The story of the sons of Jonadab the son of Rechab is one of the stories I love so much in the bible. A man of God asked them to drink wine but they refused to drink it because their father had instructed them not to. Jeremiah 35:4-6. These children obeyed their father even though he was not alive and upheld his instruction as part of their family values. I am not saying that drinking wine is not good because there are non-alcoholic wines, but in this family, the head of the family was no more and the children still upheld the family values. They refused to obey the man of God in that regard and explained the reason to him.
How to impact our children to be all that God purposed for them to be is needful at this age more than ever, because the world is getting tougher, harder and darker. We need to teach our children the way of the Lord so that when they grow up, they will not depart from it as stated in Proverbs 22:6. In these last days the enemy is after the children in so many ways and he doesn’t want to spare them at all. Many parents are overwhelmed by what is going on but I want to encourage us to trust God, to get closer to our children and impact them through love and the wisdom of God. ,
We need to lay a good and healthy foundation in raising our children as parents. We must take heed to how we live our lives and have a proper and Godly lifestyle because children learn more by what they see and not just by what they are told. If you put them on the right foundation, you will rest in the future.
Make your child your friend; study and understand them on individual basis and talk to them at their level. It is important you differentiate between their wants and needs so you can set a balance. Your Child would emulate your spirituality so you must teach your child to be open to God and be God-fearing. You must gradually wean your child from dependency on you to dependency on God.
Teach your child to have a learning culture. Help them to develop an appetite for the bible and other good books, and get involved in their education. It is also important to teach them to be honest at all times. We can send them to the best of schools but if they lack integrity of heart, it has the power to nullify whatever degree or status they may have.
I want to encourage us as parents to find time and the energy for our children. Let us take a critical look at our lifestyle and theirs and find enough strength to correct the things they do wrong through the motivation of love and through reward systems. Let us do everything in our power to see that they turn out right. Let us not “leave them to themselves”.
Finally, I want you to know that whatever investment you make into the lives of your child today is what you will reap in the future. Give your child the foundation of the fear of God, responsibility and hard work, they will go far in life and you will be glad. They will do you proud and God himself will bless them.
In His love
Nike Adeyemi
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