As parents, we are privileged to mold a life that will live forever. This life will be greatly affected by the kind of teaching that is received from the parent. What an awesome responsibility we have!
What is your vision for your family? It’s easy to view academics as an end in itself, but no amount of education can guarantee success for our children.
God’s vision for prosperity and success is found in Joshua 1:8.
This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
We need to talk about God’s Word, meditate on it, and obey it. This should be our guide as we strive to teach and train our children!
I want to share 3 keys to help us be successful in our parenting.
1st Key to Success: Continual Focus on the Bible
As parents, we must make it a priority to spend time in God’s Word. As we focus on God and His Word, the teaching of His Word will be a natural outpouring of our thought life. We talk about what we are excited about, worried about, focused on, etc. So it only makes sense that if we want to give our kids a love for God and His Word, we have to make sure that He is first in our life and thoughts. As a result, it will be a natural thing all through the day to talk about what God is doing in your life. Your kids will sense your love for God, and your desire to please Him in everything.
It is said that faith is caught, not taught. If we want our kids to have a real relationship with the Lord, we need to make sure WE have one. We can’t force their hearts to love God, but we can give them a thirst for Him by our example.
You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink…BUT, you can salt his oats! What are you doing to give your kids a thirst for God?
Make the Word of God the focus of everything you do, and build everything around it. Get your kids excited about reading the Bible as soon as they start learning phonics. Gradually help them develop the habit of daily reading His Word. Make a big deal out of the importance of this habit. We make sure they brush their teeth daily, bathe, and do their schoolwork. How much more important it is to see that they develop a spiritual habit that will have a positive impact on them for the rest of their lives! God has specifically promised to bless, prosper, and protect those who focus on His Word.
2nd Key to Success: Growth in Character
Since Godly character springs from a deep relationship with Jesus, it rests on the foundation of faith. As your child learns to read God’s Word, memorize, and obey it, he will then be able to grow in character.
The most important fruit we can nurture in our children is character. If our kids learn nothing but character alone, they will be better prepared for life than those who are taught pure academics, but no character.
Be sure and teach character regularly. Have a plan, and every morning after everyone has had their time in God’s Word, have a lesson on character. You can also teach character all through the day as you encourage kindness, diligence, initiative, etc.
3rd Key to Success: Prayer
One of the most important parts of teaching and training our children is the prayer that goes on behind the scenes. Prayer is the most important part of raising our children, because God can do what we can’t do! We need to saturate the lives of our children in prayer.
I often tell parents that we need to work as though it all depends on us, but pray as though it all depends on God. We need to seek His wisdom in training our children, then use His Word to teach them, while praying the whole time that God will take that teaching of His Word, and work in their hearts!
God invites us to come to Him in prayer, and we have His power available to us, but so often we fail to take advantage of it. If you haven’t already done so, may I encourage you to make a commitment to pray daily for your children? None of us can be perfect as parents, but we can all be praying parents!
Never forget or under estimate the influence God has given you as a parent, as you teach and train your children for Him. Keep His Word as your focus, character training as a top priority, and regularly claim His power in prayer!
Kathie
Latest posts by Kathie (see all)
- 10 Time Management Secrets Every Homeschooling Mom Should Know - April 14, 2025
- 4 Keys to Homeschool Success - April 14, 2025
- 7 Tips for When You Feel Like A Bad Mom - April 14, 2025
- Three Homeschool Priorities - April 14, 2025
- 4 Tips For Frustration-Free Discipline - April 14, 2025
Leave a Reply