Purposed Parent Connected Child Podcast- Episode 107 - Why It's Important to Teach Your Child to Prioritize Jesus
Welcome to the Purposed Parent/Connected Child podcast – Episode 107 – Why It’s Important to Teach Your Child to Prioritize Jesus
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 why it’s important to teach your child to prioritize Jesus…
One of the highlights of my days is sharing Bible study with my two youngest daughters. Teaching the truths of God, maturing our faith together, and viewing their faith growth is a gift and blessing I never take for granted. Because we share this time, I get to hear their questions and answers, see those “aha” moments, and watch them practice their faith in daily life situations.
I know I’m not responsible for their faith in Christ, for God does the work within each of us. But I do know that one decision my husband and I made years ago became the foundation upon which their faith is grounded.
We committed to raising our child for Him, no matter what obstacles life threw at us.
When we knew God was calling us to adopt our sweet baby girl from China in 2005, we prayerfully and purposely created a parenting plan that would be the root of biblical training she (and a sister we brought home ten years later) would receive.
Because we had already parented one set of children and experienced maturing faith in Christ, my husband and I had the gift of knowing what we wanted to change and what we thought worked well the first time we parented.
You probably know that I often talk about being a good versus godly parent. When I tell you that I was a good parent the first time and a godly parent in my second round of parenting, I mean that I no longer rely on self.
This parenting shift has nothing to do with my children, but everything to do with honoring God with the children He entrusted to me. As my personal faith grew and I realized how parenting values in this world are so far from what God desires, I knew what I offered was a shadow of what God commands.
When raising my first two, I loved the Lord, but got sidetracked without knowing it. I never realized I was a good mom who unintentionally valued the world more than the Word.
How is your life? Are you intentionally living with an eternalperspective that propels you to invite Jesus to rule over your life moment my moment? Maybe you’re His, but you haven’t really submitted to daily living under His Lordship. It’s not too late. Do it today. Do it now.
You see, in order to desire to raise godlychildren, then complete that high calling, you must be intentional. Purposed. Jesus must be the focus of your parenting.
You can’t simply hope to raise kind, successful, well-adjusted kids, because they’ll be raised on the standards of this world.
Without purposely teaching your kids strong and intentional identitythrough Christ, your children won’t have lasting joy, hope, or peace. Those qualities and gifts are only present when your child is filled with the Holy Spirit and submitted to Christ themselves.
As parents, we can know we love God, be His through salvation through Jesus, but still unknowingly focus on world more than Word. How? Because we are human. We get distracted. We think that just because we love Jesus and have called Him to be our Lord and Savior that our children will do the same.
But with hectic schedules and all that comes with work, home life, raising kids, fostering relationships, and you know the list goes on…unless you commit to God and with your spouse that you will do whatever it takes to raise your children for Jesus with purpose each day, time will slip away.
This is why it’s important that you prioritize Christ.
Moment by moment.
That’s how you will teach your children to prioritize Jesus.
Deuteronomy 6:5-8 says, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”
Consider your home life…honestly.
Do your days reflect you and your spouse loving God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength?
Are God’s commandments on your hearts moment by moment?
Is God top of mind or is it the newest designer bag or the errands you need to run?
God made His command for parents very clear.
Love Him with all your heart – with all your soul– with all your strength.
You can’t do that if you don’t have a purposedrelationship with Jesus. One that is growing, widening, and deepeningmoment by moment.
Know God and His Word so you can teach your children His truths.
Study God’s Word daily. Teach Him to your children moment by moment.
This world is filled with deceit. How will you – how will your children recognize deceit if you don’t know God’s Word? You simply can’t.
You will not recognize the lies of this world, of culture, of society, of flesh unless you know and follow God’s truths.
Plant God’s commands on your heart. Impress them on your children. Not as a sword raised over their heads, but as truth you know, believe, love, and follow moment by moment.
Consider this truth:
You are the first Jesus your children see.
How are you representing Him?
Are you drawing your children toward God and His Word?
Or do you ignorantly send them into the world to absorb deceit as truth?
Talk about the Lord at home, on the road, when you lie down, and when you get up. Weave Him into your soul so that you breathe Him into all you do.
What does this look like?
This means you know Jesus well through fellowship and submission to the Word, God’s truths, and that you love and honor the Lord so much that you prioritize Him and place Him on the throne of your day.
Start with Bible study, even if you have to get up earlier or listen instead of read some days. Make sure you are inhaling truth so that you can exhale truth to your children.
Knowing and teaching God’s truths creates a solid foundation for your child to build on.
Because you are teaching His Truth, you will begin teaching respect for God. You will teach honor and obedience to Him.
Psalm 111:10 says, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow His precepts have good understanding. To Him belongs eternal praise.”
What else does this look like? Showing godly character even when no one is watching. It means following God when you relax as a family. The shows you watch, the music you listen to, the books and magazines you read should be evaluated through a lens of Christlike scrutiny.
