Planting Seeds of Faith: What’s in Your Garden?

Like many young moms, I entered motherhood with the desire to do everything “right." I wanted to raise my children to love the Lord and grow into emotionally healthy adults. I claimed Proverbs 22:6 and Deuteronomy 6:7 as verses to live by, committing to raise my children with faith at the center of our lives. Godly parenting is a huge job, and it is more than just a good idea or lofty goal. Godly parenting is a calling, a divine command. Godly parenting is also a guiding principle set forth in Scripture.

Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go, And when he is old he will not depart from it.

Deuteronomy 6:7

You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.

These principles offer hope, not a guarantee, because just like us our children have free will and get to choose. But we can rest in the unchanging, unconditional love of God who desires that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9). Godly parenting was not a top priority in my own childhood, and I knew I wanted something different for my children. I dedicated not only my children to Him but my entire life to His purposes. Over time, I became a “seed planter” parent and now a “seed planter” grandmother! Did I get it right every time? No way! Did I make lots of mistakes along the way? Absolutely. But I trusted that God was faithful to complete what He began (Philippians 1:6).

So how do we plant a healthy “faith garden” in the lives of our children? Every day we are planting seeds into their lives. They are either seeds of unconditional love, encouragement and godly values or they are seeds of selfishness, love of the world and hypocrisy. The first and most important seeds we need to be sowing are “godly example seeds." The life we live every day is being planted into our children. There’s an adage that says, “more is caught than taught." Children learn more from what they see us do than what we tell them. We can’t expect godly standards to be exhibited by our children if they are not being demonstrated and modeled by us in everything we do every day. Paul praised the faith of Timothy, acknowledging the godly examples demonstrated by his grandmother Lois and mother Eunice. We, too, are influencing their faith with our every action.

2 Timothy 1:5

When I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also.

Second, we must sow “unconditional love seeds.” It is a love that shows affection, support and acceptance regardless of the behavior, sometimes in spite of the behavior. Unconditional love has nothing to do with what they do but everything to do with who they are, beloved children created in the image of God.

1 John 4:10

In this is love, not that we have loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

Thirdly, we should constantly be sowing “encouragement seeds,” words of motivation and affirmation. Encouraging words inspire and place the focus on who they are as beloved children created in the image of God. Praise, on the other hand, focuses on their accomplishments and can lead children to believe that is where their worth lies.

1 Thessalonians 5:11

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

As we spend time tending to our parenting garden, let our focus be on shaping the hearts and minds of our children to love God, love others and be a light in the world reflecting the love of Christ and truth of His Word.

Prayer Points (for your children and grandchildren):

• Ask God to guide you in cultivating your children’s faith.

• Pray that you will be a godly example for your children and you will impart godly values into them.

• Pray for wisdom and discernment in nurturing and disciplining your children.

• Ask God to give you encouraging words to speak into their lives.

• Pray that through your expressions of unconditional love they will come to know and accept the unconditional love of God at an early age.

• Pray that God will begin preparing godly spouses for them today and they will not be unequally yoked.

Heavenly Father, thank You for the opportunity to raise children of faith. I pray they come to know you at an early age and continue following You all the days of their lives. Put a hedge about them to protect them from falling away. Prepare life partners for them -- godly men and women of faith who have a desire to align their lives with Your will and be committed to the sanctity of marriage. Help me to be an unwavering example of what it means to walk with You daily. Let my words be consistent with Your truth and my actions filled with love. Give me patience, wisdom and discernment when dealing with my children. Guide me in encouraging and motivating them to be the people You created them to be. Let me not just “teach” them faith, but help me to live out my faith, even when no one is watching. When I pray, let my children hear me. When I worship, let my children see me. When I mess up, let my children witness true confession, repentance and grace. Let Your presence be felt in our home, Your truth be rooted in every decision we make, and Your unconditional love draw them to You. Bless them, protect them and direct their paths.

In Christ’s Holy Name, Amen

Arnette Warren

Mid-Way Baptist Church

www.mid-way.com