Parenting Children - September 29, 2012

Day 46 - Praying for our children

Parenting Children Ages 0-10

• never too soon to start (see the account of John the Baptist in the womb in Luke 1:44, The Bible)
• never too late to start (see the Parable of the Lost Son in Luke 15: 11-24, The Bible)
• turn fears and longings into prayers
• when to pray:

o with them before they go to sleep
o teaching them to pray (thank you, sorry, please)
o on our own
o with others
o in traffic jams or when cleaning up or ironing
• when prompted (often at moments of potential danger or temptation for our child)
• everyday

what to pray for:
• friendships
• schools
• their health
• their safety
• their marriage partner (most children will marry one day and their marriage partner may well already be alive somewhere)
• their response to God's love
• their characters - use the fruit of the Spirit as a list to pray through: love. joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control (see Galatians 5: 22-23, The Bible)
• pray with them, particularly at bedtime
• pray for yourselves as parents

Question:
Take some time to pray for your child(ren), and plan to make it a regular routine.

Related Topics: Children, Family, God, Prayer | More Messages from Parenting Children | Download Audio

From Series: "Parenting Children Ages 0-10"

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2. Our home environment

  • make your home a place that your children want to come back to, where:
  • they are free to be individuals not in a straightjacket of conformity
  • there are boundaries but not legalism
  • there is discipline but not authoritarianism
  • there is more encouragement than criticism
  • there is plenty of fun and laughter
  • there is more gratitude than complaining and blaming
  • there are apologies and forgiveness and the opportunity for fresh starts
  • faith is more easily caught than taught
    • children initially form their picture of God from the way their parents treat them show unconditional love

3. Involving other people

  • the wider family
  • other role models

4. Passing on our values about money

  • pressures on children and parents from advertising and the celebrity culture
  • give them choices with money – choosing how much to save, spend, and give away
  • teach generosity, good management, and honesty
  • help them learn the value of experiencing delayed gratification
  • model a healthy attitude towards possessions

Complete the attached worksheet.

 

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