God will never turn His back on us, no matter what we have done. He is a good, good Father, and all He does is love us. Everything the Father does is out of love, whether that be through blessings—clearly an act of love—or through rebukes. He teaches us lessons so we can grow, because He loves us. He is the perfect example of a loving Father, and we must emulate Him with our own children if we want to set them on the right path in life. We can learn a lot about parenting through looking at our Father in heaven. If we try to be as much like Him as we possibly can, we will guide our children in His ways.
We are called to set examples for the younger generations, whether they are our own children or others. The Bible says, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6). Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 19:14). Jesus loved the little children, and we must love them as well—our own children and others. They are described as arrows in the hands of warriors: “Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth.” (Psalm 127:4). We must direct them in the correct ways because they are the next generation of those who will share the gospel.
We may or may not have been brought up in faith ourselves, but as believers, we can ensure that we are guiding our children in the ways of the Lord. The enemy wants nothing more than to see our children stray from the faith, and sadly, it has become almost accepted in society that children will rebel against their parents as they grow older. However, the Bible tells us that if we bring up our children in the way they should go, they will never depart from it. “Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.” (Proverbs 22:6). We must not accept rebellion as standard child behavior—this is the enemy’s work, not God’s will for our children.
The world may teach that the teenage years will be full of strife and rebellion, but it doesn’t have to be this way. When we work for the Kingdom, we should invite our children to join us. Get them involved in any way they can. Pray for them to have their own experiences with the Holy Spirit and a personal relationship with Jesus. Conversion doesn’t always have to come from rock bottom; it can happen in the midst of revival. Saints, I implore you to pray for the revival of the next generation.
Our homes must also be a dwelling place for the Holy Spirit, not only within us but radiating outwardly to our children and our homes. Are our homes sanctuaries of peace? Do we talk about God’s laws and statutes, binding them on our hearts? “These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” (Deuteronomy 6:6-7).
Take stock of your home and see which areas need change. Ask the Holy Spirit to help you. Here are some questions to reflect on:
Is my home a place of rest and peace, a sanctuary from the outside world, or is it full of worldly things, sin, and distraction?
Am I being a good example, leading my child to Christ in the way I behave, or any other children I know?
Do I understand the importance of children and what God says about them in His Word? Do my thoughts, feelings, and attitudes reflect that?
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, thank You for being the perfect example of a loving Father. Help us to follow Your lead and raise our children in Your ways. Fill our homes with Your peace and presence, and guide us as we teach and nurture the next generation. Strengthen our hearts to be faithful examples of Your love, grace, and truth. May our homes be sanctuaries where Your Word is spoken and lived out. We pray for revival in the hearts of our children and the next generation, that they may know You and walk in Your truth. In Jesus' name, Amen.
"But Jesus said, 'Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.'"
(Matthew 19:14)
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