“Parenting is hard”. My friend announced their family motto. I agree with her 100%.
There’s the delicate balance between “training them in the nurture and admonition of the Lord” and all that entails, and the work that only the Lord can do in a heart.
We require obedience, but obedience must ultimately be from a heart of love. We teach them character, to be thankful, to be cheerful to be servant-minded, but all those things must spring from a heart that acts in gratitude toward a risen Savior.
Sometimes it all seems to flow together naturally. Sometimes we see the two realities merging together down the road.
But sometimes, we see the Deceptor’s hand at work using love of Self to breed rebellion and ingratitude.
It brings every parent to the throne of grace faster than anything. We can talk, we can plead; but it soon becomes evident that only a work of God can soften that heart, bringing it to a place of joyful submission to the Lord.
But we are parents! We must be faithful to continue steadfastly loving, encouraging and training godly character into the lives our children, teaching them that “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom”.
We can’t change the heart. But there are things we CAN do do bring them toward the One who can…
The Bible says,
“(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;” 2 Corinthians 10:4-5
Listen to it. Our “weapons” are mighty and we must give our children those weapons to fight the fight and pull down the strong holds that bind them.
This is our job. It’s what we can–no, what we must do.
How is it done?
Here are some practical ways to help our children wield the weapons of warfare:
1. Meditation on Scripture--To use the “sword of the spirit” one must be able to, like Jesus did, recall applicable Scripture (we call them “fightin’ words”). Scripture memorization is simply an inestimable tool for the child of God. A few years ago, determined to make this work in our family, I asked the Lord to help me put large portions of Scripture to music and the result was a delightful CD (also available as a download), By Heart Scripture Songs, now sold through several curriculum companies as well as our website.
2. Exercises in gratefulness--Make lists of things for which we are thankful, forcing them to see what blessings we have.
3. Reading about others who demonstrate exemplary character, particularly in times of trial.
4. Shifting our focus through prayer–Nothing will take one’s eyes and mind off himself as praying for others will. Daily discipline in the humble petition for those around us holds tremendous power in changing our hearts.
May we be encouraged to love our children enough to give them the tools they need to resist the enemy of their soul.