It sounds challenging. I know. We’re human. But as you submit to God in these areas, you will see the difference He makes in your life, the life of your spouse, and the life of your children and family as a whole.
When you profess Jesus as your Savior, it takes effort to grow that relationship, just like it does with each person in your life. It’s frighteningly easy to drift away from the Lord and close relationship with Him. All it takes it you doing nothing.
Falling into a pattern or not reading the Word, not praying, not listening for His voice and not obeying immediately when you do hear instruction. It’s taking shortcuts because you say you’re too busy, but we all know deep down that we can make time for what we really want to do.
God deserves your attention. He deserves all glory and praise. As you are careful about how you live, as you teach your children about God, about relationship with Jesus, and to know truth and recognize deceit, you will also teach respect and praise for God.
Ephesians 5:1-20 says, “Follow God’s example, therefore, as dearly loved children and walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people. Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving. For of this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person—such a person is an idolater—has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Therefore do not be partners with them.
“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord. Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. This is why it is said: “Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
How convicting this passage is. We need to be convicted by God’s Word, lest we continue to fall away in ways we consider small day by day…and lead our children with us.
We cannot lead our children to the Way unless we live the Word.
There are several important, simple truths you can easily weave into conversations with your children. These will undergird the foundation you build on Christ. Discuss these during Bible studies, show them in your words and actions daily. I’ll share some now.
· God has good guidelines or commands that we must obey.
· God gives Mom and Dad guidelines, too. The most important is to teach our children about Jesus.
· We must fear God - which means loving and respecting Who He is.
· God gives grace.
· Jesus is the way to relationship with God.
· The Bible (God’s Word) leads us to His truths and relationship with Jesus
· Relationship with Jesus gives us the Holy Spirit.
· The Holy Spirit guides us in all truth and gives us the fruits of the Spirit.
· We receive godly wisdom when we obey God.
· We cannot make wise or godly choices without God’s truths and wisdom.
· God is truth, so He perfectly guides us in truth.
· The book of Genesis in the Bible gives us the keys to a godly life that is pleasing to our Father.
· The book of Romans in the Bible shows God’s righteousness.
Exodus 20:12 says, “Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you.”
Also lovingly teach your children that they respect God when they honor, respect, and obey you - their parent. Then do not exasperate them. Do not ignorantly show your children the world instead of the Way.
God has many reasons for calling children to respect parents. When children respect God, they desire to please Him. When a child desires to please God, they build more connection and stability within the family.
When family members are all respectful of and loving to one another, they honor God. A family unit is built that shines Christ in society. When this happens, the community is strengthened because family is a central component to building a strong culture, government, and world.
Your children must understand that God is sovereign.
They won’t learn that fact unless you believe and teach it. God must be honored. He is the Creator of all. He deserves honor and praise. As each person is created in God’s image and for His good purposes, we must intentionally treat one another with love, honor, and respect.
When we direct our children to prioritize Him above all else, we train our children to rely on God and His strength within them. As they travel through life, no matter what they face, this godly mind and heart attitude will teach them to submit to their Heavenly Father. Instead of walking beside Him, they will invite Him to carry them.
Assess which areas you should place focus to strengthen in 2025. Look at where you may have failed in the past. Look at the strengths you hold for building relationship with Jesus in your home. Prayerfully seek God and ask what He desires you to release.
Where does He want you to focus so that you and your family see and shine Him more freely and diligently?
How can you joyfully (and with open hands) direct your children to prioritize Jesus?
What will you change now so you will guide your children to His Word, Truths, and feet?
It’s timely that this episode is coming out just before Christmas. As you run around doing tasks such as decorating and cooking, buying presents, and having parties, enjoy yourself! Have fun experiencing the holidays, but please remember to think of this season as we imagine God does.
Jesus is first. Forgive the cliché, but He is the reason for the season. We experience Christmas in the ways of the world, and as parents, we try to make the holiday a memorable and beautiful one. I’m sure God loves to see us give and spread happiness, but true joy only comes from Him – the Holy Spirit living within us.
Praise God for Jesus. Thank you, Jesus for all You sacrificed for us.
Please remember to stop this year (if you haven’t already) and allow your focus to shift to an eternal lens. Put Jesus first and foremost in your activities. Create new traditions that shine more focus on Him – where it needs to be. Allow your children to experience the wonder of Christ and help them deepen their walk this Christmas. It’s the only gift that will last into eternity.
Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for your Word that guides and guards us. Thank you for Jesus who enables us to have joyful relationship with You that lasts into eternity. Help us to be godly mothers who place Jesus first as we progress through our days. Each moment is gone so quickly that time passes before we realize we haven’t focused on what You deem important. Forgive us our negligence and disobedience. Help us seek You more intimately and openly. Help us shine You into our families in ways that change generations for Jesus. In His precious name we pray. Amen.
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.