What is at the center of your reasons for parenting?  Jordan Brannon continues in our Proverbs series by speaking on Intentional Parenting.  Parenting isn’t about biology or a paternal relationship (when we’re saved).  Make sure God is at the center of why you are parenting!  There are two foundations to biblical parenting.  The first one is that God is God and man is God’s and the other is that the Word of God is true and everlasting.

Jordan then gives us two intentions for biblical parenting.  The first is to establish a purpose.  Ask yourself these questions: Why do I parent?  What is the outcome I hope for?  How are my answers to those two questions reflected in my daily parenting?  The other intention is to remember the stakes.  The bible is full of parents who remembered the stakes of their parenting.  Their actions spoke volumes to their children about who God is.

Now that we know what our parenting intentions should be, how should we act on them?  The first is to teach our children who God is.  God is not something we fear, like a boogeyman.  The next way to act on our intention is to teach them who you’re not.  Here are a few ways to demonstrate who God is and who you are not:  Pray with your kids, worship with them and share your testimony with them.  You also need to teach them God’s commands, for their good.  They need to be disciplined consistently for their own good as well.  The last action is to always extend grace.