HOW TO RAISE A CHILD IN A CHRISTIAN HOME:10 BIBLICAL IMPORTANT WAY

#GodlyUpBringing

 As a Parent, it is such a blessing to have the opportunity to raise children, in-fact it is a privilege. This is true of both believers in Christ, if you are a person of faith, it is so important to pass on a spiritual heritage that your kids can pass on to their kids. The 10 ways that I picked for this teaching are certainly not a complete list but were things that I believe are essential and needful to raising a child in a Godly way. I pray that as you listen God will give you wisdom to train them up in Godly ways Amen.

1. PUT CHRIST FIRST IN YOUR LIFE

A boy has been noticing his Father who happens to be a Pastor, how he lay hands on people and they fall to the ground when he Prays for them.

One faithful day the father has a visitor who came with his little boy, the Pastors son immediately took the visitors son to a room, he took his fathers Tie, told the visitor's son to kneel down, he laid his hands on the boy and be began to say: FALL NOW! FALL NOW!! FALL NOW!!. The father wondered what was happening and straight way walked into the room to see what was going on, he burst into laughter watching his son.

Very funny right? Yes of course it is, but this funny act is one big reality we parents fail to comprehend.

As parents, you are a Mirror to your kids, whatever you do or say, they take note of it, they learn very fast and most times very sharp than most adult. If your child notice Christlike character in your daily life, that is same attitude your child will put on. 

(YOU ARE THE PRODUCT OF YOUR CHILDREN) or why do you think an adage says: LIKE FATHER LIKE SON; LIKE MOTHER LIKE DAUGHTER?  It is because your life is a Mirror to them, what ever Character you Portray, GOOD OR BAD they copy from it.

However, we always have to be aware that we are teaching kids all of the time. What I mean is that even when we are sitting in front of the TV, we are teaching them something (Such as what we consider funny or appropriate or interesting). When we raise our children, they must see us consistently putting Christ first in everything we do including our time. Put Christ first on Sundays not food or work plans nor our money.

2. MODEL WHAT A CHRISTIAN SHOULD LOOK LIKE.

The Bible speaks about how God is Holy and encourages us to be Holy too. set apart" meaning. We are to be different than the outside world. People should be able to notice that we believe in Jesus Christ. Not because we are proud and pious like the Pharisees standing on the street corners to pray but our friends and neighbors should be able to tell we are different by how we act and interact with each other and with the world. As we follow the example of Christ. He loved His bride (the church) and laid down His life for it. Our children will certainly know that we are not perfect but they should know that we are authentic (real both in our daily lives and the same on Sunday morning).

3. MAKE FAMILY A PRIORITY

Our relationship with God comes first, our commitment to our family comes next, and our dedication to our work is third. Our family should be a priority.

This sounds simple but Christians often struggle in this area as we get busy trying to love others so much that some times, your children should not be left at home while you as parent you are in church, No. this is wrong, it is your responsibility to Train up in Gods way, and the church is a better place to start.

4. TEACH YOUR CHILDREN THE BIBLE AND ABOUT GOD

This part have seen to be very important in a child life, Having your children learn the Bible and about God must come from you as parents. Sure the church is a great help in this but don't neglect your duty and responsibility to teach your children about God.

The church is a great source for this as well but it must start first with us as parents. Many of our Children don't know how to read the bible neither do they know much about our Lord Jesus Christ, this is very bad as we are toiling with the future of our children if we neglect teaching them about Gods word.  PROVERB 22:6.

5. MAKE SURE YOU ARE CONNECTED TO A CHURCH

You and your children need to be connected to a church. It is part of our life blood as Christians to be connected with other believers. This is so important to your children too as they will usually have other friends outside the church that are not raised in a Godly way and can be bad influences in their lives. Other Christian children will not be perfect certainly but will often have a much better value system than those outside of the church. Some parents feel it is adequate to just drop off their kids at church as they go home and sleep a little more. This is a bad message for your children and they will quickly see through this. If it is not important enough for you to stay, your kids will feel it is not that important for them to stay either.

6. REGULARLY ATTEND A CHURCH

It is important that we teach our children that we get together with the family of God to worship God as a group.

