CHILDREN: GOD’S HERITAGE
By Bishop Mike Okonkwo
Wednesday 15th February 2023
“Dedicate your children to God and point them in the way that they should go, and the values they’ve learned from you will be with them for life.” Proverbs 22:6 (TPT)
Children are God’s special treasures that He commits to us as parents to take care of. Parents are God’s representatives in the lives of these children, and responsibility is laid on every parent to dedicate them to God and point them in the right direction.
Children learn more by what they see than what they hear, so your life must be an example to them. When you tell them to pray, it does not make any sense to them, but when they see you pray, without you asking, they will by themselves, start to pray. Don’t tell them what to do, model the Christ-centered life to them and they will follow.
A major fear of parents today is the exposure of children to the internet. The world is now a global village, and they can access tons of information without recourse to you. While this can be a concern, you owe the duty to be their first teacher. Don’t let the world teach them, be proactive and teach them yourself. Spend time with them, let them ask you their questions, and provide answers. Where you do not have the answer, be honest enough to tell them you will find out and then find out and come back to them with the answer. Earn their trust, so that when they have questions, they will be bold to come home and ask, and beyond that, they will believe you more than any other because you have earned their trust.
Parenting is a huge assignment that you must take seriously. Find time despite your busy schedule for them, give them access to play, and share their day with you. Let them see you bring family challenges to God and share the testimony with them when the miracles happen, it will strengthen their faith in God and before long they will also form the habit of talking to God about their challenges and sharing the testimonies with you. Inculcate the right values into them and they will be with them for life.
Further Reading: Psalm 127: 1-5
Daily Bible Reading: Morning – Leviticus 17-18, Evening – Matthew 27:27-50