Joy in Following Inner Wisdom

It seems there are many forces against parents producing spiritually upright children with morals, values and respect for self and others. Not only is society constantly bombarding our children with sexual, materialistic and atheist messages, but so-called experts and government officials are constantly working to take more control away from parents. From the efforts in some states to lower the mandatory age of school enrollment to ever-expanding programs to offer children more services that do not include their parents, American parents are allowing control of their children's future to fall into the hands of others.

So many parents I have worked with feel that they have little control over their children. You, like them, may feel fearful of trusting your own instincts and inner wisdom in matters of the best way to raise your children. You may, for instance, let your infant "cry it out" alone in their room at night, despite the almost unbearable urge to go and comfort your wailing child because some "expert" (usually a man, not a mother) said that such crying is best for YOUR child.

The Good News is that God has given us inner guidance and wisdom by leaving us the Holy Spirit to guide us towards living in right relationship with Him and with others. Remembering to ask for Holy Guidance and Holy Wisdom in even our smallest parenting decisions will allow us to act in accordance with the desires of our heart which will be in keeping with His will for our lives and for the lives of our children.

By enriching our prayer life, our time with God's Word and our daily fellowship with our Lord, we can become confident parents, joyful in the knowledge that the Ultimate Parent is guiding our every decision as we guide, train and protect our children.

Postscript:
Praise God, Alyssa is doing much better today. I thank God for His healing and faithfulness. We are continuing to pray for Chase's healing from his cough and cold.


Today's Devotion:

"Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart."
Psalm 37:4 (NIV)

Dear Lord,
Help us come to know You better so that we may become the parents that You want us to be. Help us to align our will with yours such that the desires of our heart can be our guide to raise children who will be pleasing to You, O Lord. Give us joy in knowing that You, Our Heavenly Father, have given us your example of how to be a good parent and we strive to become more like you. Give us godly wisdom to guide us to know when we should seek help for ourselves or our children and guide us to the appropriate advisors. Give us the discernment to be able to recognize wise advice and adapt it for the betterment of our families.
Amen.