Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. 3 John 1:2 (NKJV)
It’s important to guard your beliefs.
If you guard what you believe to make sure it lines up with what God says in His Word, you’ll do well. You’ll have peace in your mind, a confidence in God’s promises and control over your emotions… and this will cause you to experience success in life. In other words, where your soul is prosperous, you’ll have health and prosperity.
When you think about it, your family also has a set of shared beliefs, which result in a common way of handling emotions. Some families avoid all confrontation. Others scream and fight out their differences. Still others handle conflict constructively without belittling or dominating.
Just as you need to protect your personal beliefs, you need to aggressively guard and protect the shared beliefs of your family. For example, never laugh at sin or make it seem insignificant. I’m not saying you should be judgmental, but don’t tell kids animated stories about your old lifestyle if it wasn’t a great example.
One man I know often told entertaining stories about the trouble he used to get into when he did drugs. This man didn’t guard the beliefs of his family. He made that old life seem more fun and exciting than his new life with Jesus, and one of his kids is addicted to drugs today.
As a parent, grandparent, family member or even as a peer, you have the ability to influence those around you. Let them see you enjoy an exciting life of serving Jesus because your example is powerful.