A Prayer for Wisdom in Parenting (to Pray Each Day)
By Jennifer Kennedy Dean
Train up a child in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it. –
I raised three sons. All are grown and married with families of their own. Each son has his own unique personality and approach to life. I used to describe my three sons like this (though each has matured into a responsible man): Kennedy always has his ducks in a row. Brantley can’t find his ducks. Stinson doesn’t know there are ducks.
Nothing cookie-cutter about them. An approach that reaches one son alienates another.
God has picked you out to be the parent to the children whom He has entrusted to your care. You’re His chosen one for this exact assignment, and He knows everything you will need to know as you parent. He knows, and He is delighted to reveal to you everything you need every time you need it. You just need to have your heart synchronized with His and live in sync with His indwelling Spirit.
Jesus demonstrated what it was like to live synced to the Father’s heart, the same way He invites us to live synced to His heart. For many years I have been teaching this as the definition of a praying life. Living in the flow of His power and provision. Instead of having a prayer life—packaging words between Dear God and Amen—you can live a praying life—a life synced to the heart of Jesus so that His life flows through you like the vine’s life through the branch.
A praying life is a life lived on earth in the power of heaven.
As you parent, you can live a praying life. You can parent out of the resources of heaven. The most important parenting skill you can hone is how to live synced to the heart of Jesus. “He who fears the Lord has a secure fortress, and for his children it will be a refuge” (Proverbs 14:26).
As you grow in Christ, your descendants will be the beneficiaries. Your children will be enriched because your heart is connected to the heart of Jesus. Your children will have the advantage of being parented out of the Storehouse of all wisdom (Colossians 2:3). The best parenting advice I can give is this: Live synced to the heart of Jesus.
A Prayer for Wisdom in Parenting (to Pray Each Day)
Jesus, I look to You for the wisdom I need in any moment. What takes me by surprise does not take You by surprise. You are always ready to make a direct deposit from Your heart to mine. Teach me to live so synced to Your heart that heaven’s resources are always at my disposal. Amen.
Editor’s Note: This content from this devotional was first found in Jennifer Kennedy Dean’s article How to Pray Every Day for Your Children. You can read the rest of the article here.
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