After completing your daily reading, come back to chat with fellow Bible readers about any reflections you have on the proverbs, introduction, or questions from today.
The last words in the Old Testament tell us the Messiah “will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers,” healing what is broken between them (Malachi 4:6). Few relationships carry greater room for influence or pain than the parent-child relationship. The book of Proverbs not only acknowledges the capacity this type of relationship has to shape a young person’s life in beautiful and lasting ways, but it also speaks to the impact that children have on their parents.
Reflection Questions:
How did you see the wisdom in these verses modeled or not modeled for you as a child?
When you think about God as our perfect Father, how does your perspective on these proverbs change?
In what ways can the parent-child relationship give us a deeper understanding of the gospel in our lives?
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116 thoughts on "Parents and Children"
I was not raised with any of this shown to me by my parents. Both struggled with substance abuse, now both are clean. My mom is a believer but my dad is not. I pray He finds truth. Being able to fully accept and be known by Abba Father hasn’t always come easily but the more I rest in it, the more I put my trust in him….he has yet to let me down. And he never will. I’m so thankful for that. Being able to model my own marriage after Jesus and his relationship with his church….is a gift I’m able to give my own children daily.
Lord thank you for giving me a front row seat to the most beautiful marriage I have ever noticed – my parents. I pray for their individual salvation and that they would each accept you as their only Lord and savior.
My parents marriage taught me more about Gods unconditional love, unending grace and forgiveness, His perfect timing, the Lords patience and persistence in our walk, and Gods intentionality for us / purposefulness, than I could ever imagine. Their love for each other was an example of Christ and continued commitment.
Lord thank you for setting me in a whole and loving household, thank you for the strict rules and parenting expectations that were upon me as a child. Thank you for the protection you guaranteed.
My parents did an excellent job with the resources they had to serve their role. I could have used some more clear models or a closer relationship with them for better guidance and more accountability during difficult phases in my life – but they definitely tried to surround us with a community of examples to offer roles they didn’t feel fitted for.
Known by Tauren Wells is the song that I thought of. Highly recommend sitting in the truth of this song.
https://youtu.be/QAKWod74VLs?si=O7UsrYCIowXNt8-B
I did not have any of these modeled for me. My mother had severe mental illnesses, that she refused to treat. So, she used drugs to self medicate. She was extremely unpredictable, and quite abusive, both mentally and physically. Through all her faults, however, she expected me to be perfect. For example, if I got a B on my report card, I got spanked and grounded. Only A’s were acceptable. We did not attend church, and I knew nothing about God. I wish that I had known. I would not have felt so alone and unloveable.
I’m so sorry you had that hurtful and lonely experience, Nichole!
You are fully loved by our perfect Heavenly Father! Do you have a community that is speaking truth to you now?
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I was fortunate enough to have been raised in a Christian home and had Christian grandparents and great grandparents as well. Were things perfect? No. We regularly attended church, every other church related thing, my parents served, we did daily family devotions at the breakfast table for many years. I saw many things as an example but wouldn’t say there was a lot of actual guiding my heart, or discipleship or talking about personal faith. My Dad was quite authoritative and could be a bit quick tempered and my parents did bicker a lot. I don’t think that at all neccassary gave me a poor view of my Heavenly Father but I dont think I fully understood the true heart of the Father until I was much older and that my own Dad “should* be an example of that. I don’t feel like I hold anything against my parents for these things, I certainly never expected them to be without fault. As I got older and have matured in faith I definitely see how multi-faceted and perfect our Heavenly Father is. And becoming a parent definitely sheds a whole new light on things and my own shortcomings in modeling the heart of the Father became glaringly obvious. Yikes. In reading Proverbs we truly get a wide view of who He is and it brings into perspective how I should have been as a parent. Can’t go back now, but as a parent to young adult children I can still model the heart of God in ways that honor Him and are an example to my kids. I do think that God has covered over my parental missteps and pray and trust I haven’t made any mistakes that have dramatically, negatively affected my girls. We have a huge challenge in this season in honoring our own parents, my husband in particular and its very hard. My inlaws are very elderly- 90 yrs old and refuse to give up driving(and its terrifying), make a change in their living situation, or acknowledge that they should make any adjustments to their lives. Its a heavy burden and concern for my husband (and his 2 brothers) and he has had to be the bad guy and address things with them countless times and it falls in deaf ears. I pray for patience and wisdom on this often and try to see them through the lense of the Father and trust God that He will continue to guide and protect. ❤️
They were not modeled. I was raised in the Catholic church, but after Sunday (or Saturday night) that was it. When I started going to church in my 30’s, my dad was very upset with me for going to a non-denominational church. Kind of ridiculous. I remember when it hit me that God was my mostloving Father I could ever need.
