Purposed Parent Connected Child Podcast Episode 120 - How to Train Your Child to Rely on Scripture

Welcome to the Purposed Parent/Connected Child podcast – Episode 120 – How to Train Your Child to Rely on Scripture

Thank you for sharing your day with me. I pray this podcast gives you the awareness and tools you need to STOP being a GOOD mom and BECOME the GODLY mom God entrusts you to be. Then you will be the SET-APART woman PURPOSELY raising children to chase CHRIST over culture.

Just a quick reminder as we start, if you enjoy Purposed Parent Connected Child podcast episodes, would you please share this episode or others with a friend or family member? When you graciously take a moment to do that, and leave a rating or review at Apple Podcast, you are ensuring that others will find the podcast. When you do, you’re helping affect generations for Jesus.

Now on to this episode about how to train your child to rely on Scripture.

Being a parent is hard. Being a godly parent is impossible! Unless we rest and abide in the arms of the One who entrusted His children to us.

Before you became a parent did you realize the depth of skills you’d need? As a mother, you’re most likely the encourager, the peacemaker, the comforter, the chef, and the maid. Keeping the home tidy and well-managed, the children growing and thriving, and your life with your husband flourishing can be challenging. But when those thoughts of inadequacy or overwhelm hit, do you stop to assess why you’re experiencing those feelings?

Most often, it’s because we’re relying on self. We try to be perfect, manage it all, and take care of everyone around us. Instead, we should be resting in the Father’s arms and seeking His approval and direction above all else.

What’s the best way to accomplish this? Maturing our relationship with Jesus, but not daily - moment by moment. When we emphasize moment by moment growth we must depend on the Holy Spirit within us moment by moment.

Once you’ve pursued relationship with Jesus through the gift of salvation, what’s next? Learning the character of God through Scripture. Without your humble submission to the Lord and continued growth through His Word, your personal and family life simply cannot thrive.

As believers, we long for our children to know Jesus and follow Him into eternity one day. But the truth is that if you’re not personally mentoring a love for Him that keeps you in the Bible, studying and growing with loving intention, your child isn’t going to see the need.

Life only gets busier once you have children! You already think you’re busy, then suddenly you find time to do what needs to be completed to enable you to give the best care to your precious child.

What about time with your precious Father in Heaven? Somehow, the most important relationship you can have gets relegated to the back of your mind and heart. Eventually, unless you are intentional, you stop hearing and responding to the Holy Spirit inside. Life gets heavier, messier, and you wonder why you no longer feel peace, joy, or a longing for the Lord.

Is this the life you want your children to witness? Is this the life you want them to emulate?

Of course not. Believing moms understand this isn’t the life they want for their children. They just struggle to find the time to do all the things.

The first step is realizing that you’ll never find enough time. You must make time for what God calls most important. When you strive to follow His desires, prayerfully request that He show you what He desires, then show you how to get that time, He will. If God could part the sea for Israelites to cross, do you believe He can guide you to find time for Him?

Once you realize that you have the power to find that time to be in the Word and inhale Christ so you effortlessly exhale Him, you must continue to seek the Father in prayer.

Did you know that the most beautiful and effective prayers are Scripturally based?

If you practice the art of Scripture-based prayers and allow your children to benefit from hearing you (and being the subject of those prayers), they will seek the Word and learn to craft their own prayers from the Scripture.

Just as you teach them how to eat healthy foods, how to dress, how to lovingly and respectfully respond in words and actions, as well as everything else you guide them through as you raise them, your purposed practice of prayer will influence the way your children view prayer and God’s Word.

So, what is the best way to train your child to rely on Scripture? Ensure that youare reliant on God’s Word.

First, let’s look at Bible verses that equip how you shape your desire for and reliance on Scripure.

Philippians 4:9 says, “What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”

1 Corinthians 11:1 says, “Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.”

Titus 2:7-8 says, “Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us.”

Matthew 19:14 says, “But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to Me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”

Next, let’s use these verses to craft a prayer that enables us, as women believers and mothers on mission to raise kids who chase Christ over culture to speak biblical truth that will delight the ears and heart of God.

