So I was scrolling on Facebook a few weeks ago and I came across a video of 3 cute little girls, I assumed they were friends. They were all dressed up in the “fashionista” style in skimpy dresses. In front of a mirror, they were twisting their bodies and turning their necks to show off when a song with vulgar lyrics came on, and they all jumped on it while a voice in the background cheered them on. I was so sure these kids were not up to 10 years! I kept scrolling, but this time with sadness. I couldn’t help but wonder if this was a frequent occurrence in their lives. This bothered me for days and I couldn’t get the image out of my head.
Children retain over 80% of what they see, hear and do and if you show, teach and allow them hear the wrong things, they will definitely grow away from the will of God. God takes the issue of raising and training of children very seriously. Failure to guide and train your children in godly ways is total failure, even when you are successful in every other areas of life. Parents who take the issue of training their children lightly are destroying the continued existence of the future generations.
The Rod vs God
When a child misses the training on the knowledge of God and His Word at a very tender age, that child has missed the vital part of his or her life. Children cannot know what God has commanded them to do until someone tells them. They cannot discern the scriptures easily as adults. That is why they need qualified persons to teach and guide them. Parents are responsible for teaching and guiding their children rightly.
It is the responsibility of parents to teach their children about God’s promises and commandments. It is easier for children to forsake God when they do not understand the consequences of doing so.
“Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right”
Ephesians 6:1
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Children should be taught to fear God, and not man. In fact, the fear of God should form the dominant part of their lives without reserving any for the devil or his angels. Children should be taught to obey God’s Word more than man’s words. They must understand that thoughts, desires or feelings that contradict God’s Word must be abandoned. A parent’s instructions must not contradict the Word of God. Christian children must obey God’s Word and abandon the sinful practices of parents.
“Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honor thy father and mother; (which is the first commandment with promise”
Ephesians 6:1-2
“When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up”
Psalms 27:10
God permitted that children are to be chastised with love while there is hope and should not be spared no matter how much they cry. Sparing a child when he arrogantly departs from the way is giving him up to the devil. God commanded us in His Word to train our children in the way they should grow. Do not allow them to grow up in their own foolishness. They need the rod of correction. Children who are not trained in the way of the Lord are likely to end their lives in regret and sorrow. Such children reject parental counsel or training and set themselves up for eternal life with devil in hell fire.
“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it”
Proverbs 22:6
Parents must insist that their children continue in the way of God as they have learned. The joy of a well-trained child and his success cannot be over emphasized. Greater joy and reward abound when you train your children in a godly way. Children trained by godly parents in godly homes hardly cause their parents any trouble. Rather, they are the source of joy to their parents.
Prayer to Raise Godly Children
- Father Lord, give me wisdom to raise my children, in the name of Jesus.
- I receive power to lead my children to God, in the name of Jesus.
- O Lord, arise and influence my children positively, in the name of Jesus.
- I command the seed of Almighty to manifest among my children, in the name of Jesus.
- Let the Spirit of obedience to God’s Word possess my children, in the name of Jesus.
- O Lord, show my children Your way, in the name of Jesus.
- Let the power to command my children to obey God’s Word possess me, in the name of Jesus.
- Let the fear of God dominate the lives of my children, in the name of Jesus.
- Let the Word of God be a guide to my children, in the name of Jesus.
- Let the angels of God direct the training of my children, in the name of Jesus.
- I uproot ungodly characters that my children exhibit, in the name of Jesus.
- O Lord, command Your angels to guide my children into righteousness, in the name of Jesus.