Parenting on Target

Posted by Tim

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Proverbs has much to say about being godly parents striving to raise godly children. It must be remembered that parenting is not for the faint of heart. The goal of Christian parenting is not simply to produce well-behaved children but to raise up wise and godly descendants. There are no shortcuts. Successful parenting will require diligence and immersion is seeking God's will and applying God's Word.

The Task? Training our children and our grandchildren for living well in God's world, in God's way, informed by God's Word. "Now the boy Samuel was growing in stature and in favor both with the LORD and with men." 1 Samuel 2:26

The Target? The heart! It is not enough to parent for externals...we need to find what reaches the heart. "Give me your heart, my son, and let your eyes delight in my ways." Proverbs 23:26

The Territory? Parents beware! The deck is stacked against us! The heart that we are trying to reach is the heart bound up in foolishness, the heart that is deceitful, filled with wickedness and evil intent... "Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child..." Proverbs 22:15

"The LORD has looked down from heaven upon the sons of men, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one." Psalm 14:2-3

The Training!

• Intentional instruction... "My son, observe the commandment of your father, and do not forsake the teaching of your mother; bind them continually on your heart; tie them around your neck. When you walk about, they will guide you; when you sleep, they will watch over you; and when you awake, they will talk to you." Proverbs 6:20-22
• Timely intervention... "Discipline your son, and he will give you peace; he will bring delight to your soul." Proverbs 29:17
• Appropriate consequences... "How blessed is the man who fears always, but he who hardens his heart will fall into calamity." Proverbs 28:14
• Living example... "My son, give me your heart and let your eyes keep to my ways..." Proverbs 23:26

What are you doing in order to...

• take the time that is necessary to determine the condition of the heart of your child?
• stop long enough to look and listen?
• model personal purity?
• live a life worthy of imitation?
• allow the Sprit to permeate your parenting with wisdom?
• allow God, the Perfect Parent, to teach you to parent well?

What parent wouldn't want to raise a Daniel, or a Joseph, or an Esther?

"My son, if your heart is wise, my own heart also will be glad; and my inmost being will rejoice, when your lips speak what is right" Proverbs 23:15-16