God’s Word has so much to say about parenting. In fact, the Bible is full of God’s instructions, encouragement, and truth for His own children. Today we’ll look at 7 ways we can grow and become the parents we want to be and 10 ways we can put God’s principles to work with our children.
We will, also, talk about “Delighting in the Lord” from Psalm 37 and look at Mary, the mother of Jesus. There is so much confusion about her. Does she intercede for believers? Just how should a Christian view her?
But first, parenting principles.
Today’s Readings:
Deuteronomy 5 & 6
Psalm 37.1-4
Proverbs 12.9
Luke 1.21-38
10 Steps to Parenting God’s Way
Deuteronomy 5 & 6:
Parenting God’s Way 101
Chapter 6.6-9 is one of the clearest passages on parenting God’s way. It says:
And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
First, we are to hide God’s Word in our own hearts. Then we are to faithfully teach it to our children, not just in formal ways, but as we go about our everyday activities—when we are relaxing at home or having a family dinner, when we are out running errands, when we go to bed at night and the first thing in the morning.
We should constantly look for ways to incorporate spiritual lessons into the events of everyday life. But we can’t do that unless He is an ever-present reality in our own lives—unless we’re aware of His involvement all the time, in the daily routines of life.
In the Nitty-Gritty
Do you stop to consider what He says when you feel the pressure to make a sale at work, when you have a fussy child, when the waiter gets your order wrong, when you feel unjustly accused, or when someone just zipped into your parking space?
Do you seek His guidance when faced with a decision or a choice to respond to some person or situation? And do you seek His peace when you are anxious or His ability to forgive when angry?
Is Jesus only someone you sing about on Sunday or is your relationship with Him a reality all the time?
Where is your Bible? Is it where you will see it and pick it up first thing in the morning or does it spend the week in the car with empty soda cups and gum wrappers until you carry it into church on Sunday?
And the last time you had a personality conflict, a fight with your spouse, or were treated unfairly… who was the first one you called? Your mom, your friend, or your Savior?
Is God on your mind when you lie down and when you rise up? Is He a “frontlet between your eyes”? That is, is He on your heart and in your mind all the time? If not, it will be next to impossible to parent God’s way. So, I first want to share 7 ways we can grow before we talk more about parenting.
7 Simple Ways to Start or Keep Growing Yourself
- Read a Psalm or two before going to sleep at night. If you’re anything like me, I don’t do well when I try to read anything “heavy-duty” at night. I sometimes try, but find myself reading the same paragraph over and over. But reading a little in the Psalms will help us go to sleep with God on our hearts and minds. “When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches” (Ps. 63.6).
- Read a chapter of Proverbs a day. There are 31 chapters. So making it a daily habit will take you through the book of wisdom every month. Try reading it over breakfast with your children or during your lunch hour at home or at work.
- Read through the gospels. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John have plenty to teach us about the life and character of our Savior.
- Find a Bible-reading plan and make it a daily habit.
- Take the time to think about what you have read and how it applies to your life.
- Do some regular biblical self-examination. You can read more about that here along with a free printable.
- Talk to the Lord about what you’ve read and learned about yourself. Ask for His help as you seek to grow and change, personally, and as you seek to parent God’s way.
Why not choose one or two and get started?
But don’t wait until you think you’ve “arrived.” When it comes to knowing God’s Word, none of us has arrived. Learning God’s Word is a lifelong journey. Begin applying what you know and sharing it with your children if you aren’t already. Now here are 10 steps to parenting God’s way.
10 Steps to Parenting God’s Way
- Stop and pray when you or your kids need help, are faced with a decision, or must deal with difficult people (Jas. 1.5). You’ll be teaching them to depend on God and not themselves.
- Teach and model humility by being quick to admit when you are wrong and be willing to ask for and grant forgiveness to others, even when it’s difficult (Matt. 5.23-24, 6.14-15, 7.3-5).
- Teach and model overcoming evil with good (Rom. 12.17-21).
- Learn to communicate biblically. You can study the 4 rules of biblical communication here. They include speaking the truth in love (Eph. 4.15, 25) and using words that are edifying and full of grace (Eph. 4.29). They also involve not clamming up, giving the silent treatment, or letting the sun go down on your anger (Eph. 4.26). You can learn to attack the real problem (Eph. 4.29, 31-32) and replace sinful anger with a God-honoring response (Eph. 4.31-32).
- Model the importance of being part of God’s family by being involved in a biblically sound church (Heb. 10.25).
- Teach and demonstrate respect for authority (Eph. 5.21, 6.1-3; Rom. 13.1-7). Don’t expect your children to respect your authority or any other if they hear you talk disparagingly about your boss and civil authorities or if you don’t back up their teachers and other people in their lives.
- Teach and model the importance of integrity in all you do. That means going back into the store when you realize you forgot to pay for something. It means not taking advantage of others or trying to get something for nothing (Lk. 6.31).
