Peace in Parenting...

**Post from the Past**
Due to busyness in and out of the home,
physical tiredness, and a bit of writer's block,
blogging/commenting/emailing
is and likely will be just a little scarce this week.
To break the bloggie silence,
I thought I would re-post an 'oldie'.
Hope y'all are enjoying your week.




Peace in Parenting

Parenting is an adventure.
One that causes a rollercoaster ride of many emotions.
From love, pride, happiness and joy,
to sorrow, failure, fear, and hopelessness.
In the midst of this adventure and all the emotions,
our Heavenly Father desires for us to experience His peace.
"And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding,
shall keep your hearts and minds through Jesus Christ."
~ Philippians 4:7

How can we have that peace?


~ Plant ~

Plant God's Word in their heart.
"All scripture is given by inspiration of God,
and is profitable for doctrine,
for reproof, for correction,
for instruction in righteousness:"
2 Timothy 3:16

Begin at birth.
Moses, Timothy (2 Tim.3:15),
Samuel (1 Sam.1), and Jesus (Luke 2:40)
are Bible examples of the value
of early childhood training.
Numerous Scripture instructs parents
to train and teach their children
in the way of the Lord.
(Prov.22:6; Is.28:9-10,54:13; Joel 1:3;
Dueteronomy 6:6-13; Ps.34:11)

Jesus says in John 21:15
that when we love Him,
we feed His lambs.
When we feed His lambs,
"...our sons may be as plants
grown up in their youth;
...our daughters my be as corner stones,
polished after the similitude of a palace."
Psalm 144:12


~ Prepare ~

As they grow older,
they reach a point of crossing over.
Crossing over from childhood to adulthood,
steering from dependence
to the direction of independence.
They become too old for 'this'
and not old enough for 'that'.
While we remain an authority,
we become more of an influence.
This is a crucial time.

We need to continue
feeding them God's Word,
and also need to teach them
how to defend their faith.
They need to know what they believe
and why they believe it.
Romans 14:5 says,
"...let every man be fully persuaded
in his own mind."
It is also a time to protect and provide.
Protect ~ they are still under
our umbrella of protection and we are responsible
for what we allow them to be exposed to.
Provide ~ we also need to provide them
with opportunities to "live and learn".
They can be allowed
to make choices and face consequences
while still being under our umbrella.
This is a time our hearts can be blessed
and broken...all in the same day.
This requires patience and prayer.


~ Pray ~

We intercede for their lives
when we pray for our children.
Only God can change hearts, minds, and lives.
Our Heavenly Father knows
our thoughts, needs, and desires
but He responds to our prayers.
"And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name,
that will I do, that the Father
may be glorified in the Son.
If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it."
~ John 14:13-14

We need to remember
that our children are His children
and He loves them and cares for them
more than we are even capable of.
"Let us therefore come boldly
unto the throne of grace..."
~ Hebrews 4:16
We need to pray specifically for our children.
Nothing is too small or too big
to bring before the Lord.

We need to keep in mind
that His plans for our children
are different than our plans for them...
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD."
~ Isaiah 55:8

We need to be vigilant...
"Be sober, be vigilant;
because your adversary the devil,
as a roaring lion, walketh about,
seeking whom he may devour" ~ 1 Peter 5:8

We need to pray frequently...
"Pray without ceasing." ~ 1 Thess. 5:17
and we need to pray fervently...
"...The effectual fervent prayer
of a righteous man availeth much."~ James 5:16

We do not need to fear
(ex, they won't turn out right, etc...).
1 John 4:18 says,
"There is no fear in love;
but perfect love casteth our fear",
but we can have the
"...peace of God
which passeth all understanding..."
~ Philippians 4:7


~ Patience ~

Just as all children
physically grow at different times,
the same is true with spiritual growth.
Just because we do not see
certain evidences in their lives or character,
doesn't mean the Holy Spirit isn't working in their hearts.
Only God knows the heart.
"...for the LORD seeth not as man seeth;
for man looketh on the outward appearance
but the LORD looketh on the heart" (1 Sam.16:7)
His timing is not our timing.
"He hath made everything beautiful
in HIS time..." (Ecc. 3:11)

Know that He is doing a good work in our children
and He is faithful to complete it:
"Being confident of this very thing,
that he which hath begun a good work in you
will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:" ~ Phil.1:6

We also need to realize that He is wanting
to use this 'adventure' in parenting
to strengthen our faith and grow us, too.
Raising children (little ones and older ones)
truly does exercies our faith.
James 1:3 says,
"Knowing this,
that the trying of your faith worketh patience."
Psalm 37:7 says,
"Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him..."


May we trust Him and rest upon Him
and have peace in parenting
knowing that He is in control.
"And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee;
he will be with thee, he will not fail thee,
neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed."
~ Deuteronomy 31:8


~ Christina K © December 2004