Purposed Parent Connected Child Podcast Episode 108 - Your Home is the Key to Safeguarding Your Children
Welcome to the Purposed Parent/Connected Child podcast – Episode 108 – Your Home is the Key to Safeguarding Your Children
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. You’re helping affect generations for Jesus.
Now on to this episode about how your home is the key to safeguarding your children…
Home is supposed to be a safe place.
Comfortable. Loving. Kind. Christlike.
When my youngest came home to be with us at the age of nine, she had no idea what was in store for her. Fear was all she felt when we brought her home to the United States from China. Life was uncomfortable. Our sweet girl wondered what would happen next.
Now, praise God! Each night when we say prayers together, she consistently thanks God for one thing first. Night after night she begins her prayers like this, “Dear God. Thank you for my family.”
Every single night.
Every single prayer.
Home. A place that should be a refuge. A place children should lovingly learn about Jesus from godly parents who mentor Christ intentionallywith grace, joy, and patience.
Yet, parents are human. Life isn’t perfect. Days flash by. Schedules get changed. Emergencies arise.
Still, in the midst of tragedies, trials, or triumphs, one thing parents should provide for their children is a home that safeguards.
Children deserve to be raised in a home where parents pursue relationship with Jesus and making Christ known to their children. A home that gives them joy, hope, and truth. Meaning God’s truths as written in His Word, the Bible.
In fact, God commands parents to take this approach in parenting. He even instructs us in how to accomplish this monumental task. I know you probably already know which passage I’m going to refer to, because I say this often, but one of my favorite verses related to parenting is Deuteronomy 6:5-9. “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. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.”
God is very clear in His instructions to parents. There should be no doubt as to how we are to raise the children He has entrusted to us. His children are purposely in our care. If you profess to know and love Jesus, how can you not seek and offer God’s truths?
Too many parents are good as by the world’s standards. We must stop being good! We must become godly parents who seek and shine Jesus and the truths of God for our children. If we do not, we risk our children falling for the deceits of this world and losing eternity with God.
It’s a sobering fact.
More and more kids are turning away from relationship with God. They see a walk with God as religion, not as relationship with Jesus Christ. One of the latest statistics I saw mentioned that about thirty percent of high schoolers reject religion.
What if they were never taught to follow religion, but instead, were taught how to develop a close and abiding relationship with Jesus from the youngest possible age? What would that percentage become? I definitely think it would be lower.
We must obediently pursue the Lord with love and honor and equip our children to do the same because of a growing love for God, not an obligation they see no need to follow.
Be intentional. Every moment counts for eternity.
In order to create a home that safeguards your children, there are several actions you must prioritize.
1. Relationship with God through Jesus. Ideally, you and your husband are equally yoked. If not, prayerfully pursue God’s Word and pray for your husband. Show Christ in yourpersonal life. Your words, desires, actions, and reactions must be submitted to Christ. A lasting relationship with Jesus ideally begins in a home where both parents love, honor, and obey God.
2. Build a strong home/family unit. Love, biblical teachingswith grace, patience, and joy are cornerstones to building a home that is safe and peaceful. When your child feels safe and loved by you, and they see Christ in you, they are more apt to seek, follow, and obey Him.
3. Godly love. When you know and trust Jesus, when you invite Him to transform your life, you are a magnet of godly love that will also transform the life of your child as you show Christlikeness in your desires, words, actions, and reactions.
4. Communication/Connection. When you create a home that fosters connection and communication, your child feels safe. They feel seen. Heard. Appreciated. Loved. When they feel close to you, as they see you purposely pursue Jesus with passion, they will seek Him, too.
5. Discipleship – not punishment. We will never have perfect kids or families. We are each imperfectadults raising imperfect children. Your kids are kids. Just as you made mistakes, they will. Guide and guard them – direct them to Jesus, and show Christ in your life. Remember that discipline should be discipleship, not punishment. It is critical to parent the heart, not seek to simply eradicate the behavior.