Dear Heavenly Father, how great You are. Thank you for allowing me into Your mighty presence to come before You with requests for my life and the lives of the children You have entrusted to my care. Please equip me to see You clearly and be an imitator of You. Help me to learn and receive what I have learned of Jesus, who in all ways exemplifies Your glory. Cause my desires, mind, and heart to show Your integrity, dignity, and speech so that no one can condemn me or be caused to cast blame on You. As You transform me through the power of Your Word and the Holy Spirit within me, please help me to bring my children to You, laying them at Your heart and feet so they won’t be hindered. May all I do and say cause them to come straight to Jesus and enter the kingdom of Heaven for eternity. May they carry wisdom that only comes from You. In His precious name I pray. Amen.

Do you see how easily Scripture can be made into prayers that reflect God’s will and purposes? How much easier it is to know God, reflect Him in prayer requests, and speak to His heart in the ways He desires to hear when we have learned His nature and commands through the truths of the Bible.

When your children hear your pray with such devotion and Scriptural truths and include them in ways that honor and please God, they will experience the dedicated love of a mother who clearly shines the Lord. God honors Scriptural prayers as you align your words and heart with His.

Remember, the book of Proverbs teaches that godly wisdom is critical for creating and maintaining a life pleasing to God. As you lay a foundation of faith for your children to stand on to construct their own relationship with Jesus, you’ll build the rails that also guard and guide them. These rails line the pathway that leads them to Scripture.

Without this strong foundation to hold the personal house of faith they will build, your children won’t carry godly insight, wisdom, or judgement that instills and directs this path to navigate life with integrity and insight from God.

As you raise your young ones to know, love, honor, and obey God and direct them toward a personal relationship with Jesus, craft prayers to be lifted to God in your personal time with Him and also speak prayers you offer with your children. Lifting prayers in the presence of your children teaches them how to prioritize relationship with God and how to approach Him with reverence, honor and relationship.

Whether your children are older, and you’re just now teaching them to rely on God or you’ve been modeling relationship that leads to Jesus over the years, using Scriptural prayers will deepen their hope and trust while leading them closer to our Heavenly Father as you remain committed and consistent.

The more you’re in God’s Word and know Him, the better you’re able to pray with Scripture at the forefront of your mind. If you’re unsure how to begin, find verses that are in alignment with how you hope to parent the children God has entrusted to your care.

Ask God to direct you to verses that will reach the heart of your children while continuing to deepen your walk with Him in ways that transform your desires, actions, and reactions for your children to witness His life-changing power. The closer you move to God, the more your parenting desires will reflect His will.

Start with Scripture that is easy for your children to understand and that will build the basics of a lifelong trust in, and relationship with God, through Jesus. As your pray these prayers consistently with your children, you’ll find that the truth resting in the verses you use will also flow into conversations and guide the lifestyle you establish in your home.

Now let’s look at verses about guidance for Godly Parents:

Deuteronomy 6:5-7 says, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.”

Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.”

Ephesians 6:4 says, “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”

Psalm 127:1 says, “Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.”

Colossians 3:21 says, “Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.”

Dear Heavenly Father, all my praise goes to You, the Maker of Heaven and Earth. There is none like You. Father, Your Word tells me to love You with all my heart and all my soul, and all my might. Help me to do so in all the way that honor You and bring my children to do the same. Show me the ways You desire me to teach You and Your truths to my children with diligence and steadfast love. Help us effortlessly talk of You in all places and yearn to be with You each day together. Help my husband and I to be in agreement in how to train our children in the ways You say they should go. May we lean on Your truths and strength and follow Your word, not the world. Help the children You’ve entrusted us to raise grow up to love You with an everlasting and widening love that brings joy and light to You. Help our home be one that is built by You and will withstand the troubles of this world or our flesh. May my husband and I never provoke or discourage our children and may we never be a stumbling block that shifts their focus from You. In the precious name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

Next, let’s select Scripture for prayerful wisdom.

Proverbs 2:6-7 says, “For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding; He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk in integrity.”

Proverbs 3:1 says, “My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep My commandments.”

Dear Heavenly Father, Almighty Father and keeper of my soul. How great You are. Thank you for allowing me into Your holy presence. Father, Your Word tells me that You alone give wisdom. From Your mouth come understanding and You are a shield to those who walk in Your integrity. Help me to be one who fits these requirements. Equip me to show these ways to my watching children and through it, lead them straight to Your arms. May they embrace You and Your ways as truth that guides them throughout their life here and into eternity. Help them to always remember Your teachings and may they keep Your commandments because they strive to love and honor You. In the precious name of Jesus I pray. Amen.

