What do you do when you are having a difficult time with your child? Do you seek God first about what to do? Or do you go running to your friends and asking them for advice? Or perhaps quickly post about the issue in parenting forums seeking collective wisdom?
Ahhh! There are many times I have sought Man’s counsel not God’s first. Only turning to God when all avenues have been exhausted.
Well, let me state that there is nothing wrong in seeking godly counsel. And finding out that you are not alone in tackling that particular issue is a relief.
Seek God first
But I think a lot of us forget that we ought to be seeking God’s advice first. After all, He created our children and gave them to us to parent. As I have grown older I am slowly learning to seek God’s counsel first. We need to be praying for our children and over our children. All the “expert” advice out there are just fallible Man’s advice. Sometimes it is appropriate but sometimes it is not. Our children are not robots. They are special individuals created by God.
His peace
He doesn’t always offer a solution but He grants me peace – assuring me that He is still in control. And I don’t have to run around and waste sleep stressing over the issue/s each child presents to us.
So let us not forget that as Christian mothers, our greatest weapon as we raise these children up for His Kingdom and His Glory is to PRAY. Always seek God first. Then as you seek godly counsel, test it against His word.
And remember – pray without ceasing! For the small things to the big major stuff. There is nothing too complicated or too easy for God. Keep on giving the children back to Him because they are not ours to keep anyway.
5 Comments on The Greatest Weapon in Christian Parenting
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Dear Serene,
I remember reading a couple of times the article you wrote about praying over our kids, to ask God for help and guidance instead of running around like a headless chicken, asking others for parenting advice.
It’s been a month since my daughter got diagnosed with chronic constipation, nose bleeds and all. (part of me reminds myself that this is no big deal and that there are kids ridden with more life-threatening ailments than constipation 🙂
Coming back to the point, unconsciously, fellow parents and grandparents have been giving me advice on what’s (really) wrong with my daughter. Many say that I’m too controlling, and as a result, my daughter is willing herself and her bowels to regain some form of control over herself. (Context : I live in France and generally, kids enjoy a lot more freedom and “rights” than in Asia) So as a Singaporean/asian mother, what I do seems harsh, but seriously, it’s just basic manners rules I try to instill in my kids). Instead of praying to the Lord, I allowed myself to be scared and influenced.
The breaking point came yesterday when it was late and we were all tired. I broke down. At the same time I reminded myself of your article, that the greatest weapon in Christian parenting is to PRAY.
Thank you very much for the reminder. Time to regroup and pray harder 🙂
Warmest regards,
Michele
Hi Michele!
Glad to know I was able to be of some help across the seas! 😉
Don’t you just love these “helpful” advice? 🙁 Just a note about constipation which we battle here with some of ours as well – probiotics and digestive enzymes help. So does the increase of some lubrication in the form of good healthy fats (coconut oil neat in our case).
Nose bleeds – ah! I have one that has one almost daily! And this is in hot and humid Singapore! So can’t blame the dryness of the air! The Chinese will say it is because of heatiness. Who knows???
Take care!
Dear Serene,
Thank you for the lovely words of encouragement. It helped a lot just reading your comment on “advice” 😀
I just started my daughter on probiotics yesterday and shall give it a couple of days to see how they work.
Also discovered the book of Proverbs a few days ago and it’s so full of sensible advice. Thank you for sharing that on your writings.
You take care too.
Warm regards,
Michele
Dear Serene,
I am so glad that Our Lord has led me to read your posts on Motherhood!
This is one unknown assignment and I must admit that I havent been a great mum once they hit schoolage and I dont know how to be one who will nurture them to their assignment!
I will be following after you to learn from you 😜
Im going to give my children back to Our Lord just as you have brought a great reminder to me!
They are indeed not mine to keep and they are growing up faster than I can be ready to be a mum! oh no!
Pray for me!
We all have to pray for each other because satan does not want mothers to live out this assignment.