Introduction: Parenting is not easy! It takes GRACE!! God’s GRACE. Do you agree? By the way, even as our children move out of the house, we are still fulfilling our role as a parent….it’s lifelong. They need our encouragement, counsel, and sometimes help….believe it or not!

On a lighter note, someone has suggested if they had to do it over again, they might have had GRANDCHILDREN first! Anyway, there seems to be several biblical principles we can practice when parenting. What our Lord said thru Moses to the children of Israel, can be applied in our life today. Listen carefully:

(Deut 6:1-8)

“Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD: 5And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. 6And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: 7And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. 8And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. 9And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.”

1. By Teaching them the Word of God (biblical worldview in a secular world)! (Deut 6:7)

“And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.”

CHALLENGE: For us to learn the Word of God!

2. By SHOWING them how to LIVE out the WORD of God by the power of the Holy Spirit! (Deut 6:8,9)

“And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes. 9And thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and on thy gates.”

3. First TEACHING them , then SHOWING them, and finally LET them do it! (Deut 6:12-15)

“Then beware lest thou forget the LORD, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage. 13Thou shalt fear the LORD thy God, and serve him, and shalt swear by his name. 14Ye shall not go after other gods, of the gods of the people which are round about you; 15(For the LORD thy God is a jealous God among you).”

As much as we would LOVE to live out our lives in our children, they have to flesh it out. That’s the hard part! We want fix it, when they go wrong. Whether deliberately or not, we can become ENABLERS! That is not the God- given goal.

How are you doing in this area?
Do you need to let the line out?
Do you need to tighten it a little?

Pray. Take some time right now, and evaluate where you are at and your children – grandchildren. Trust the Lord to make the changes necessary. When all is said and done… Give Him the GLORY!