This has been a rough section for me. While I love my mother, because she gave me life, we have somewhat of a.. strained relationship. She has mental health issues she doesn’t believe exist, and that makes things difficult. I am going to try to pray for her every day that she will become aware of her actions.
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How did I see the wisdom in these verses modeled or not modeled for me as a child?
I grew up in a Christian home, but I felt that it was not modeled well. I feel my parents tried to be good models, but I don’t think they truly understood how to be good models for us as children.
Growing up there wasn’t a faith model that represented the full picture. I was raised by my grandparents, my mom after getting diagnosed with multiple sclerosis became my sister, and my dad was never in the picture after giving up rights when I was only a couple months old. We would go to church on Sundays, but because of the dance schedule grandma had me in we never went on Wednesdays. The only time there was prayer was the quick “God is great, God is good, God we thank you for this food, Amen” before we would eat. I don’t recall seeing them ever spending personal time studying the word other than maybe one or two quick peeks that I can remember. Conversations were never really had. There was a point at which grandparents quit going to church, but my mom and I kept going.
Fast forward, I have always had a strange faith walk where I would jump in close for a bit then stray from the herd, then repeat. These past four months have been the closest relationship with God I have had ever, and I couldn’t be more thankful of that. With my own kids, especially as they are starting their own faith walks, I am trying to model what wasn’t modeled for me and have the conversations that I was missing. I want them to know that God is there for them no matter what is going on, we just have to call on him.
Amen, it starts now with you! :)
How did you see the wisdom in these verses modeled or not modeled for you as a child? I see a lot of teaching the children so that it lasts their lifetime in these proverbs. Instilling goodness and a fear of the Lord in children so that we can understand right from wrong.
When you think about God as our perfect Father, how does your perspective on these proverbs change?
It makes sense. He will teach us His ways.
In what ways can the parent-child relationship give us a deeper understanding of the gospel in our lives? Instilling goodness in ourselves is always the right thing to do. We don’t stop learning as children. We continue to grow and need reminders and guidance at all stages of our lives.
I simply read the title for the week and had tears streaming. Relationships have been a major thing for me lately. I recently moved across the country, as many of you know. I no longer live with my family, my friends. I have never felt alone in this way, it’s all very new territory that comes with a lot of grief and some shame sprinkled in. My parents and I have a complicated relationship, so these verses were a mirror of the hole in my heart that my parents couldn’t fill. I’m working through it with the Lord, and this is one of those days where I just need to sit in the grief with Him.
Prayers that you find a church and Godly friends! We have many people of all ages that attend by themselves and prefer to just soak in church alone, meaning don’t be afraid to go in by yourself. But I would encourage you to join a small group and you will have a tribe.
This has been a sweet reminder of God’s commitment, love, and care that He takes in being a GOOD FATHER to us. In how, as a wise daughter, we bring delight to God and please him. Reflection Questions:
How did you see the wisdom in these verses modeled or not modeled for you as a child?
Firstly, my parents kept us in church during most of my childhood and adolescence. I can remember as a child, me and my other siblings, kneeling down at her bed with my mom and reading the Bible, singing songs of praise to God. Mom had bible studies with us when we were little kids. My mom also modeled a prayer life for us. She had a consistent time of prayer and we knew, at what times, she would pray to God. She modeled that for us. The bible speaks of not provoking your children to wrath, which I believe is something many parents struggled with, including my own. Fussing and arguing, concerning bills and money were commonplace.
