Face To FaithSample

Do you parent with faith? How much confidence do you have that your children will walk with the Lord their whole lives?

I think a lot of parents out there look at their own lives and how they wandered away
from their parents’ values, or they look at the children around them who are completely blow- ing off their parents, and a lot of parents are scared. They are afraid that they don’t have what it takes. They are worried that their children will chase after their friends and forget the way in which they were raised.

I am here to tell you that you do not have to be afraid, because you can parent with con- fidence that your children will never forsake God.

What’s the key? The key has two parts. First, have a law, and have commands. Moms, it’s your job not just to comfort boo-boos and owies, but to lay down a law that you force your children to follow.
Let me give you a secret for this: The whole point of discipline is not about correcting behavior; it is about training your children live by your words. Deuteronomy 8:3-5 shows us God’s pattern for this, in that the purpose of His discipline for Israel was so that they knew that man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from His mouth. He wanted Israel to live by His words and our goal for parenting is the same. When our words to our children don’t just go in one ear and out the other, instead actually carrying weight with them, then the law and commands that we give them actually get inside of them where their decisions are made.

Then you will find the promise of these verses coming true in your children’s lives—your law that you gave them will guide them, keep them, and speak to them no matter where they go.

The second part of parenting with confidence is entrusting your kids to God. God is faithful with what belongs to Him, so it is silly to not trust Him with our children. Hold them openly before Him and ask Him to help you, to have His way in your life, in your family, and in your children’s lives.

Then stand back and watch, for having taught a law and entrusted them to God, you can confidently parent, knowing that your children will remain faithful to God.

Prayer
Father God,
You are the ultimate parent! Please show me how You parent so that I can do the same things You do, and thank You that You will show me how to parent my children so that they walk with You their whole lives!
Amen