Christian Parenting Series Part 1, Parenting Young Children |
Navigation Links
The season of young children parallels the first steps of mom’s Christian walk.
|
I found the season of parenting young children overwhelming because, not only were my children young and untrained, but I too was a young and untrained child in Christ.
|
God was changing my foundational beliefs—renewing my mind—as well as exposing my heart with His light, and what I saw pouring forth from my heart through this process was not lovely, to say the least.
It was a painful time of growth for me. As my husband and I were blessed with more children, more conflict developed and I felt more and more helpless as a parent.
Although I had been churched, I didn’t really understand how much God loved me and tried to raise my young children from my own understanding rather than abiding in Him for the wisdom I so desperately needed. I enjoyed mothering so very much, and I desired to be a Godly parent but I really didn’t know how.
What my loving God showed me through this season of raising young children is that
I didn’t need to know how to parent;
rather, I needed to know Him, my Parent.
During this season of young children, I continued to read the myriad of “how-to” Christian parenting books and tried to apply various techniques to develop my parenting style. Through that process of attempting to walk with the Lord, He blessed me with His mercy and grace for my journey and led me to abide in Him.
Return to the Table of Contents
DISCERNING
HIS
VOICE
God speaks through real-life circumstances.
|
As I was watching my second child learn to walk, God spoke to my heart:
“You are learning to walk, my dear daughter, learning to walk by the Spirit, and you are wobbling. That's fine. I, your Abba-Daddy, am watching you take your baby steps, just like you are watching your child. It brings joy to My heart knowing that you want to walk right into My arms, just like it brings joy to your heart knowing that your child wants to walk to you.”
So, I ask you, Mom, Remember when your child walked to you for the first time?
Weren't you thrilled?
When you are walking through the woods or down your street and your child’s chubby little hand reaches up to yours, aren’t you blessed?
Likewise, your heavenly Father is thrilled at your attempts to walk to Him and with Him.
He loves you!
He is not going to punish you for taking wobbly steps.
He's going to cheer you on and come alongside you to help you when you fall.
|
And you will fall!
You will have many ups and downs as you learn to walk in the Spirit and abide. God is constant even when you're not. Depend on Him, not on your ups and downs.
As you experience His unconditional love for you, you then can nurture your children with that same unconditional love from the overflow of His love in your heart.
|
Through this season of young children
as you abide in Christ and make feeble attempts to obey the Lord,
be thankful that through your struggles, God is teaching you to walk in the Spirit—releasing you to His love for you.
LET HIM LOVE YOU, HIS PRECIOUS CHILD!
|
Return to the Table of Contents
This season of raising young children is your time to begin rooting yourself in the life of the Lord Whose love will fill you to overflowing. You can find many Christian books about
spiritual growth and I encourage you to read them.
But practically, how can you cooperate with God (i.e., obey Him) and grow yourself through this season of raising young children?
- Renew your mind about exercising Godly authority, not carnal control, over your children’s lives. How?
Train your young children, who are not yet reasoning well, through establishing grace-based rules with clear consequences.
- Strengthen your will to obey. How?
- Restrain your emotions so they serve you rather than control you. How?
Let the Lord address your heart—your mind, will, and emotions—as He teaches you how to address the hearts of your children.
Return to the Table of Contents
Lord, release us to love
—especially to receive Your love for us—
as we respond to your lovingkindess.
Teach us to reach the hearts of our children
with that same lovingkindness with which You reached ours.
I have loved you with an everlasting love;
Therefore, I have drawn you with lovingkindness.
~ Jeremiah 31:3
READING
GUIDES
Learn more about all the Reading Guides here.
|
|
If you would like a more structured approach to reading the articles in the Parenting Young Children series, please consider signing up for the Reading Guide below.
You will receive an email once a week for seven weeks.
The Guide suggests an order for reading the articles outlined in the Table of Contents and includes personal meditation suggestions so you can practically apply Life-giving principles to your daily life.
|
SUGGESTION I suggest that you register for the four-week Parenting Overview Reading Guide first (found at the bottom of this page) because it lays the foundation for the distinctive mindset of these articles.
At the end of the four weeks, you will be prompted to register for this Parenting Young Children Reading Guide.
However, if you would prefer to skip the Overview Reading Guide and register only for this one, please sign up below.
|
Your email address will only be used to send you this Guide.

Top of this page
Return to Christian Parenting Articles Page
Return to Home Page

|