“Seeking Wisdom, Trusting God”

 Excerpts from

14 Secrets to Better Parenting

Powerful principles from the Bible

By

Dave Farley

(Booklet Format for Sharing)

Secret #1 – Establish the Right Target: Wisdom

Wisdom is the goal of life; wisdom is skill in daily living

Proverbs 1:1-4

Secret #2  - Focus on training your child to walk in wisdom.

On their own children will not develop into wise adults. Wisdom is an acquired skill, and parents must work hard for children to develop it.

Proverbs 22:6

Secret #3 – Lay a Proper Foundation

“Fear of the LORD” is the beginning of wisdom;  Fear of the LORD is respectful apprehension, reverential submission, righteous living.  Guide them to humility.

Proverbs 1:7

Secret #4 – Set a good example

You cannot impart what you do not possess.

Proverbs 13:20

Secret #5 – Overcome your child’s inner foolishness.

The biggest problem our children will face is foolishness or folly; foolishness is the enemy of wisdom.  Just as dark opposes light and evil opposes good, so does folly oppose wisdom.

Proverbs 22:15

Secret #6 – Correct the problem of foolishness with loving discipline

Without discipline, your child will not acquire wisdom.

Proverbs 19:18

Secret #7 – Use words to impart wisdom to your children

Effective parental communication should include every area of life our children will face, presented from God’s perspective.  For starters, the list would include anger, alcohol, authority,  communication, conceit, creation, dating, death, decision-makin, faith, fear, friends, God, government, honesty, jealousy, laziness, leadership, life, love, marriage, pride, priorities, power, poverty, prosperity, relationships, righteousness, self-discipline, sex, sin, values, women’s roles, words, work, and worship.

Proverbs 13:1

Secret #8 – Consistently pray the Bible for your children.

Never underestimate the power of prayer.  God, who is supremely intelligent and infinitely powerful, already knows and loves your children more and better than you ever will.

James1:5

Secret #9 – Partner in ministry with your children

What can you do to ensure that your children will stay on the way of wisdom after they leave high school?   Get them involved with you in ministry.

Philemon 1:6 (NIV)  

Secret #10 – Teach your children the Word of God

He (George Gallup) concluded “Americans revere the Bible, but by and large, they don’t read it. And because they don’t read it, they have become a nation of biblical illerates.”  It is important for children to see their parents as teachers and fellow students of God’s Word.  Family devotions were pretty simple: read, discuss, and pray.

Deuteronomy 6:4-9

Secret #11 – Encourage your children

Everyone craves encouragement, but especially our children.  They are looking for it, longing for it, and listening for it – and the one they seek it most from is you.  God places parents in the lives of children to provide protection, direction, and character development; obedience helps children realize their potential and enjoy long life.

Ephesians 6:4

Secret #12 – Offer your children to God

The trap of poor parenting is putting self first. The trap of good parenting is putting the child first. The priority of really good parents are God first, spouse second, and child third. God first is the only way life works.

Luke 2:22

Secret #13 – Teach your children to experience God themselves.

Unless we teach each successive generation to experience God for themselves, Christianity is one generation from extinction.  

1 Kings 11:4-6

Secret #14 – When you have no other option, keep praying!

We all have prodigals in our lives and in our families.  Even Billy and Ruth Graham, the best known Christians of this past century, saw two of their five children live as spiritual wanderers, going thru ugly seasons of rebellion, drinking, and drug abuse before eventually returning to the LORD.  Prayer is a powerful weapon for turning them around. Don’t give up hope.

Luke 15:11-32

  www.Proverbs Men.org     (603) 569-0660        December 2013