How to raise Godly children in an ungodly world

I didn’t have my first child until I was 29 years old which was later in life than most of my friends. Mainly because I didn’t feel equipped to raise a child with all of my imperfections. I still don’t always feel equipped & I recognize that feeling is not from God. The truth is, God’s Spirit has equipped us with all we need pertaining to life and Godliness (2 Peter 1:3). And by the power of The Holy Spirit, He is able to do exceedingly abundantly more than we can ask or think. That’s why I believe it’s possible to raise Godly children in an ungodly world.

As if raising kids isn’t hard enough, battling a secular culture makes it even harder. My oldest son is in middle school, the public school system which supports the world’s ideology of acceptable morals & standards. Sometimes it feels like I’m up against a giant. I know what it was like to be his age and completely immersed in the world. But there’s a difference between how I was raised and how he’s being raised. The difference is God and God makes all the difference. There’s no giant that measures up to our God.

I don’t write this post with a chip on my shoulder or by my own wisdom. I’ve messed up a ton in the last almost 13 years of raising kids and I’m sure I’ll mess up a ton more. But what I do have to stand on is the Word of God and how His Spirit is guiding me and that’s what you’ll read here today.

The institution of family was created by God; the One who designed it – get’s to define, so we ought to know God’s Word. Parents are the instrumental influence and raising Godly children begins in our home.

Raising Godly children begins at home

I heard a story once, about four preachers. One day, these four preachers were discussing the qualities of the various translations of the Bible. One preacher liked the King James Version, because of its beautiful English wording. Another liked the American Revised Version, because he believed it was closer to the original Hebrew and Greek language. One liked the New King James Version, because of its word translation and fluency. But, the fourth preacher didn’t answer. He paused for a moment, and then said, “I like my mother’s translation best.” To the surprise of the other three preachers, they asked, “Your mom translated a version of the Bible?” Then, he said, “Yes, she translated it into life and it was the most convincing translation I ever saw.”

This story touches my heart so deeply. I so long to be a pure, living, breathing example of God’s love. I don’t want to be the hypocrite that inadvertently pushes my kids away from God. Truthfully, long after they forget what I say, they will remember how I lived.

Here’s the thing, I don’t want to raise good kids, I want to raise Godly kids, God fearing, praying, righteous warriors who will go out and be a light in this darkened world.

Psalm 127:3-4 says “Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, The fruit of the womb is a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one’s youth.”

Imagine an arrow in the hand of a warrior; that arrow has purpose. The arrow is thrown with precision and intention. The Hebrew verb for heritage is assignment. This Psalm tells us that young children are an assignment and the only way for parents to carry out the assignment is through an ongoing obedience to The Holy Spirit and instruction from God’s Word. #raisingarrows

What does God’s Word say about raising children

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. “Honor your father and mother,” which is the first commandment with promise: “that it may be well with you and you may live long on the earth.” And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord. Ephesians 6:1-4

How to provoke your children to wrath (anger, rage, discontentment):

• Hypocrisy & inconsistency in our own walk with the Lord. Possibly having the “do as I say, not as I do” attitude towards our children. They will internalize this & develop bitterness.
• Criticism without compliment.
• Unrealistic expectations will cause our children to be discouraged.

How to raise your children up in the training (teaching, coaching, instruction) and admonition (discipline, reproof) of the Lord:

• Take advantage of the formidable years. My Pastor once said, “I want to make an impression before the cement hardens”
• Correction should be done in love.
• Discipleship.

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

This great command must first be in our heart. Then it must be communicated to our children, the topic of our conversation, and should always be in front of us. Parents, this is our calling from God. Raising our children up in the way they should go requires the leadership in the home to plant, seed, water & nurture God’s Word in their lives. We must help them stay on the straight and narrow path that leads to life so that they would be able to withstand the wiles of the devil (Ephesians 6:11) nor be tossed to and fro with every wind of doctrine (Ephesians 4:14).

Raising Godly children

Raising Godly children begins in a Godly home. Let us not wait for our kids to be inundated with the world before we start teaching them that there’s a God who formed them in our womb or perhaps God Wills for you to mother a child that you didn’t bear. And teaching them that He has a specific plan for their lives. One of the best things we can do is help them grasp their God given abilities at a young age so they can go out into the world bearing His gifts.

If you’re anything like me, you question everything. Am I babying them too much? Am I not doing enough? I can be super hard on myself when it comes to motherhood because they are my most valued assignment. It’s completely possible to raise Godly children in an ungodly world because there’s women before us who’ve done it and honestly the world’s been dark since the fall of man at the beginning of time.

There are so many teachable moments in the every day, let us redeem the time we’re given. Friends, raising kids is so much more than feeding, clothing & keeping a roof over their heads. What is the Lord teaching you? Talk about it with them. What has the Lord already taught you? Teach it to them.

Perhaps one of the biggest things I’ve been teaching my kids was my greatest downfall and that’s having self-control. For me, not having self-control was the result of most of my regrets in life. What God has taught you is wisdom to be passed on.

Mama’s pray without ceasing for your kids. Pray about everything.

Heavenly Father, I thank you for every person reading this post. I pray that your Spirit would move in our hearts & minds Lord, that you would give us the wisdom & discernment to raise our children in the way they should go. We pray that you would be pleased Lord. God I ask you would protect our children, guard their hearts & minds, I pray for their salvation and a life led by Your Spirit. In Jesus name, Amen

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