When you think about God as our perfect Father, how does your perspective on these proverbs change?
It gives me a clearer view. God is our perfect Father. Reading these proverbs, teaches me that I can be God’s delight by simple obedience, walking in wisdom and understanding. This pleases God as good behavior would please any good Father.
In what ways can the parent-child relationship give us a deeper understanding of the gospel in our lives? Jesus is our model, our example. He came, died, and rose for our sins. He was completely obedient to the teachings of His Heavenly Father, not desiring that any should perish. He obeyed His Father completely. God told him during his baptism….” This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased”. I want my Heavenly Father to utter those words about me. Any good Father takes great pride in the accomplishments and obedience of his Son. It brings Him delight and a feeling of honor – as Jesus was and still is to our God, sitting on the right hand throne of God.
I appreciate the author of todays devotional encouraging us to think about how these verses and specifically and the parent-child relationship in general can give us a deeper understanding of the gospel in our lives when we remember we are the child and God is the father.
Multiple of the verses we read today refer to a connection between when we make wise choices/follow after God, we bring him joy (how hard is to fathom that little me can bring the creator of the universe joy) and when we foolishly fail to follow his direction, we bring him grief – This fact convicts me.
When I reflect on God as the perfect father, it motivates me to the best mother I can to my young children. In moments when one (or more) are being disobedient, and I find myself starting to get frustrated, my heart is drawn towards remembering Gods grace towards me when I have failed to live up to his standard.
As Erica mentioned in the comments today, “The parent-child relationship shows me just a glimpse of how much God loves us, because of how much I love my kids. To think He gave up His only Son for me, for us, it’s beyond amazing!” And to add to that it is similarly amazing that God would call us one of his children. As it says in 1 John 3:1 – “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God and so we are” – Wow
It is wonderful thinking little ole me brings the Father JOY!
I counted and prayed Proverbs 22:6 and it happened. Our children were raised in church every time the doors were opened. They had a normal childhood and saw the same in us at church and at home. My middle child always had a heart for missions. After a back injury in her late 20s she became addicted to pain meds. Over the last 20 years at age 42 she was throwing up on a jail floor begging me to get her out of jail on drug charges(1st time caught) God plainly told me to leave her there as much as it broke my heart. A month later God told me it’s time to get her out. Fast forward from her condition of laying in an apartment with a needle in her arm begging God to take her home to now just 7 months later , great job, living in sober living, telling everyone who will listen about her healing with Jesus.
Wow, Praise Jesus!! I have so many ladies that have chosen Jesus after being at the bottom of the pit (jail)! One after an overdose flat lining saw/lived a vision of trying to enter the Kingdom with Light (Jesus) and the lady saying, Jesus IS the only way, are you ready to choose him now! She lived and now wants to tell everyone that Jesus is real and ONLY through him will you enter!!
I love that your daughter shares her testimony!
Thank you so much, Rhonda that means a lot to me and yes, she is on fire now and knows that she was saved for a purpose
She has been visiting the jails and feels like that may be her mission but not 100% sure yet
This is deep, Malachi 4:6 : “And he will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the land with a decree of utter destruction.” I never noticed this before, why mention the land? This reveals how crucial the parent–child relationship is to the health of families, societies, and even nations. Why this relationship affects the land? Parent-child relationship touches identity on the deepest levels. When that bond is strained or broken, it shakes the very foundation of who we are. Children who grow up estranged often carry wounds into their own families, workplaces, and communities. Multi-dimensional effect. That’s why Malachi ties family unity directly to the fate of the land: strong families create strong societies, while divided families weaken them. Satan loves attacking families for this reason. Parents often carry traditions, values, and expectations, while children grow into independence with new perspectives. Without reconciliation, every generation drifts apart, with bitterness and division. The reconciliation is like one between God and His children. Who initiates this reconciliation? In the Prodigal son story, the son did. In the case of God, God did by sending Jesus. In the case of Joseph and his brothers who sold him, Joseph did. In the case of Jacob and Esau, Jacob did. Whoever the Spirit convicts first, that person should step out in humility by God’s help. Humility is one of the most courageous acts one can take, in my opinion, especially in broken relationships. In our human nature, pride tells us that If we lower myself, we lose. But not so according to God’s perspective. “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6). Humility to reconcile is the path to healing. I will never forget Joseph’s story. His forgiveness toward the his brothers saves the whole nation. Something I will reflect upon today by the grace of God. Be blessed dear sisters.
