Raising Spiritually and Emotionally Intelligent Children (Part 2)Намуна

Being Emotionally Present and Spiritually Available

And every day Mordecai paced in front of the court of the women’s quarters, to learn of Esther’s welfare and what was happening to her. In those days, while Mordecai sat within the king’s gate, two of the king’s eunuchs, Bigthan and Teresh, doorkeepers, became furious and sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus. So the matter became known to Mordecai, who told Queen Esther, and Esther informed the king in Mordecai’s name. Esther 2:11, 21 & 22(NKJV)

Mordecai was an emotionally and spiritually intelligent father. Esther's physical, mental, and spiritual well-being were his top priority. Hence, he inquired about Esther's welfare EVERY DAY and chose a job that allowed him to be emotionally present and spiritually available for her to thrive. Emotionally intelligent parents inquire about their children’s well-being regularly. If your children are verbal and still under your care, practice being intentional about asking about their experience in school, on their jobs, what went well or didn’t go well for them, etc. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide you to ask the right questions to help them open up to you. If your children are non-verbal or in their early years, practice supporting their emotional development by engaging in physical play with them, guiding them to give words to their feelings, and doing your best to respond to their emotional expressions.

Mordecai was a present father who secured Esther’s future by working at the king’s gate (Esther 2:21; Esther 3:2; Esther 5:9; Esther 6:12). Working at the king’s gate positioned Mordecai to save King Ahasuerus' life, thereby preserving Esther’s life. The king’s death would likely have ended Esther’s reign as the queen, altering Esther’s destiny. Like Mordecai, parents should consider their children when making career or business decisions. Plan ways to stay emotionally connected and support your child’s spiritual development even when you can’t be physically present.

Mordecai was a physical and spiritual gatekeeper. Children need spiritually intelligent parents who serve as spiritual gatekeepers gathering intel to keep the powers of darkness from infiltrating the home and destroying their children’s lives. Because our God Jehovah is the same yesterday, today, and forever, He is still in the business of revealing the enemy’s secret plans to us, and only spiritually intelligent believers know how to access and utilize the secrets God reveals. Consider this: God gave Joseph intel in his sleep about King Herod’s evil plan to harm Jesus (Matthew 2:13), and He gave Elisha intel to protect the Israelites from the king of Syria (2 Kings 6:8-18). In like manner, God wants to protect our children and families through access to spiritual intel. Whatever interferes with our spiritual availability to access and execute spiritual intel threatens our children’s lives. Since our spiritual availability for our children intertwines with our spiritual maturity or growth, we must consistently seek God for wisdom to manage our schedules in ways that will not interfere with our spiritual development. Spiritual maturity allows one to yield to the Holy Spirit and make the sacrifices needed to be spiritually and emotionally available to support our children holistically.

Today, let's pray Ephesians 1:17-19 to set the foundation for spiritual intelligence (Pray this for yourself, your children, and whoever is raising your children with you)

Glorious Father, I ask that you give me spiritual wisdom and insight so that I might grow in your knowledge. I pray that my heart will be flooded with light so that I can understand the confident hope you have given to those you called—your holy people, who are your rich and glorious inheritance. I also pray that I will understand the incredible greatness of your power for everyone who believes in you.