2 Kings 11:4
And the seventh year Jehoiada sent and fetched the rulers over hundreds, with the captains and the guard, and brought them to him into the house of the LORD, and made a covenant with them, and took an oath of them in the house of the LORD, and shewed them the king's son.
Parenting is not for the faint of heart. You cannot be uninvolved in your child’s life and expect them to turn out right. God says in Proverbs 29:15, …a child left to himself bringeth his mother to shame. A parent needs to be highly involved in their child’s life if they expect them to have a chance of turning out right. Now, nobody can guarantee a child will turn out right if you do certain things because each child must make the right choice to follow their parent’s instructions and guidance. However, you can institute several guards in your child’s life that will give them the best chance to turn out right. Let me share six areas you need to guard in your child’s life.
First, guard their home life. Children learn more bad habits in their home than they often do outside the home. In verse 5, there were guards set up to guard the king’s house. You need to know what your children do in their bedroom to be sure they are not hiding things from you. Likewise, you need to guard your marriage so that your children have security that their home is not about to break up.
Second, guard your child’s influences. Verse 6 talks about guarding the gates of the house. Social media, television, digital technology, and music are influences that directly your child. It only takes one unguarded moment for Satan to influence your child for wrong through these mediums.
Third, guard your child’s spiritual influences. Verse 7 talks about guarding the house of the LORD. The church you are a member of will influence your child for right or wrong. As a rule of thumb, every pastor your child has will influence your children and grandchildren. It is critical that you are a part of a church that encourages and upholds God’s Word, the heritage of the old paths, and service to the LORD. Your children will learn that serving God is not a weight to carry, but a privilege to serve the King of kings.
Fourth, guard your child’s daily interactions. Verse 8 says they were to guard the king as he goeth out and as he cometh in. You need to know where your children are at all times. All it takes for a child to be at the wrong place is for you not to keep track of your child’s whereabouts. Check on where they say they will be every once in awhile. Don't just take them at their word. There is nothing wrong with a parent making sure their child is where they say they are; that is called good parenting.
Fifth, guard your child’s spiritual life. Verse 11 says the guard stood, every man with his weapons in his hand. Ephesians 6 talks about believer’s armor. You put on the Christian armor by serving God. Get your children involved in serving God in the church ministries. I believe it is good for every child to be involved in the bus ministry. This gives them a way to invest their heart in others.
Sixth, guard your child’s walk with God. Verse 12 says they gave the child the testimony. Be sure your child has a time everyday to read God’s Word. God’s Word is the key to God getting the heart of your child and for His Word to help them have a pure and clean heart.
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