It's a lifetime commitment. But if you do these things someday those seeds will bear fruit.
The harvest may not come when you think it should. Strong winds may blow, and heavy rains may fall. At times you may think those seeds have died in the ground. But someday you will see a harvest of righteousness in that child's life.
"For as the rain and snow come down from the heavens, and return not there again, but water the earth and make it bring forth the sprout, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, So shall My word be that goes forth out of My mouth; it shall not return to Me void - without producing any effect, useless - but it shall accomplish that which I please and purpose, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it" (Isa. 55:10-11 Amp.).
God is faithful! When you obey Him and do all you can to raise your kids to love and serve Him, He will honor your efforts. When you plant His Word in their hearts and lives, it will not return void. It will bear fruit - not necessarily in your time, but in God's time.
"They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him" (Ps. 126:5-6).
There is a harvest coming if you don't give up as a parent. So keep teaching your children God's Word. Keep praying for them and with them. Keep taking them to church. Be faithful. It will pay off in eternal dividends.
Excerpt permission granted by Harrison House Publishers
Buddy Harrison and his wife, Pat, were co-founders of Faith Christian Fellowship International Church. He served as president of the organization from 1978 until he went home to be with the Lord on November 28, 1998. 
