4 Biblical Models for Successful Parenting

It’s a hooded heroin, I try to discern appropriate, as my ten-year-old plays a new video game; sword glowing, balls of light burning, releasing power.
In a day where people call evil good and good evil, (Isaiah 5:20)…
​
It is vital we recognize parenting as our primary mission. The choices we make in training won’t just impact one moment, but future generations.
Still, the weight of peanut butter on white bread verses organic fruit and humus can eat at us. We can lie in bed awake, riddled with guilt, swallowed by the enemy’s tactic to derail us, until we are left waving a white flags of surrender even before our child enters Kindergarten.
Missional Parenting was never meant to be filled with condemnation. It is supposed to be beautiful, empowering, life giving to both the parent and their children.
Scripture offering us four Biblical models for Successful Missional Parenting:

1. Follow Jesus’ Open Arm (And Open Heart) Policy with Our Children – Jesus made it very clear how He felt about children. When others scolded or turned children away as unimportant, Jesus opened His armed and welcomed them, reciting, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the Kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” (Matt 19:14) Jesus had an open-arm policy with children, so shouldn’t we also? While the world pushes for autonomy and independence, Christ values child-like-ness and dependency on Him.
2. Continually Seek Jesus for Direction and Healing –

Do you remember the story about Jairus and his twelve-year old daughter? (Matt. 9:18-25) Jairus daughter was dying, and although Jairus had abundant wealth, it could not save his daughter. He knew where his help came from. Do we, as parents? Jairus humbled himself and came to Jesus with his worries for his daughter. To Jairus’ plea, Jesus responded, “Fear not, only believe”. Today, how many of us would find parenting easier, if we turned to Jesus in sickness or during problems, instead of our own worries?

1. Teach Our Children To Live For The Praises of God Alone – Praising things, or people in this world comes easily. But what about praising God? Teaching our children to fix their eyes on God in gratitude and praise is something that we must teach then, not something that will likely come naturally. I know, our own personal morning devotions have radically changed, since we started taking time to worship God in the mornings. Jesus said in Matthew 21:15-16, “Have you never read?” “From the mouths of children and infants, you Lord, have called forth praise.” Praise is a weapon, a necessary gift we can give our children that will one day get them through battles, training their minds to live victorious. Psalms 8:2 tells us, “Through the praises of children and infants, you have established strongholds against your enemies, to silence the foe and the avengers.”
2. See Your Children As God Sees Them – Children are a heritage from the Lord. (Psalms 127:3) Children are not commodities or burdens. When God gives us His eyes to see children for who they really are, everything changes. We no longer want to live for ourselves, but our desire change and we want to raise our kids in ways pleasing to Him.

 
We don’t have to lie in bed awake worrying if we are ineffective parents, labor over decisions or rating ourselves on some worldly scale of excellence.
Everything changes when we open our arms and heart to dialogue with our children, let God to come and lead us, teach our children to live for His praises, and seeing children as He sees them.
Treasured, loved, cherished, given to us as a special gift.
 

About Jen

Though born, raised, and still living only miles from where she grew up, Jen's heart lies in the nations. Jen loves the beautiful tapestry found in the wide diversity of people, different cultures, and all nations.  Jen and her husband have been married twenty years, and have parented fifteen kids and counting; twelve foster, one adopted, and two bios.  Her multi-racial family reflects her passion for unity, desire for faith without walls, and missional mindset to share both the gospel and the power of redemption to a world desperately needing the hope found in Jesus Christ. Jen and her husband have led in a variety of ministries; including prayer, small groups, children's, and women’s.  Jen advocates for the orphan as a board member for the non-profit, A New Song; and loves doing missions work internationally, along with her family.  You can find Jen writing about faith, while challenging her readers at her blog, Rich Faith Rising, as well as at tweeting faith-filled messages @Jen_Avellaneda .  Jen is also on facebook.  ​
If you'd like to read more from this contributor, type her name in the search box on the top right.

Sharing this over at these awesome blogs.

---