Far too many Christians Parents are in the habit of calling themselves Christians but living their lives for themselves. I am not trying to be judgmental but I believe what Gods word says in Hebrews 10:24-25

"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near."

It is important that we teach our children that we get together with the family of God to worship God as a group.

7. ENCOURAGE YOUR CHILDREN TO HAVE GODLY INFLUENCES IN THEIR LIVES.

This can come in the form of aunts, uncles, grandparents, teachers, and other believers. Encourage your children to not only see and hear God through your life but also through others that know and love the Lord.

This will give them a bigger perspective and show them that it is important to know and worship God.

When Jesus Christ was 12 year old, we were told that he was seeking knowledge, his parent found him in the Temple after searching for him for the past three (3) days, he was found among rulers, professionals, doctors and teachers of the Law, doing what? The Bible says he was hearing them and asking them questions.

8. PRAY REGULARLY WITH AND FOR YOUR CHILDREN.

Prayer is important for all believers. Prayer time in the home will be another teaching time for your children. It will teach them that you believe it is important to pray to God before meals (thanking God for our daily provisions). But it will also teach them on a regular basis that you believe there is a God that wants to talk with you and have a relationship with you, even with them too.

This is so important as they grow older and reach adulthood and decide if it is important for them to continue on this belief in God. If you dont pray much with and for your children, you will be modeling something for them that will hinder their faith development and their Future.

9. SERVE OTHERS WITH YOUR CHILD/CHILDREN.

The Bible teaches constantly that we, as Christians, are to be people that our servers. Christ himself came and He served others while He walked this earth. We need to be serving people too.

I encourage you to find projects in which you can serve God with your child. Even if they are very young and cant help too much there are still things such as ringing a Salvation Army Christmas bell helping an older person that has some basic needs (picking up groceries or changing a light bulb or other needs).

Be creative.The important thing is that your child understands that life is not just all about us. We live this life with an eye on the next life. Life is about more than our own personal satisfaction and is about others and is most importantly, about God.

10. SHARE YOUR FAITH WITH OTHERS AROUND YOUR CHILDREN.

The Great Commission passage in Matthew 28 is for all of us. Matthew 28:18-20 says,

"And Jesus came and said to them, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

Sharing your faith in front of your children will teach them that it is okay to talk about God with other people. We love them so much that we want them to spend eternity with God and us too.

This is another important part of your child's development into becoming a young man or young woman of faith.

This list could certainly go on and on. I hope this gives you some ideas about how to invest in the lives of your children on a spiritual basis.

We often do a great job, as parents, by taking care of our children's physical needs (place to sleep and good nutrition to help them grow), but often feel lost about giving them the spiritual nourishment that they need.

Finally, My Advice To Children Is This;

• Don't take your Parents for granted, note that when you disobey them, you are disobeying God who gave you to them, BE OBEDIENT. Ephesians 6

• Devil  does not know who a little child is, neither does he care, if he does, he wouldn't want to have kill Moses when he was just giving birth to, he wouldn't want to have kill our Lord Jesus Christ when he was just giving birth to, THANK GOD HE FAILED.The bible says he came to steal, kill and to destroy. John 10:10.

• You can be whatever God has chosen you to be, only if you remain obedient, don't follow worldly friends because  they will influence your life negatively. Face your education, study your bible, read your books, and pray to God and for your FAMILY . A FRIEND OF THE WORLD IS AN ENEMY OF GOD. James 4:4

SO RUN AWAY FROM SIN AND OBEY YOUR PARENTS THAT YOUR DAYS MAY BE LONG. 1 JOHN 3:8
 
PRAYER POINT For Children to their PARENTS

• Father please have mercy ON OUR PARENTS, ANYWAY THEY HAVE NOT BEEN DOING IT RIGHT, PLEASE FORGIVE THEM

• LORD JESUS PLEASE PROVIDE FOR OUR PARENTS SPIRITUALLY, FINANCIALLY, MATERIALLY, ACADEMICALLY

• FATHER GIVE  OUR PARENTS YOUR WISDOM, TEACH THEM AND HELP THEM TO BRING US UP AS YOUR CHILDREN

• HOLYSPIRIT GIVE THE SPIRIT OF OBEDIENCE TO OUR CHILDREN THAT THEY MAY OBEY YOUR WORD AND THEIR PARENTS.

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