At times I wish there was a formula for raising kids. One that if we follow, our kids will turn out the way we want them to—making wise decisions and loving the Lord, their families, and others. And if we aren’t careful, we can almost start believing there is. But the truth is, each of our children will make their own choices about what they believe and how they will live. Does that mean it doesn’t matter how we parent? Absolutely not. Instead we are called to intentional parenting.
We aren’t responsible for results, but we are responsible for our attitudes and actions. We are responsible for loving our children, training, and discipling them.
This is a sponsored post. I was given access to the course and compensated for my time in writing an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Obeying God’s Word in Our Parenting
I’ve always found the story of Samson’s parents interesting. First the Angel of the Lord appears to his mother and tells her,
Behold, you are barren and have not borne children, but you shall conceive and bear a son. Therefore be careful and drink no wine or strong drink, and eat nothing unclean, for behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. No razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb, and he shall begin to save Israel from the hand of the Philistines. (Judges 13:3b-5)
When his wife shares the message with him, Manoah prays that the Angel will appear again to teach them what they should do for the child. And the Lord answers his prayer. Manoah asks,
What will be the boy’s rule of life, and his work? (Judges 13:12)
You’ll notice that the Angel of the Lord doesn’t answer Manoah’s question, “What will be the boy’s rule of life, and his work?” Instead he is only told what they as parents are to do.
So the Angel of the Lord said to Manoah, “Of all that I said to the woman let her be careful. She may not eat anything that comes from the vine, nor may she drink wine or similar drink, nor eat anything unclean. All that I commanded her let her observe.” (Judges 13:13-14)
Much like Samson’s parents, we aren’t told “the rest of the story.” But we are given guidance about what we as parents should do—sometimes directly, and sometimes through the principles we learn.
Intentional Parenting: Scriptures That Teach Us How to Parent
Scripture is definitely not silent on parenting. We can learn by looking at the lives of parents recorded in the Word of God. But there are also some direct instructions.
__________
Related: You Don’t Have to Enjoy Every Minute of Motherhood to be A Great Mom
__________
1. We learn in Deuteronomy 6:4-9, that we are to pass along our faith to the next generation.
Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. 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.
2. Proverbs 22:6 tells us we are to train our children in the way that they should go, or “according to their bent.”
Train up a child in the way he should go;
even when he is old he will not depart from it.
3. And Ephesians 6:4 admonishes us to not provoke our children, but instead to “bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”
Discipline means “the whole training and education of children (which relates to the cultivation of mind and morals, and employs for this purpose now commands and admonitions, now reproof and punishment).” While the phrase bring them up means “to nourish up to maturity, to nourish; to nurture, bring up”
Isn’t that why we homeschool? To train, educate, and nurture our children? Homeschooling is really about discipleship.
__________
Related: How Do I Homeschool? 4 Guiding Principles from Scripture
__________
Help for Intentional Parenting
Kathie Morrissey of The Character Corner has created the course, Building a Strong Foundation: 5 Pillars of Biblical Parenting, to help you be more intentional in your parenting. To disciple them.
This 5 week video course contains:
- 18 VIDEOS – Each video averages between 5 and 15 minutes
- A workbook to go with each of the 5 units that includes a listening guide, place for notes, and actions steps
- A bonus video on First Time Obedience
- A printable prayer journal
Watching the videos is like sitting across the table with your mentor. Someone who is a little further down the road and will walk alongside you in your parenting journey. Kathie and her husband Alan have eight children, and Kathie was a homeschooling mom for 31 years. So she has a little experience and wisdom to share 😉
You can grab a cup of coffee, watch the video, and take notes. But most importantly you can end your time with making a plan to take action. The videos, though filled with wisdom, aren’t too long. And that means you can spend more time doing instead of listening.
That is the most important part. We can learn and learn and learn, but it will make no difference in our family’s life if we don’t put it into practice. Kathie’s practical tips make it possible.
With this course you’ll be able to:
- See what the Bible says about building your child’s faith
- Learn how your children develop character
- See and develop a practical plan for training your kids in Godly character
- See what the purpose of Biblical discipline is
- Learn how to train your child’s heart with Scripture
- See how to take the frustration out of discipline
- Recognize why it is vital to build a strong relationship with your child
- Recognize mistakes that hurt the parent/child relationship
- Put ideas into practice that will win your child’s heart
- Pray more specifically for your children
Kathie will lead you through five pillars of parenting: building your child’s faith, building your child’s character, Biblical discipline, relationship, and prayer.
If you want to build a strong foundation for your family, join Kathie for this 5 week video/workbook course. You will receive encouragement, practical help, and action steps which you can apply to your parenting immediately. Bring peace and joy to your home, as you connect to the hearts of your children, and watch God work as you build these pillars and lay a strong foundation.
Get your copy of Building a Strong Foundation: 5 Pillars of Biblical Parenting! Register Today!
✤
Scripture quotations are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. May not copy or download more than 500 consecutive verses of the ESV Bible or more than one half of any book of the ESV Bible.