I love your study,very deep.
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I really hope that I can pass on the wisdom and knowledge that I have gained from my own parents and God to y own daughters. I also pray that I can remember that I can still learn from my parents, even though I am an adult.
Mia Faith… thinking of you this morning. Praying for you sweet girl.
My Father God is EVERYTHING for me! with the permission from my daughter. When she got baptized and ironically on Father’s Day, and as presently she does not have a relationship with her earthly father, she mentioned how grateful she is for her Father God, Our Father God is also everything to her. He has been the Father that her earthly father isn’t. And I’m so honored that She and I are at one of our local favorite coffee shops owned by Christian‘s. And we’re heading into an hour of prayer together. Something that the church is doing this week.
I was fortunate to have really good parents, especially my daddy. my daddy, showed unconditional love, and though he never actually said the words, his actions displayed how much he loved us.
Today’s reading was hard to relate with, mostly because I feel like this wasn’t really modeled in my home much. In some ways I am relearning what this looks like thru other families and God working in my heart
@ Rhonda J. This isn’t about our lesson but…Yesterday my DIL’s sister and husband shared that their prison ministry baptized 72 inmates (in Texas) after studying with them. I couldn’t help thinking of you and the work you are doing in the prison system . God is so good!
Wow…AMAZING!! God is good, sending his people out to love on the ones that seem deserving (which was all of us!)
Serving is such a joyous and wonderful way of seeing God’s Glorious Power! To think he wants to use us, ordinary US! Thanks for sharing Cindy!!
I was introduced to Christianity as a child and made my own declaration at 13. Over the teenage years I drifted and came back to regularly going to church when I had my first child. I hope to give my children a strong foundation in Jesus and when times get tough they know who to call on and that they are a child of God no matter what age they are.
I pray for guidance in parenting my 3 little ones to maximise their faith and be a positive Christian role model for them!
Looked up from my study this morning to see 5 deer on our driveway. One of them staring at me through the window. Oh the joy of living in a semi-rural area. Yesterday we had a bat fly in through an open door! Haha.
Deer- awesome! Bat- um, NO, thanks! Lol
I would LOVE that! I used to get so excited just to see them in a distant field!
Just this morning I touched base with my DIL’s mother who was commenting on the tension of parenting adult children. Letting go and figuring out new ways to show love that aren’t controlling or smothering. A difficult transition from being the center of their world to hovering on the sidelines. Lots of emotions to navigate through on both sides. I’m grateful to God for my family and pray that my efforts as a mother have and will continue to be God honoring.
I have such a broken relationship with my mother…. So these verses are hard because I do despise my mother….
I am sorry Caitlin. I think it is natural when we don’t get what we really deserve. Thankful, that God shows us that they don’t have the eyes to see. It’s still not an excuse, but we can hate their behaviors and actions, and pray for them. That they have eyes to see, and a Love of God that can redeem and restore anyone with Him in the center. (I’m preaching this to myself, due to what I wrote and talking to my gs.)
A note from The Lucado Life Lessons Study Bible
The phrase “train up” descends from a root word that means to develop or awaken a thirst. The Hebrew midwives awakened the thirst of a newborn by dipping a finger into a bowl of crushed dates and placing it in the baby’s mouth.
As parents, grandparents we awaken the thirst in our children and grandchildren by family devotions, taking them to bible classes, church activities. As a child I was blessed with a Godly mother(died early) and grandparents who modeled Gods love.
That’s good, thanks Linda! I am so blessed that my madre and daddio did this with their kids. I think when we go our own way, we will have such a better chance when the seeds are there! I sure was a prodigal daughter, but I know others that made the other choice out of pride.
