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Honestly, with so many voices telling us what is quote unquote true, how do we know which ones to trust? And how do we help our children know the difference? The world's messages will continue to change, but God's word will always remain true. Welcome to God Says So, the scripture-rooted podcast created to help Christian moms just like you grow in God's word, strengthen your faith, live by what God says, and pass his truth on to the children you love. So the next generation grows up rooted in Scripture. Hi, I'm Donna, and I hope that you'll feel right at home here. Together, we'll find encouragement and joy in what God says. You'll leave with one practical way to bring his truth into your everyday family life. So come join me. I can't wait to share today's message with you. Since this is our very first episode together, I thought the best place for us to begin would be by talking about the purpose behind God says so, what those words really mean, and why this matters for our families and the next generation. At the foundation of God Says So is the Bible. Knowing that God's word is truth and trusting what He says to guide the way we live. The Bible reveals who God is, teaches us his ways, and guides us in how to think, how to live, how to respond, and how to make choices in the ordinary moments of everyday life. Like when things something happens, right? And you are faced with a decision, you can choose to forgive, to tell the truth, to be patient, to show kindness, or to do something differently, because that is what God's word teaches. And someone may ask, Why would you do it that way? And your answer is because God says so. You are saying, I trust God, I trust his word. And as Isaiah 55, 8 through 9 reminds us, his ways are higher than our ways, and his thoughts are higher than our thoughts. But this mission does not end with us. Our children are growing up surrounded by voices telling them what to believe, who they are, and how they should live. Those message will messages will continue to change, and some of them will directly contradict what God says. We cannot make every choice for our children or protect them from every influence that they will encounter. But while they are young, we can give them a strong foundation. We can open God's word with them, we can pray with them, we can talk about what God says, and we could show them what following Jesus looks like through the way we live. One scripture, one prayer, one conversation, and one faithful step at a time, we are planting seeds of faith. So we plant the seeds and we trust God to bring the growth. Then as our children grow into teenagers and young adults, as they make decisions, form relationships, enter marriage, and perhaps raise children of their own, our prayer is that they will know God, trust His Word, and understand where to turn for truth. And one day, by God's grace, they can pass that truth on to the next generation. That is the heart of God says so. Christian families with Jesus at the center, living by God's word and passing his truth from one generation to the next. And it begins with us knowing God's word, living by what he says, and faithfully passing it on. Jesus said in John 17, 17, Your Word is truth. That is where we begin. Not with what culture says, not with what is currently popular, not even with what we happen to be feeling in the moment. We begin with what God says. Because opinions change, culture changes, circumstances change, and our feelings, they can change from one moment to the next. But God's word does not change. Isaiah 48 is the foundational scripture for God says so. It says, The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of our God stands forever. So God's word is not temporary, it does not become outdated, his word is true, eternal, and trustworthy. Now that doesn't mean every decision we face will have like one specific Bible verse telling us exactly what to do. But Scripture reveals who God is, teaches us his ways, and gives us wisdom for the choices we face. But I know where the truth is found, and it's found in God's word. And as mothers, grandmothers, aunts, and teachers, we have the sacred privilege of helping the children we love discover that truth for themselves. Now our children are watching how we live. They notice what we turn to and how we act when life feels difficult. And they notice whether our faith is something we talk about only on Sunday, or is it something that shapes the way we live every single day? Now, please hear me when I say this. Our children do not need us to be perfect. You do not need to be perfect. But they need to hear us say things like, let's see what God says. They need to watch us open our Bibles, pray when we need wisdom, ask God for forgiveness when we get something wrong, and trust Him when we do not understand what He is doing. That is how faith becomes part of everyday family life. So here's one practical way that I want to share with you today. Choose one scripture and bring it into one everyday family moment this week. You can begin with Isaiah 48. Read it for yourself first. Think about what it tells you about God and his word. Then share it with your child at breakfast in the car after school or before bedtime. You do not need to prepare a lesson or have a long conversation. You could simply say, God's word is always true. Even when other things can change, we can trust what God says. Start with that. And those small faithful moments matter. You know, if you would like some help choosing scriptures to begin sharing and praying over your children, I created a free guide for you called Seven Scriptures to Pray Over the Children You Love. You can download it at Godsaysso dot com or you could use the link in the show notes. But before we finish, let's pray. Heavenly Father, thank you for giving us your word. Thank you that your truth does not change and that we can trust what you say. Help us grow in your word and live by your truth. God, give us wisdom as we teach, guide, and encourage the children you have placed in our lives. Let them see our faith being lived out, not perfectly, but faithfully as we learn to follow Jesus together. In Jesus' mighty name, Amen. Come back for the next episode. Okay, so we're going to talk about how to begin praying God's word over your child, even if it feels new or unfamiliar. You do not need perfect words or long prayers. We'll begin with one scripture and one prayer at a time. Oh, wait, one more thing. If the Holy Spirit puts someone on your heart while you were listening to this episode, would you please share this podcast with them? And together, we can reach more families, all for God's glory. Until next time, stay rooted in Scripture, live by what God says, and pass it on.