6. Godly mentorship (in actions – not just words). Remember that you are seeking to disciple God’s children who simply reside in your care. As you deepen your walk with Jesus, you are better equipped to mentor how your children can do the same. They see and know more about you than you might think. Little eyes and ears watch and hear. Show them Jesus as they examine you.
7. God’s Word. The way to know the Lord in intimate relationship is through His Word. Help your child see you study it and be in the Word with them. Not because you have to, but because you crave it. The only way for you to develop a taste for God’s Word is to read it. Do it whether or not you want to. Do it whether you feel you have time. Keep doing it. You canmake time to read or listen each day.
8. Prayer. How gracious God is to give us a lifeline straight to Him. Use itoften and regularly. Teach your children to do the same. Pray Scriptures, pray Scripture-based prayers, pray for yourself, your children, your spouse, those in authority. The list can be endless. Instead of feeling overwhelmed by the opportunity to pray, pray for what you know is in alignment with God’s desires. Ask God for guidance in what else He desires you to pray for. If you’d like deeper discussion and training on prayer, you may listen to Purposed Parent Connected Child episodes. Simply go to terrihitt.com/podcasts and click on Purposed Parent Connected Child. Type prayers in the search bar and you can choose between about five episodes on this topic. You may also visit the website and click on Live With Eternal Perspective. Do the same by typing prayer in the search bar and you will see several choices about prayer.
9. Forgiveness. A home filled with the love and joy of Christ follows His model. Forgiveness. As you craft and deepen your walk with God through relationship with Jesus and grow your identity in Christ, you will live with mercy and forgiveness. Teach those characteristics to your children and extend them to your spouse and family. You safeguard your children when you teach them the act of obedience through forgiveness.
The nine steps I mentioned are tips to beginbuilding a foundation for Christ that also safeguards your home and children. Begin with these basics. Send me a message if you’d like to hear additional ways in future episodes.
A godly home is a gift and blessing you will never regret building for your children. Your home will become one they will return to, one in which they will be able to find close relationship with Jesus and connection with you.
Dear Heavenly Father, how great You are to give us Your Son and all the keys to Your heart. Thank you for the truths You teach us, the commands you give us, and the love you shower upon us. You are truly SO good. Work within us to enable us to create homes that lead our families to You. Help our children to be safe, loved, and brought to you because we are diligent to grow our walk with You and show You in ways that delight Your heart. Make our home a place that safeguards the children You have entrusted to us. In the precious name of Jesus we pray. Amen.
Because your home is key to safeguarding your children, I want to share a sweet and innocent company that has the same mission to safeguard the hearts and minds of children - Melane & Co. This shop was created by my middle daughter, who is the artist behind the watercolor creations available.
Are you disgusted with book illustrations that honor darkness, not light? Have you ever taken your child to a gathering or been in the home of another person who has art hanging on the walls that simply isn’t God-honoring?
Whether you’re looking through magazines, visiting a gallery, or a friend’s home, your kids have probably been exposed to artwork that you just wish they hadn’t seen.
Has this happened to you? If it hasn’t yet, it probably will.
But your home can be a place of refuge. Remember, under God’s command, you are responsible for safeguarding the heart and home of your children.
If you’re looking for home décor that your child can grow up with and that won’t cause a flush to spread across your faces, Melane & Co. has gentle, beautiful watercolor prints, cards, and custom floral or pet paintings that bring joy and delight to young and old.
Raising children is challenging. Don’t let artwork be another stumbling block. I invite you to visit Melane & Co. at www.melaneandco.com for a variety of pieces to bring a smile to your faces and walls. You’ll find fine quality watercolor cards you can use for gifts to family, friends, or teachers. If your home has a furry family member or two, you’ll also see a way to include them in your décor. A custom portrait of your pet is a timeless way to remember the joy they give so effortlessly daily. Any way you can honor God in your home with classic pieces that are sweet to the eyes and soul help you mentor Christ in beautiful ways. Visit Melane & Co. today.
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.