Five habits every Christian parent must develop:
Our lives are busy! I think every parent would agree with that. The problem is in all of our busyness, sometimes we fail to accomplish the tasks that are important to ourselves and our families. I understand that these are not new principles, but they are incredibly important, so stay with me please. Here are five basic habits that every Christian parent needs to develop.
1. Reading the Word of God.
I told you they were basic! But let me ask you, how much time have you spent in God’s Word today? As youth pastor, I am constantly trying to encourage young people to spend time in God’s Word. My prayer would be that their parents would be modeling that desire for God’s Word. Our goal as parents should be to be characterized like the “blessed man” in Psalms 1. “But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.” (Psalm 1:2)
2. Studying the Word of God
Somewhere in our “Christian culture” we have made reading the Bible synonymous with studying the Bible. As parents, what are we personally learning from God’s Word? What are we actively investigating and pondering from the Bible? Our young people need parents, who are digging deep into the truth of the Scripture. There are many Christian families who are being deceived, because they are waiting to stumble across truth rather than pursuing truth. Paul urged Timothy “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15) Though our schedules are full, we must make time to study the Word of God.
3. Memorizing the Word of God
The first two principles are pretty standard although not always practiced. This third principle is not as common. For some reason, we equate Scripture memorization with children’s church or the Christian school. As adults we have “valid” reasons for not memorizing scripture. “I don’t have time in my busy schedule to memorize God’s Word.” “ I have a terrible memory.” The Bible makes Scripture memory an imperative! Psalm 119:11states “Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.” Joshua 1:8 declares “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth…” Colossians 3:16 says “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom…” During Jesus ministry, He quoted Scripture numerous times. (Matthew 4:4,7,10; Matthew 13:15; Luke 4:18-19; and many others) The reason we must memorize the Word of God is because we need truth in our hearts. Today, we have copies of the Bible on our shelves, on our mobile devices, and on the decorations in our houses, but not in our hearts. Young people need to see their parents striving to memorize Scripture.
4. Praying
What are you praying about as a parent? We all carry needs and burdens on our hearts for our families. But how much time do we actually spend in prayer. We have been commanded to “Pray without ceasing.”(1 Thessalonians 5:17) Paul told the Philippian church “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” (Philippians 4:6) Prayer is a fundamental of the Christian life. E. M. Bounds said it well when he said “ The little estimate we put on prayer is evidence from the little time we give to it.” A Christian father and mother must make time to pray! We must pray with our children and for our children. Imagine the testimony to God’s power when a child sees a parent pray and God answer!
5. Worshiping and Magnifying Christ outside of Church
Colossians 3:16-17 demonstrates that we are to live lives dedicated to our Lord. “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.” Do we give praise or sing to God in our homes? In many homes we have created an environment where their is “home life” and there is “church life”. I believe this can be one of the most confusing and frustrating situations in a Christian home. A child sees a parent “worship” God at church, but at home His wonderful works are not mentioned. D. L. Moody once said, “A man ought to live so that everybody knows he is a Christian… and most of all his family ought to know.” Sing Christ-exalting music in your home! Praise the Lord in your home! Allow your children to see God doing exciting things in your life!
These five principles are simple truths, but they are not always easy to accomplish. May we as Christian parents work hard to implement these godly habits. Yes, our schedules are hectic and our lives are busy, but these simple habits are important!
