Purposed Parent Connected Child Podcast Episode 072 - Important Christian Parenting Must-Do's
Welcome to the Purposed Parent/Connected Child podcast – Episode 072 – Important Christian Parenting Must-Do’s
Humble, merciful, loving. Joyful, peaceful, patient, kind.
Gentle, controlled, fair, forgiving, grateful, content, discerning.
Meek, respectful, virtuous, sinless.
The qualities of Christ.
My, there are countless more beautiful, holy descriptors than the basics words I just named. Each of these qualities is so important. Why? Every one of them identifies Jesus as Christ, the Son of God. The One who died for you. For me. For your children. Jesus is the One who made eternity with God possible for you, me, and our children.
None of us come close to Jesus. He alone is the perfect mentor for us to pattern our lives after. He’s also the perfect model to follow when parenting.
Philippians 2:5 says, “In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus.”
Have the same mindset.
This command is crucial in your relationship with your spouse and your children. Our families are gifts presented to us by the Father, who purposely allowed each of us to be together.
Despite how good we try to be, or regardless of how much we love our spouse and children, we will always fall, always mess up, and always fall short of Christ’s example. Praise God! The closer we draw to Him and begin to carry the mindset of Christ, we experience many more fruits of the Spirit in our personal life and are able to walk in joy and peace with our family.
Living and thriving as a family brings certain expectations from God that simply cannot be fulfilled through human strength. As Christians, we know God calls us to love Him first, and to love one another above self as Jesus loves us. He calls us to be faithful to Him and each other, not to provoke one another, and to teach and train our children in and through Him. Like I said earlier, knowing what God requires and actually fulfilling His expectations are two separate functions. Without purposely applying the willof the Holy Spirit living within and a love for Jesus as a driving force, it is easy to carry good intentions, but never fulfill the godly duties as God calls.
Today, let’s look at eight ways you can use practical, timeless steps to nurture your personal walk with Jesus and fulfill the beautiful purpose and utilize the privilege God placed on you as a parent.
1. Put Christ First – Your relationship with Jesus is the heart of your walk with God. Your walk with the Lord will affect your spouse, and your children. Study and apply God’s Word. Everything you do reflects the work of the Holy Spirit in your heart. Are you submitting or resisting? The answer will be evident in the way you live, love, and parent. Colossians 2:6-8 says, “So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.”
2. Ask God to Parent Through You – You are human. You will make mistakes. Pray that God will use your errors for His glory. Ask Him to give you insight into your unique children and direction through His holy Word and Spirit. Ask Him to keep you from repeating mistakes and to guard the hearts of your family members. Humbly submit to the Father parenting through you. The children you raise already belong to Him. Help them reach the purpose and potential that was crafted into them with purpose. Ephesians 6:4 says, “Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord.”
3. Praise Your Child – As you instruct your child and watch them respond to Christ and mature their understanding of Him, continue to encourage. Planting the seeds of faith will invite God to sprout strong roots of faith. Do not accidentally or ignorantly be a barrier between your child and Christ. Through your actions, reactions, words, and desires, you can draw them nearer to Jesus or tear them away. 1 Peter 3:15 says, “But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.”
4. Set Godly Boundaries – Limits should be established as you protect and prepare your children, but those boundaries should be based on godly principles and truths, not human knowledge. Setting boundaries for your child should be based on godly guidelines imparted through God’s wisdom and insight. Children do need guidelines throughout life. As they mature in their relationship with Jesus with those godly protections in place, they will respect God. That obedience will extend to your relationship. Set loving boundaries that invite trust, faith, and joy, not religious restrictions. Galatians 5:16 says, “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.”
5. Require Help– Requiring children to help with chores invites respect and responsibility. When children take part in keeping their home clean or cooking dinner, for example, they begin to understand how home and family functions. They will accept partial responsibility of keeping the home upkept and develop respect for the different roles family members carry. Expecting your children to participate in caring for the home forms respect that will be a foundation for future relationships and responsibilities. Begin chores such as keeping their room clean from a very young age – always help them keep it clean, so that they will respect the space you have given them and help them to understand they are doing the work for God, not just because it is a chore you assign. Colossians 3:23 says, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.” Hebrews 13:17 says, “Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they are keeping watch over your souls, as those who will have to give an account. Let them do this with joy and not with groaning, for that would be of no advantage to you.”
