Do you have a generalized parenting plan that you tend to alter as result of trial and error? Are you utilizing the same techniques that your parents and grandparents utilized? Are you relying on your cultural and/or religious practices as the foundation for your parenting style? Do you seek God for strategies for parenting each of your children? Let’s Talk!
Real talk, releasing my parenting style, not relying on the influence of the people I cherish, unlearning the cultural and religious practices adopted during my upbringing, and allowing God to take control of the parenting within my household has been difficult. As a mother, I truly love my children and desire nothing shy of God’s best for them. I desire for them to avoid “the struggle” and hard way of learning things. I desire for them to be fed with a silver spoon instead of getting it out of the mud. I desire for them to be able to express their emotions and experiences to me freely. I desire to walk hand in hand with them throughout every situation. I desire to protect them from any manner of harm that threatens their lives, safety, or future success. And due to my desires, I found myself overly possessive of my children and in God’s way.
Parenting God’s way consists of individualized strategies which are derived from a child’s personal qualities, needs, thought processes, methods of learning, past experiences, desires, etc. Parents must come to the realization that as much as we believe that we know our children, God is the One who truly knows them from within (Psalm 139: 1-16). Why not trust Him to reveal to us how we need to raise our children? Why not cast down carnal guidelines when raising Godly children? Why don’t we reference the Word of God and pray for Holy Spirit to reveal strategies to us instead?
God is calling parents to follow His blueprint for parenting:
“Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it.” –Proverbs 22: 6 (NLT)
“The godly walk with integrity; blessed are their children who follow them.” –Proverbs 20: 7 (NLT)
“Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger in the way you treat them. Rather, bring them up with the discipline and instruction that comes from the Lord.” -Ephesians 6:4 (NLT)
“Fathers, do not aggravate your children, or they will become discouraged.” -Colossians 3:21 (NLT)
“Even if my father and mother abandon me, the Lord will hold me close.” -Psalm 27:10 (NLT)
Ephesians 6:4 is the key verse which supports this entire post. “That comes from the Lord” portion is the cheat code to parenting God’s way. We all know that the right path is God’s path. We must not only teach our children the right way, but we must lead them in the right way. How so? We must actually walk out the Word of God instead of just talking about it. Our children should see God through us. The “do as I say and not as I do” has never and will never be effective. Next, we must not provoke our children with our language or the way that we treat them. I know that at times our emotions run high, but we must not respond out of our emotions. Practice inviting God into those moments and seeking His direction on how you should respond. Finally, we can rest in Psalm 27:10 knowing that our children are covered and cared for by God Himself. While these scriptural references are generalized, I want to encourage you to pray for God’s specific strategies for each of your children. He will reveal them unto you. Ttyl!
Real Talk with Keve 