Joyful Moments in Christ

Navigating Parenthood: Raising Faithful Children

Embarking on the journey of parenthood brought with it the revelation that raising kids to love Jesus is a more intricate task than I initially imagined. Preconceived notions of effortlessly instilling faith were quickly replaced by the recognition that our children possess unique minds and souls, each charting their own course in matters of spirituality. It became evident that while I could provide them with essential head knowledge, the true essence of their connection with Jesus would come from a deeper, more personal place – the heart.

In a world that often challenges the idea of a singular truth, our children find themselves navigating a sea of diverse religious ideologies. The prevailing narrative promotes a form of tolerance that paradoxically labels them intolerant for valuing one set of beliefs over another. I beg to differ. Amidst the cacophony of conflicting voices, everyone holds something to be true.

Join me as we explore the delicate balance of equipping our children with the intellectual foundation they need while trusting in the transformative power of the Holy Spirit to cultivate a genuine, heart-driven connection with Jesus. In the face of societal pressures and diverse perspectives, let us navigate this intricate journey of faith, empowering our kids to discern their own spiritual path in a world often at odds with unwavering truths found in the Bible.

Balancing Faith: Mind and Soul Connection with Jesus

Head Knowledge: Cherished Lessons from Grandparents

My own experiences with gaining Christian head knowledge center around fond memories of my maternal grandparents unwavering commitment to Jesus. Their faith wasn’t confined to Sunday services or private prayers; it permeated their daily lives. Despite limited financial means, my grandpa transformed his backyard into a bountiful vegetable garden, ensuring that no one who sought help left empty-handed. Their generosity went beyond material provisions, extending to the spiritual realm.

My grandma, a living example of Christ’s love, inspired me to aspire to higher ideals. Her influence prompted me to seek her out for evening prayers and to eagerly attend Vacation Bible School with her. As I embarked on my college journey, her guidance continued. She gifted me a Bible cover, urging me to read the contents within daily, join a Christian fellowship, and even tucked the address of a church she recommended into the cover. While I possessed the head knowledge of Christianity, the deeper heart knowledge was still in its infancy. Disappointing her was a greater deterrent than disappointing God!

College life beckoned with its myriad experiences, leading me to the allure of parties and social events. Despite early connections with the Intervarsity Christian Fellowship, I found myself pulled in conflicting directions. The internal struggle persisted until I reached a pivotal moment—a crossroads demanding a choice between God and the world. The path I was on, intertwined with the sorority scene, proved unsustainable. It was a decisive surrender, recognizing that true change required prioritizing God over the temporal pleasures of the world.

The choice was made clear in my mind:

There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death.

Proverbs 14:12 (ESV)

Heart Knowledge: Finding Purpose through Faith

This decisive moment marked the inception of profound heart knowledge. Without Jesus, life can seem purposeless and pointless, an idea I explored in a recent blog post. The societal loss of faith and the depression that has ensued has caused many to turn to anti-depressants to cope. While many of these people may genuinely need medical intervention, many may only be grappling with a search for meaning. The absence of Jesus in society has left a void that, when filled, can bring purpose, joy, and renewed vitality.

In my life, attending church and the Intervarsity Christian Fellowship became not only regular but transformative filling of this void. The sporadic engagement transformed into consistent participation. I discovered not just Jesus but a vibrant community. Friday nights resonated with worship, teaching, and spirited rounds of Settlers of Catan. Bible study sessions were filled with manuscript study and fervent prayers. Sunday mornings became a source of joy.

The foundation of head knowledge laid by my grandparents proved instrumental; it was the pathway to heart knowledge that the Holy Spirit intended for me. While acknowledging the Holy Spirit’s diverse methods, I firmly believe that this familial legacy was a crucial conduit to the profound heart connection I now cherish with Jesus.

Guiding in Faith: Wisdom, Trust, and the Holy Spirit

Head Knowledge: Giving our Children Wisdom

So, how do we pass on this invaluable wisdom to our children? Recognizing that their paths may diverge from ours, we understand that, ultimately, all we can do is provide them with the head knowledge and trust the Holy Spirit to do the rest. In this journey of faith, we turn to scripture for guidance:

• Proverbs 22:6 (ESV): “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old, he will not depart from it.”
• Deuteronomy 6:6-7 (ESV): “And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.”
• Proverbs 1:8-9 (ESV): “Hear, my son, your father’s instruction, and forsake not your mother’s teaching, for they are a graceful garland for your head and pendants for your neck.”
• 2 Timothy 3:14-15 (ESV): “But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.”
• Ephesians 6:4 (ESV): “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.”

