Parenting is Tough

I’m daily praying for wisdom and help to know how to best raise my children. I’ve struggled because even at three, my precocious eldest son noticed everything. 

Every nuance of shows or commercials.  The covers of books, magazines, movies in the grocery store.

He had dreams in his little heart of being a hero, of getting the bad guys, of wanting to understand what IS a bad guy. He tried to figure out the world around him, and I struggled to find the right way to answer his questions, to talk to him about God’s plan, about a fallen, sick world with hurting people, and a Savior who came to rescue us from ourselves. 

I still struggle with not knowing how to protect him and his siblings. Every child is curious about different things and at different ages. 

But the questions and worries are shared, common to all parents. My husband and I certainly talk about them often.

When is the right time…?  How early do we allow…? How do we prevent…? What’s the best way to answer…? Oh Lord, give us grace. 

Parenting 101: Praying for My Children

For the last couple of weeks, I’ve been praying for the Holy Spirit to move in my children’s hearts.  In parenting, I’ve always prayed for them to know the deep love of the Father.  And for them to understand the grace, mercy, and compassion of Jesus. 

But I’m also praying now for the Holy Spirit to work, to bring softness, to draw my children all the days of their lives to have a heart that longs for GOOD.  A heart that loves purity.  A gentle spirit, with courage and strength, but not callousness. A heart that will continually seek after God.  

Talk to your Children about What they Think

And as questions come up: Mom, can I watch that show?  Mom, can I pretend to be the bad guy? I’ve been talking to my children about what Jesus asks us to think about the most: Things that are true, pure, noble, right, and good.

Young as they are, I’m parenting them about things that may be ok, but not the best, and that God calls us to live lives where we try to always choose the best. And when we don’t know what’s best, that’s when we ask Jesus. 

Philippians 4:8   …whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Verses that Deal with Our Hearts and Minds– Not just Our Actions

Matthew 5:8  Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. 

Psalm 51:10  Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. 

Psalm 24:3-6 Who may ascend the hill of the Lord? Who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god. They will receive blessing from the Lord and vindication from God their Savior. Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek Your face, God of Jacob.

A Prayer for Our Children

Jesus, when our children stumble and fail, teach them of the love and grace You have in endless supply for them. Father, when they are alone, afraid, making hard decisions that go against what their friends and the world may be telling them, give them the assurance of Your nearness, and the courage to do what’s right. 

Holy Spirit, cause the hearts of our children to be soft, always ready to hear and heed Your whisper. May they walk in the light of Your truth all the days of their lives.

May this be a generation who seek Jesus, whose hands are clean because they know the Mercy of God. Whose hearts have been made pure because they are surrendered to You.

May they be blessed from Your hand, and blameless in Your eyes. May this be a generation that seeks Your face above all else.

Amen