Raising Spirit-Led Kids Sample

 The Way They Should Go

When it comes to parenting, one of the most quoted Bible verses is, “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6 nkjv). Unfortunately, many of us have believed an inaccurate interpretation of this verse. We have understood the verse to read, “Train up our children in all of the ways that they should not go.” 

If we are focused on all the things our children are not allowed to do, there is no “way” they are to go, and only “ways” to avoid. If we parent from this misinterpretation of the verse, we risk fostering a life of reaction in our children. They will be concerned more about what they are not supposed to do rather than being focused on what their life purpose is. “The way they should go” carries with it a sense of direction. It implies that our children can live with an understanding of the reason they were born. They can know why they were sent to earth. 

I think of this in terms of airline tickets. In order to board the correct plane that is heading toward my destination, I am given a ticket that tells me what gate to go find. By directing me only to the gate I am to use, the ticket also tells me to ignore all other gates. If the ticket told me all of the gates my flight would not be at, I could end up wandering frantically all over the airport. Once I know my gate, however, I can walk directly toward it. 

We need personal encounters with God on behalf of our children just as the parents of biblical times did. Our children are unique in who they are, and they have unique purposes on earth. Every time we ask God what He thinks, we are trusting His guidance instead of our own understanding. And we are building the same thing inside of our children. When we do not know what to do, He does. Why would we ever want to be limited to our own expertise or understanding? 

Has God already spoken to you directly about one of your children? If so, list a few of those words out. What advice or instruction did He give you? Ask for His wisdom and insight into who your children are to be and the way they should go.