When I saw the title today I was like- well this is going to fill up the comments! We all have experience with this in so many different and complex ways. My childhood and relationship with my parents has always been amazing luckily! I feared them and respected them as they taught and loved them dearly, my dad is still alive.
And same with my son and I, great relationship. I didn’t really see the complexities until I was older as many clients would share their stories, and it would shed light on friends in my younger years.
Today I struggle because my grandkids are in difficult family dynamics, both sets. There is no God in their families. I pray for them mightily. And just Saturday I was able to have a raw, honest, sad conversation with my oldest grandson as he poured out his heart and wondered why no one saved him from what his parents were doing. I did tell him I did powerful praying, (might not mean much to him right now, But God) and I showed him how God was protecting him and can restore his heart and life. He is 17 and just hanging on to graduate and move out…please keep praying that he can hold fast to his plan, keep his cool under attack, (that is huge b/c he explodes back, but he knows he’s got to try not to with all his might, we talked how he can break that. I always remember, make them a fool, but when you join in your both fools, so I told him that). And to most importantly trust God, have faith. Lord, Holy Spirit, keep giving him opportunities to choose YOU.
Thanks for your vulnerability and shares. I always say that this space also creates an anonymous-ness that lends more opportunity for that. It’s hard to talk about this stuff in a place that knows your family. It is so good to express your feelings to fellow believers and add our prayers!
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I thought that Proverbs 10:1, especially, was interesting. I wonder why wisdom is attached to a father, yet foolishness is what is tied to the mother. Something to further investigate, I guess. ❤️
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“A wise son makes a glad father,
but a foolish son is a sorrow to his mother.”
Study notes from one of my Bibles says that sorrow (grief in this translation) is more often felt by the mother… thus the distinction of wisdom/dad and sorrow/mom.
I think it’s because Eve lead Adam to sin
My Bible had a couple of comments:
“You should live in such a way that your grandchildren are blessed as a result.”
In raising your children, you will reap what you sow.”
My grandmother lived with us and she was my primary caretaker.She lived her faith by walking out the Gospel. We went to church but we brought church home. She feed the hungry, gave people clothes, and helped people. She was not wealthy as far as bank accounts.
Prayer request: A very dear older woman I know is going through a difficult situation . Her name is Priscilla She is a Christian. The other day she told me that she felt Jesus has abandoned her. She just had a major life change. Her boyfriend of 20 years came down with dementia and his daughters put him a memory care facility and refuse to let her see him or have any contact with him. She is very sad and mourning for him.
Praying for Priscilla
My whole life I had a difficult relationship with my dad – my growing up years he was unsaved, even after salvation he never really grew and it was very hard to love him, but I did. My mom was the strong believer who raised us to know God and made sure we were always in church. Sometimes her ways were not the right way but she meant well and I believe I would not be in ministry today if it were not for my mom’s prayers.
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Proverbs 22:6 stood out to me today. So often this verse is misunderstood and misquoted. It is a principle – not a promise. It’s often confused with being a “discipline” verse but when you did deeper you find it’s referring to something quite different.
S M explains the meaning of this verse far better than I ever could. This is just a snipet of what he explains: ” “According to his way” is about some internal orientation toward life, about that thing that truly motivates him, about his personal direction.
“According to his way” is about a life passion. If parents assist a child in finding, encouraging, and nourishing his or her specific personal passion, that child won’t abandon his or her destiny. That child will become the person God designed.”
…”Punishment just doesn’t seem to fit. In fact, my friend John Samuel pointed out years ago that this verse is really about knowing the child so well that the parents can guide him toward the true design of his heart—the passion that God built into him that will not only release his full potential but fulfill God’s purpose for him in the world at the same time. It’s what we see in his face.”
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Not sure why but SRT wouldn’t let me share the original post, maybe because I mentioned the authors name? I’ll post it on the FB page.
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It’s so good to see you here this morning – especially the new names!
Happy Monday – enjoy your last official day of summer!
An old song came to mind this morning. Actually this song always reminds me of many of the verses in today’s reading.It’s about a father who never had time for his son, then later in life the son never had time for the father.
