Parenting: Challenges And Promises - Sis Jean George

BANGALORE, India - Feb. 21, 2014 - PRLog -- Parenting can be a difficult and challenging venture, but at the same time can be the most rewarding and fulfilling thing we ever do.

Biblical perspective of children:

Children should be viewed from God's perspective children are a heritage, an inheritance - they are a reward- they are a blessing- not a burden Psalm 127:3

Children are a stewardship entrusted to parents- they are your greatest legacy

Biblical perspective of parents:

1. Teaching the truth of God's word:  Deut 6:7-9

2. Bringing  the children up in the nurturance and admonition of the Lord Eph 6:4

Premise for Christian parenting:
1. Knowing God and having a personal relationship with God is crucial to our relationship with our children.
2. Trust in the covenant keeping character of God (Genesis 15)
3. God is our perfect parent.
4. Marriage relationship -

Speaking blessings in Bible times
Early in the Bible, the power of God's people to speak blessing upon one another is clearly shown. Blessings are irrevocable

Noah blesses Shem and Japheth  Gen 9:26-27
God blesses Abraham  Gen  12:3; 18:18; 22:16-18
Isaac blesses his sons Gen 27
Jacob blesses each son by name
Jewish tradition- laying on of hands by the father every Sabbath

Why should I speak the promises of God over my children?
The word of God is just not words they are God's words. The word of God is inspired so you can trust it to be accurate to accomplish what it was sent for.  2 Tim 3:17
As parents we have the power to speak life or death to our children. Prov 18:21
There will be a manifestation of the Word.  Is 55:11

Areas in your child's life to nurture and speak God's promises

1. For their salvation:

Parenting responsibility is to reflect God's love. Teaching children about God - is our responsibility. Salvation is not automatic but requires us as parents to be a partner with God.

We can be confident that we are praying in accordance to God's will when we pray for our children's salvation- 2 Pe 3:9 " not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance."

CHALLENGE: Even if your children are presently walking in darkness and refusing to acknowledge the truth you embrace, don't give in to discouragement.
Jer 31:16-17
Isa 43:5-7

2. For the love of God's word

Our greatest example is Jesus when he was tempted by Satan- he doesn't use his intellectual ability, physical strength or his willpower to fight the devil- but all three times he uses God's word and says It is written (3). Our prayer need to be that their hearts will be good soil that will hear the word, retain it and persevere to produce a crop of godly character  and that the worries, riches or pleasures of life will not choke the word and make it unfruitful in their lives

CHALLENGE: for a parent to be able to use every opportunity to use as interactions to make it a teachable moment. Ps 119:105- using the word of God to direct them

3.  For wisdom and discernment:

Speaking God's promises over our children to gain wisdom- We can never be sure they will make the right decisions unless they have the gift of wisdom and revelation and discernment and also a ear tuned to hear and obey God's voice. The only way to get this is to seek God for them
Isaiah 30:21
Prov 9:10
Prov 4:5-7

When we ask God to give our children wisdom and discernment we aren't asking that they make right choices but we are setting them up for an intimacy with Christ- in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge Col 2:3

Few of the treasures that wisdom does for our kids are:

Provides direction and purpose in life Prov 3:5-6
Lead to happiness, true riches and a long life Prov 3:13-17
Insight into the character of others and protection from evil Prov 7:4-5
The wisdom they use will bring joy to you as parents Prov 10:1
It even brightens their face and appearance Ecc 8:1

4. For their character as they view others: Speaking God's promises over our children that they be clothed with compassion, humility, gentleness and patience Col 3:12

When we pray for our kids' lives to be marked with Christ like compassion, it opens the door for God to work on their attitudes as well as their actions 1 John 3:18

For their character as they view themselves: self control, diligence and their self discipline

Titus 2: 6-8
1 Peter 5: 8-9
1 peter 1:13

CHALLENGES: Rebellion, difficulty to submit to authority, immediate gratification

5. For their spiritual protection/ fighting for the hearts of your children: Asking God to protect our children from physical harm- something that is visible- is a prayer that it is often prayed for by us as parent, but more potent are the dangers that are in the spiritual realm.

Psalm 34:7
Matt 6:13
James 4: 7-8
Psalm 141: 9-10

6. For their relationships:

Relationship with you as a parent: A child's view of parental authority becomes the cornerstone of his outlook on school authority, teachers, employers, the law and others he eventually will work with. More importantly, if the child learns to love, trust and obey parents he will have an easier time reaching this level of intimacy with God.
Eph 6:1-3
Prov 1:8; 29:3
Prov 6:20-23
Malachi 4:6

We must speak that our kids will choose their companions wisely recognizing that bad company corrupts good character 1 Cor 15:33
Speak that they have friends who long after righteousness 2 Tim 2:22

Challenge: Guidance for children kids in bad company

7. For their life's purpose: Speak into their future with hope and confidence knowing that God loves them and has a specific purpose in their lives.
Jer 29:11-13
I Thess 1:11-12
Psalm 138:8
Prov 19:11

HOPE FOR THE CHILDLESS:
Joshua 1:9. Be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you..."

1 John 5:14-15: And this is our confidence, that if we pray according to His will, He will hear us, and give us what we ask for, because our desires are in agreement with His thoughts for us.

Psalm 113:9 He grants the barren woman a home, Like a joyful mother of children.

Conclusion:
Remember that it is none of our doing but only his presence and because he is a covenant keeping God that our children will be taken care of.  The good news is that God is not bound by our human failings. No matter how many parenting mistakes we make His grace is more than sufficient to cover it all up. No matter how many things we do right in terms of pointing our kids to Christ we cannot make them love the Lord.  But he stays true to his promises and will keep his covenant with us and our children. The sooner we realize that it is not about what we do but about what God does, the sooner we will stop focusing on ourselves and our weakness and begin focusing on God and His power.
This understanding of His presence and His covenant free us from parenting out of fear and start parenting out of faith.  2 Tim 1:7

All your children will be taught of the Lord and have great peace. Is 54:13

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