Now we’ll look at prayers for peace.

Philippians 4:6 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.”

Romans 12:2 says, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

1 Peter 5:7 says, “Casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you.”

Dear Heavenly Father, Author of peace. May my life carry the peace only You can give. Thank you for the peace You provide when I keep my mind fixed on You. Help me to exemplify Your peace in all circumstances and model that reliance on You to my children. Help them to embody Your peace that passes understanding because they have heart and minds fixed on You and Your unwavering truths. May we each make requests known to You that are acceptable and perfect in Your eyes and may they be in alignment with Your will and ways because we renew our minds and receive discernment through You. May we always cast all of our anxieties on You, because we trust that You care for us. In Jesus’s name we pray. Amen.

Now, one last example. Let’s look at Steadfast Faith.

Matthew 19:14 says, “But Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”

Proverbs 1:8-9 says, “Hear, my son, your father’s instruction, and forsake not your mother’s teaching, for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck.”

2 Timothy 3:14-17 says, “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”

Dear Heavenly Father, Gracious Father who fills me with such love and desire for godliness. Thank you for instructing me in Your ways so that I can lovingly mentor my children in Your ways. You say that I should not hinder the little children from coming to You. Show me the way to bring them to You. Help me show Your heart and truths in ways that are lasting in their life. Help my children to appreciate what is taught of you. May they never forsake my teaching or the teachings of their father because we are in alignment with Your will and ways in all things. May my children choose to serve You all the days of their life and long to be pleasing in Your sight. Help them remember all of Scripture is breathed by You and will train, correct, and equip them for every good work. May they always delight in delighting You. In Jesus’s name I pray. Amen.

Can you see how easy it is to know God through His Word and find Scripture that brings your desires and words into alignment with His will? I urge you to seek Him through the Bible today. Find Scripture that will help you craft the prayers you want to lift to the Great I Am. Your diligence and dedication will bring godly blessings and connection to your children and family.

Scriptural prayers are another powerful tool to keep your heart and the heart of your family in alignment with God. These prayers offer protection and guidance in a world of confusion. As you continue to pray from God’s Word, your desires and actions are transformed into the image of Christ that will attract your children as you become a godlier woman and parent.

Raising children is challenging. No one has all the answers because each child is unique as are parenting styles and family dynamics. By connecting with and knowing your children as you maintain purposed growth in Christ, you will be better prepared for any situation you face.

That’s why you hear me share about the Set-Apart Collective in this podcast. I work with professionals who care about making Jesus known to their children. Are you a high-achieving woman who loves Jesus, but is so busy with the rush of work and daily life that you feel like you’re being drained like the water in your bathtub? Do you yearn to get closer to Jesus and show Him to your kids so you will create a love that will last into eternity? The desire is there, but your days spiral out of control before you even think about opening your Bible.

Do you ever stop to think that you are the first Jesus your child will see? Let me remind you there is hope. There is a way you can be equipped to raise kids who chase Christ over culture. If you want a connected relationship with Christ and your children that leads them to your side and His feet, instead of them seeking validation from peers, I have an 8-step program to move you from frustrated to fulfilled. I will show you how to reflect Jesus in a way that attracts your family to a connected relationship that lasts into eternity.

Remember, godly parenting is rooted in relationship with Christ and the mindset you carry. If you don’t want peers and culture to be the main influence over your child, if you desire to parent to “prepare” your child for eternity with Christ, not repair your relationship with them, the Set-Apart Collective will arm you with a Christ-centered Motherhood Mindset Model™, and create a Purposed Parenting Plan™. You’ll also deepen your identity in Christ so you can mentor the way for your children to do the same. You will be a purposed mother with an intentional mind and heart set on Christ and your family and you will have the tools to raise set apart kids as you parent the heart, not simply the behavior.

Does this sound like a lifeline to help you be that set-apart mom God has entrusted you to be? Visit terrihitt.com/coaching and click the link for a free, no obligation conversation call with me. This is a strategic call where I will hear your biggest struggle and show you how to turn it into a blessing that will bring you closer to Christ and your children. It’s time for believing mothers to be purposed in preparing their children for a lifetime pursuit of Christ. Time is short. Make yours matter for eternity.

One last thing to remember - if you’re not purposed in knowing Jesus and showing Him to the next generation, the world will 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 with your children and Christ.