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Cat’s in the Cradle by Harry Chapin
“And as I hung up the phone, it occurred to me
He’d grown up just like me
My boy was just like me”
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As I mentioned last week my mom was a great influence and had a strong faith. She was my best friend, but also taught me right from wrong. Not so with my father, but God protected me through those years and before my dad died we were in a good place. As a parent I tried to follow these teachings with my kids. They are adults now and 2 are married and are wonderful fathers; #3 is single but a great cat dad! ❤ I am truly thankful for that! They would never be the dad in the song!
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Love, hugs, and prayers! ❤
Love, hugs, and prayers
That’s such a sweet song Cee Gee that I haven’t heard in a while. I too am blessed with a now good relationship with my parents (divorced but kind to each other) and my grown daughter. Praying for fathers!
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Such a powerful song. It touched me so much when you first shared it. I almost cried.
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Praying fervently for my oldest. Chasing fun instead of wisdom. Praying fervently Fayher God, protect him. Meet him where he is. In Jesus name, Amen
Praying for your oldest to depart from the temptation of this world. May the Spirit of Wisdom and the fear of the Lord be poured out to preserve their steps and choices.
I didn’t have good parents as a child after my brother died when I was 10. My father wasn’t that great to begin with and he abandoned me after my brother died. My mother became extremely selfish and narcissistic. Neither are in my life. I gave up on a relationship with my father 16 years ago. I cut my mom off for own healing almost 5 years ago.
My grandparents did their best to model what marriage should and shouldn’t be. They counseled me and my grandfather did his best to be my Daddy. They both showed me love and grace.
I’m glad you had that influence from your grandparents! ❤
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Particularly grateful for my children and grandchildren today. They have been visiting for 2.5 weeks and returned home yesterday. Thank you, Lord, for this precious time with them.
Oof, far too much to write here.
I’ll try to be as brief as possible and then ask for prayer.
Both of my parents DO love Jesus but the way they live out their faith is so, so different…I learned from both growing up. Reflecting back, I also remember hearing about the legacy of faith / faithfulness/ miraculous support of God on my dad’s side (and how it blessed him and strengthened his faith) and I think it gave me assurance of the future…I think it also gave me patience for the things I didn’t yet understand about God, even as I searched.
My father was very strict (in an angry way…still is) and it did make me scared of God the Father (assuming He would smite me and throw me in Hell easily) but such a conflict cuz I knew I loved Jesus.
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The struggle now is that my husband is a man of faith, feels going to church is important (although not as much as pre-pandemic) but wasn’t raised eat, sleep, breathing God…. seeing him in every aspect. He doesn’t REALLY see the point of prayer. His brother is much / even further. And now my agnostic…. actually maybe atheist…father in-law has prognosis of maximum 3 months …and my wonderful mother in-law’s heart and knees continue to ache for all she “should have done differently when they were growing up”.
Prayers would be appreciated for all of this. Also, we are having hubby’s brother’s family over for breakfast today to talk about all that is happening / coming for Dad and I need the Holy Spirit guiding.
Love to all. Happy Labour Day and Back-to-school!!
Praying for you and family, Foster Mama ❤️
My family is similar in that we were not raised with a belief in God or prayer but generations before were believers. So, I believe that the faith is there and sometimes different situations bring it forth ❤️
Praying that God will have his hand on your breakfast today❤️
Praying for you Foster Mama as you gather with your family. May God give you just the right words to say and may He soften the heart of your atheist FIL as he faces his impending death. I have prayed for his salvation before, and will continue. ❤️
Foster Mama, it sounds like your load is very heavy right now. Praying for your family and especially your FIL and his salvation. ❤️
Lifting prayers for you and your family…so much for you to bear. Hugs to you sweet sister. ❤️
Praying for your family Foster Mama and that your father in law’s heart will come around.
Prayers lifting up your family, to the one that sees and cares.
Praying dear mama. Navigating differences even in a family of faith is tough, let alone a mixture. Patience and surrendering is key. Have peace in your heart that nothing is hard for the Lord. God is fair in giving second chances, over again.