6. Plan Personal Time – Just as you need time with God, personal time is needed with your spouse and children. Life is busy. You have to understand what is important in light of eternity and be intentional in making those activities a priority. Become an observer of pockets of time that may be used for enriching your life. Don’t forget to continue touch and conversation with your spouse. You are a team. The closer you are to Christ and each other, the more you will mirror Jesus to your watching children. Use moments to honor those you love with your personal attention and time. Whether it be a walk, a drive, play time, or moments set aside for deep conversation or laughter, look for something that allows you to connect. Genesis 2:24 says, “Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.”
7. Let Your Children (and your spouse) Know You Love and Understand ThemSometimes it’s easier for your family to believe they are loved, but still feel misunderstood. When they can feel and accept both from you, your relationship draws nearer and you are better equipped to mentor the path to Christ. Remember to let your family members see joy in your eyes when they come to you. At times, your patience might be stretched, you may need quiet time, or you might be exhausted, but they still need you. Let your reactions be gentle and pleasing to God. Tell them that you are tired, your patience might be low, but let them know they are a joy and you will do your best to help them with whatever they need. Does it sound like I’m telling you to be a perfect parent? I’m not. But I am reminding you to use the strength of God within you to be a godly parent who draws your child or spouse nearer to you and points them to the Father through each interaction you have together. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7says, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” Ephesians 4:32 says, “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.”
8. Always Direct Life Issues, Love, Respect, Choices, and Obedience, etc. Back to God – If you are an attuned parent directing your child to God over you, you are purposely helping them to trust Christ as Savior. You are growing their identity through Him and for Him. This allows you to teach your child that no one will ever understand him or her like Christ. Hebrews 4:15 says, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are--yet he did not sin.” Matthew 11:28-30 says, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
The list shared today is a short, but powerful beginning to ensure you are intentional to plan personal growth in Christ and fulfill the privilege God entrusted to you as a spouse and parent. Each of us must learn to better submit to God moment by moment and allow Him to guide and grow us through the Holy Spirit within. True joy and peace come from following the commands God gives. Use His holy, loving power to parent with purpose.
Dear Heavenly Father, God we are amazed at the love and care You have intentionally used to craft our children. You purposely planned for them and assigned us responsibility when You entrusted them to us to raise. Your mercy and grace through the life-saving work of Jesus and gifting us with children are perfect examples of how sacred the work is that parents complete. Help us to humbly bow before You daily with the mindset and heart that You desire, and deserve. Enable us to seek You over self and reflect Jesus in the ways You need our children to see. Father, Your children are such beautiful gifts that we simply cannot take for granted. Help us stop being good parents and become godly in every way you call. Time is so short. Our children need parents who are purposed in working under Your hand and heart. Father, help us honor and obey You in this privileged purpose. In the precious name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
Supporting and encouraging mothers to rest in Christ and pursue a holy relationship with Him so they purposely raise set-apart children is the cry of my heart. I believe godly parenting is rooted in relationship with Christ and the mindset a mother carries. That’s why I’ve created the Set-Apart Collective.
Have you decided peers and culture won’t be the main influence over your child? Would you like to parent to prepare your child for eternity with Christ, not to repair a relationship? In the Set-Apart Collective, you will deepen your walk with Christ, learn a Christ-centered Motherhood Mindset Model, and create a Purposed Parenting Plan. You will be a purposed mother with an intentional mind and heart set on Christ and your family. The Set-Apart Collective wait list is open now. The first group of women is currently growing together. Please send me an email at info@terrihitt.com to let me know you’d like to receive information. It’s time for believing mothers to be purposed in preparing their children for a lifetime pursuit of Christ.
If you connected in some way with this episode, would you please rate and review the podcast on Apple or Spotify? It only takes a minute or so and makes a big difference in people finding the podcast. You and I know that the best reviews are by word of mouth, so would you please choose a friend to recommend the show to? Let them know that the podcast is found at terrihitt.com, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify. Imagine the change we will see in the way mothers parent for Christ if they learn to be intentional, too.
Remember, if you’re not purposed in knowing Jesus and showing Him to the next generation, the world will likely sway your children away from Christ. I pray that what you hear on this podcast enables you to stop being a good mom and focus on being a godly parent. Until next week, keep looking Up while focusing on new ways to parent with eternal purpose and connection.