Teaching our children from a young age provides them with a strong foundation, a reservoir of wisdom they can draw upon in all phases of life. Maturity, much like a well-baked loaf of bread, takes time to rise. Toddlers adhere strictly to rules, teenagers push boundaries and make mistakes—essential elements in the journey to becoming mature adults.

The hope is that the mistakes our children make are minor, akin to a too-hot marshmallow mishap by the campfire rather than a more severe encounter with the flames. Learning about God mirrors this process. While we can impart the knowledge that premarital sex often leads to heartache, some may only truly grasp the value when navigating the complexities of relationships and experiencing the pain of mistakes.

The more head knowledge we provide our children, the better equipped they are to recognize the wisdom behind the rules when life’s inevitable mistakes occur. The goal is to ensure that the lessons learned are of the smaller variety rather than the more profound, potentially painful ones. In this delicate dance of guidance and self-discovery, we strive to shepherd our children toward a faith that not only withstands the trials of life but flourishes amidst them.

Heart Knowledge: Giving our Children the Holy Spirit

The question is, how do we usher in the transformative presence of the Holy Spirit in our children’s lives? While it’s true that some individuals may experience heart knowledge before acquiring head knowledge, the usual trajectory in families with Christian parents involves laying a robust foundation that eventually blooms into spiritual maturity. Consider revisiting 2 Timothy 3:14-15 from the previous section if you need assurance that this is true.

Once our children are equipped with the necessary head knowledge, the Holy Spirit begins to act. John 14:26, below, assures us that the Holy Spirit serves as a Helper, aiding our children in remembering the foundational teachings instilled during their formative years:

• John 14:26 (ESV): “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.”
• 1 Corinthians 2:10-12 (ESV): “These things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.”
• John 16:13-14 (ESV): “When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.”
• Romans 8:26-27 (ESV): “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”
• Ephesians 1:17-18 (ESV): “That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints.”

These verses collectively emphasize the partnership between head knowledge and the Holy Spirit’s guidance. While we provide our children with foundational teachings, the Holy Spirit ensures a profound and enduring understanding. Romans 8:26-27 reminds us that even in our weaknesses or failures, the Holy Spirit intervenes. Ephesians 1:17-18 offers solace, affirming that God can always illuminate the eyes of our children’s hearts, even if they momentarily stray from the path. The next time you sing “Open the Eyes of my Heart,” let it be not just for yourself but a heartfelt prayer for the spiritual journey of your children.

Reflection Questions

If you are a parent or a spiritual mentor to a particular child, consider the following questions:

1. How has your view on raising faith-filled children changed since becoming a parent or spiritual mentor?
2. In what ways do you acknowledge your children’s unique spiritual journey?
3. How do you balance providing a foundation and trusting the Holy Spirit in your children’s faith journey?
4. How have your family or mentors influenced your approach to guiding your children?
5. Share a moment when faith became personal for you. How does this impact how you pass on wisdom?
6. How do you handle societal pressures while empowering your children to find their spiritual path?
7. How do you integrate key scriptures into your parenting or mentoring style? (Proverbs 22:6, Deuteronomy 6:6-7, Proverbs 1:8-9, 2 Timothy 3:14-15, Ephesians 6:4)
8. What do you hope your children learn from their faith-related mistakes?
9. Reflect on balancing guidance and self-discovery in your parenting or mentoring. How do you guide your children toward a flourishing faith?
10. How do you pray for the Holy Spirit’s impact on your children? (Consider John 14:26, 1 Corinthians 2:10-12, John 16:13-14, Romans 8:26-27, Ephesians 1:17-18)

Respond

Consider sharing your insights and experiences in the comments below!

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English Standard Version (ESV): Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are taken from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The ESV text may not be quoted in any publication made available to the public by a Creative Commons license. The ESV may not be translated in whole or in part into any other language.