Jesus Christ is the perfect role model for any relationship and parenting is one of those. I agree that parenting adult children is difficult but it is a time to walk along side our children and create a new kind of relationship with them and allow God to do His work.
My mom has Alzheimer’s. I pray I am honoring her as God would have me do. She is thankfully in a good memory care facility in her home town. My brother and aunt live in the same town, but I am several hours away. I visit at least every other month and call often. It is hard to watch her decline. She sacrificed much as a single mom for my brother and me.
Praying for you navigating through this!
Precious SRT sisters—I cannot tell you how much your prayers and sweet comments mean to me! My pain is so real and yet the world goes on. It is comforting to know that you “have my back”. We have such a wonderful sisterhood in the Lord!
There are groups of you that I pray for every day (those in chronic pain, those with ongoing health issues, those who are caregivers, those who have lost a child, those who have lost a spouse, those who have prodigal children, those who struggle with infertility, and our single ladies). I also pray for all those requests that are so personal that they have never been shared with our group. I look forward to the day when we all get to meet in person. ❤️
Bless you Lynne. Continued prayers for you as well. ❤️
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This is the group that has seen me through so many things.
I am honored to pray for you sweet Lynne and your care for Gene. Hugs to you this morning ❤️
May God be your comfort, and also this community. Thank you for setting a great “prayer warrior” example. ❤️❤️❤️
I only remember hearing about certain verses when Christmas came around or the end of Holy Week came around.
Grateful you are here, taking the initiative to learn and grow close to Jesus!
So thankful you are with us. Lovely to see your name and a glimpse of your thought. I love your honesty and also the sweet randomness :)
BEFORE I opened this app, I was praying for my sister and niece’s relationship. Through that prayer and how it progressed, Holy Spirit showed me I have not honored my parents.
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Remembering the Proverbs are principles and not promises, these verses remind me that I should honor my parents as a response to the Lord’s work in my heart. My parents divorced when I was 4, and growing up there would be seasons when I was closer to my mom and others when I was closer to my dad. My dad died 15 years ago this month and my relationship with my mom is difficult as we don’t see eye to eye on many things. I should probably put more effort into making the relationship healthier but that seems overwhelming to me right now.
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I see this verses more as instructions for parents to be teaching their children God’s wisdom and to be living God-honoring lives as models for the children to understand how God parents His people. When the parents are foolish or not honoring God with their lives the children get a distorted understanding of who God is.
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But regardless of how our parents parented, God calls each one to Himself will be the perfect Father, “a refuge for his children.”
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TAMI – hope the move goes smoothly for Chela and Mia. Did she get her vlass schedule adjusted?
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MEL P & LAUREN MASTERSON – praying the Lord brings you comfort and peace as you navigate the grief of the next few weeks.
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JOY – do sorry for the sudden loss of your husband. ❤️
I saw Tami’s post but not Mel’s, Lauren’s or Joy’s…were they on the app or did I just miss them? Either way…praying, ladies that the good of all comfort will hold you all close in the coming days ❤️
Same! Hmmm
Sending hugs and condolences, JOY! ❤
MEL P and LAUREN M- hugs and condolences to you, too! ❤
Praying for these requests
“But regardless of how our parents parented, God calls each one to Himself will be the perfect Father, “a refuge for his children.” — yes, and amen! ❤️
I learned so much from my own father and grew to love and understand him better as the years passed. My mother died in her 50s and I sometimes think this led to a deeper relationship with my Dad.
However, I am reading this today thinking of my own son. We are estranged – he won’t answer calls, texts or the door when I went to see him. This hurts so much and I continue to pray that god will heal this relationship. I wait patiently as I know it is in His time. I am also saddened to know I am not alone. I have done some reading on this and believe that the enemy is after families and this is one example. “In the last days, people will be lovers of themselves… disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection.” (2 Timothy 3)
I am grateful for God’s presence in my life and ask Him to walk with me each day.
“Lord, you know this deep pain of rejection by loved ones that Judy feels. Help her feel some comfort in knowing relationship restoration is what You are all about and You will give all to make a way for it to happen.