- Be consistent with discipline even when you’re tired or stressed (Eph. 6.4). But never discipline in anger (Eph. 4.29, 31-21). Parenting God’s way takes work and reliance on God.
- Have family devotions (Deut. 6.6-9). There are many books and resources available for every age level, but be sure to include simple Bible reading and discussion. Keep it age-appropriate. A good book on the subject is Family Worship by Donald Whitney.
- Let them see you pray and read your Bible regularly (Josh. 1.8; 2 Tim. 2.15, 3.16-17; Eph. 6.18; 1 Thess. 5.17).
Note: If you missed yesterday’s post, “How to Get Unstuck & Start Growing” be sure to take the time to read it. It’s extremely important to your children’s view of the Christian life.
Other Posts on Parenting God’s Way:
“One of the Most Important Parenting Principles”
“Parenting, Generational Sin & Personal Accountability”
“Is There a Formula for Parenting?”
“Parenting: Why Consequences Are Important”
“Christian Parenting & The Need for a Change in Goals”
Today’s Other Readings:
Psalm 37.1-4:
Delighting in the Lord
Delight yourself also in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart (v. 4).
What does it mean to “delight yourself in the Lord”? It’s about finding your deepest joy and “delight” in Him! It’s about spending time with Him in His Word and allowing Him to put His desires in your heart.
Proverbs 12.8:
Wisdom & Stupidity
A man will be commended according to his wisdom, but he who is of a perverse heart will be despised.
A person who has a reputation for wisdom will be sought out and praised, but a foolish person will be despised in the end. The New Century Version says it this way, “The wisdom of the wise wins praise, but there is no respect for the stupid.”
Proverbs 31.10-31 talks about the characteristics of a wise and virtuous woman. The passage ends by saying, “Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates” (Prov. 31.31). Wisdom and godliness stand out! People notice and, though they may not always acknowledge it (because God’s wisdom is convicting, as well), they will ultimately see the difference.
Luke 1.21-38:
Mary, Saint or Sinner?
Mary, her name brings to mind many different images according to our cultural and religious upbringing and understanding. We name our babies after her. Some pray to her, revere her, and believe she can intervene and do miraculous things.
But as Christians, how should we view her?
We should respect her. She willingly risked her reputation and, possibly her life, and chose to trust in God. Since she was “betrothed” to Joseph, sex with someone else would have been considered adultery and punishable by stoning.
She risked her relationship with Joseph. She had no way of knowing whether he would believe her and apart from God’s intervention, he didn’t. And she risked her relationship with her parents. They could have cast her out.
We can learn from her willingness to trust God, despite, all those possibilities.
But she is not God. She is not the queen of heaven and she is no more a saint than any other follower of Christ. Neither can she answer prayers or intervene on our behalf. She was a fallen person just like you and me, and she needed her Son to be her Lord and Savior just as much as each one of us!
Closing Thoughts:
What are you willing to risk for the cause of Christ? What’s more important to you—pleasing God or pleasing people?
Would you obey God in the face of persecution, imprisonment, ridicule, or death?
How are you doing in your parenting? Is God at the center? In what ways could you improve?
May God shine the light of truth into our hearts and help us to be willing to follow Him in any and all circumstances.
Coming Up:
In the coming days, we’ll look at self-righteousness, what can keep us from becoming discouraged, and what the Bible has to say about animal rights. We will, also, look at warnings about fortune tellers and their lot, talk about how trusting God applies to our choices, and discuss when to help (especially our grown children) and when to get out of the way.
I hope you’ll sign up so you don’t miss any of them.
This year I’ve added a couple of new features. First, check out the “Free Resources” tab at the top. You’ll find a downloadable, printable PDF with “Going Deeper Study Questions” for each day’s readings and a list of all the Bible readings so you can check them off as you go. You’ll also find the readings for each day on YouTube. The daily emails now have a link to both these Soul Survival posts and the YouTube videos. If you’re not already signed up, you can do it here.
Blessings as you grow in Christ,
Donna ♥
Note about this post:
I began blogging through the Bible in 2012 and have done so every year since then. These posts are the product of many edits and additions throughout those years. Some days I make major changes, other days fewer.
A while ago, I read Jen Wilkin’s book None Like Him about the attributes of God. One is His incomprehensibility. In it, she says, “God is incomprehensible. This does not mean that he is unknowable, but that he is unable to be fully known.”
I have found that to be true each year as I’ve gone back through the Bible. Sometimes I find myself feeling as if a passage just appeared there for the first time. I’m reminded that no matter how many times we read through the Bible, we have only scratched the surface. I hope you feel the same.
Indeed these are the mere edges of His ways,
And how small a whisper we hear of Him!
But the thunder of His power who can understand?” (Job 26.14)
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