Praying God will heal yours and your son relationship. Praying he will show each of you exactly where change needs to be. Praying for swift reconciliation❤️
You are correct,Satan seeks to destroy the family unit.
Judy I am so sorry for how your son is treating you. My heart breaks with yours. I have a lady in my church who is going through the same thing, it is so, so hurtful.
Just remember – it’s not your son acting this way, it’s Satan – doing his work through your son.
Much prayers and hugs. ❤️
Thank you for that last line, I needed it this morning as I harbor a hate this wkd after learning more from my precious grandson of his parents physical abuse. It really makes me so disgusted at them, yet they are here this morning and I don’t even want to see them. I have to remember it is the devil doing his work- but, how can parents be so cruel to defenseless children.
As a child, I saw a lot of fighting and anger, but it wasn’t until I was a young adult that my parents divorced. Due to that pain, my dad killed himself, so then there is that. Thankfully my parents were/are both saved, I think my dad dealt with a lot of childhood pain too. His dad killed himself when he was a teen…so there is a lot that I’ve prayed and trusted God for to stand against these things that I experienced as a kid and I pray my kids do not ever deal with this. We break the generational curses, soul ties, anything keeping us from all God has for us, and for them.
After my dad passed, I finally saw God as the perfect Father He is. He showed up and showed out.
The parent-child relationship shows me just a glimpse of how much God loves us, because of how much I love my kids. To think He gave up His only Son for me, for us, it’s beyond amazing!
Thank you for sharing ERICA. May God strengthen you as you be the parent He has called you to b
Erica I am so sorry that you had to experience such a heartache. But I praise God that He got you through and has/is bringing healing. And that you are where you are in your walk of faith. ❤️
What a testimony! Thank you for sharing.
Oh my word. What a mighty redemption and story you have.
GM ladies. Today is move in day! Please pray for a smooth move and for Gods protection over Chela and her roommate Mia as they live on their own for the first time. Don’t have time to read or comment but will catch up later. Happy Labor Day!
That’s Wonderful, praying for a smooth move and great day for you all
Praying
Praying for a great bond between Chela and Mia and a great year! ❤
Praying for Chela’s move in day and for settling in well with her roommate and for a good year!
A couple of thoughts come to mind – as a child of God, I still need to study His word, listen for Him and to Him, no matter my age. If only my teenage and young adult self would have known this ….
I’m still learning, still being instructed, still causing Him grief and still praying my words/thoughts and actions do delight Him at times.
I need to be careful and mindful of what I model around littles. Even when I don’t realize it, with every interaction I am teaching and they are learning.
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Crowder’s song Still is playing in my mind…
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MARLENE PETROFF welcome! You’re in an awesome community of supportive, praying sisters in Christ.
ANA – praying for wisdom in your church search
WENDY B ❤️ your prayer for us
RHONDA J praying for Brayden
MOLLIE praying the Lyme flare up will subside quickly and for complete healing
CEE GEE ❤️
TINA ❤️
MERCY ❤️
MARTHA HIX ❤️
Praying for all
Great reflection, SEARCHING! ❤
Very wise SEARCHING.
I like that…graceful garland
This one is hard and hits home. Being a child of divorce (I was almost 18 so not really a child), I was put in the middle to try and keep the peace and choose sides. It has caused resentments still 15 years later. My father got sick 8 years ago and it’s drawn us closer. I pray for patience and understanding with my mother. I tell my husband divorce will never be an option or us and our children will never know that sort of pain. We have our lives for them. We will break the generational trauma. With that said, I struggle being a child of God with the attitude and relationship I have with my mother. I don’t like the person I am around her. I know I need God.
Praying for you in your attitude and relationship with your mother, that the Lord will give you an abundance of patience, forgiveness and other qualities you need when you are with her. Praying for your mom, that she sees Jesus in your interactions with her.
:-(
Praying God will help you to settle into His love and heal the brokenness.
Praying for you Sammie. Relationships can be hard, especially with those we are closet related to. Divorce always tears apart and leaves wounds that take a long, long time to heal. Praying that God will give you the patience and understanding you need when it comes to your mom. ❤️