The Importance Of Prayer, Teaching, And Godly Example In Raising Children: The Curse Ends Here: How To Break Free From Family Iniquity Journey
Introduction: The Role of Parents in Shaping Generations
Raising children in the ways of God is one of the highest callings for parents. The choices you make, the prayers you pray, the lessons you teach, and the example you set leave a spiritual inheritance that extends far beyond your lifetime. By walking in righteousness and teaching your children to do the same, you can break the cycle of family iniquity and establish a foundation of blessing for future generations.
This chapter focuses on the three foundational pillars of raising godly children: prayer, teaching, and living as a godly example.
1. Prayer: Covering Your Children in Spiritual Protection
Prayer is the lifeline that connects us to God, and it is the most powerful tool for shaping the lives of our children. Through prayer, we invite God’s presence into their lives, intercede for their protection, and ask for His guidance in raising them.
Interceding for Your Children
Just as the patriarchs and matriarchs of Israel prayed for their children, we too are called to stand in the gap for our sons and daughters. Job 1:5 provides a profound example of parental intercession:
“When the days of the feast had run their course, Job would send and consecrate them, and he would rise early in the morning and offer burnt offerings according to the number of them all. For Job said, ‘It may be that my children have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts.’ Thus Job did continually.”
Job’s dedication to praying for his children reflects the importance of bringing them before God regularly. We, too, must pray for their protection, spiritual growth, and deliverance from any lingering iniquities in the family line.
Praying Scripture Over Your Children
Praying God’s Word is a powerful way to align your prayers with His will. Some examples include:
- For wisdom and discernment: “Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people” (1 Kings 3:9).
- For courage and righteousness: “Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9).
- For God’s protection: “The Lord will keep you from all evil; He will keep your life” (Psalm 121:7).
Pray these verses over your children, declaring God’s promises and speaking life into their futures.
2. Teaching: Instilling God’s Word in Your Children’s Hearts
Teaching your children the Word of God is a central responsibility of parenting. The Torah emphasizes this in Deuteronomy 6:7:
“You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.”
Practical Ways to Teach God’s Word
- Daily Devotions: Set aside time each day to read Scripture with your children. Choose passages that speak to their current struggles or seasons of life.
- Memorizing Scripture: Help them memorize key verses, such as Psalm 23 or the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:1-17). These verses will guide and comfort them throughout their lives.
- Answering Questions: Create an open environment where your children feel free to ask questions about God, Scripture, and life. This fosters curiosity and a deeper understanding of their faith.
- Applying God’s Word: Show them how to apply biblical principles in real-life situations, such as resolving conflicts or making wise decisions.
Teaching Through Stories
The Bible is full of stories that illustrate God’s power and faithfulness. Share stories like:
- Noah’s obedience and God’s covenant (Genesis 6-9)
- David’s courage and faith in defeating Goliath (1 Samuel 17)
- Yeshua’s compassion and miracles (Matthew 14:13-21)
These narratives can inspire your children to trust in God and live righteously.
3. Godly Example: Living Out Your Faith Before Your Children
Children learn more from what they see than from what they hear. As parents, your life is a testimony to your children about the reality of God’s love and power. Proverbs 20:7 highlights this truth:
“The righteous who walks in his integrity—blessed are his children after him!”
Demonstrating Faith in Action
- Obedience to God: Show your children what it looks like to obey God, even when it is difficult. This teaches them to prioritize God’s will over their own desires.
- Repentance and Forgiveness: Be quick to confess your own sins and seek forgiveness, both from God and from your children when necessary. This models humility and the importance of grace.
- Acts of Kindness and Service: Involve your children in acts of kindness, such as helping a neighbor or volunteering at a community event. This shows them how to love others as God commands.
- Faith in Adversity: When challenges arise, let your children see you turn to God in prayer and trust Him for the outcome. This builds their confidence in God’s faithfulness.
The Impact of Authentic Faith
Yeshua warned against hypocrisy in Matthew 23:3:
“So do and observe whatever they tell you, but not the works they do. For they preach, but do not practice.”
Living authentically before your children ensures that your words and actions align, creating a powerful witness that draws them closer to God.
4. Balancing Grace and Discipline
While prayer, teaching, and example are vital, so is the balance of grace and discipline. Proverbs reminds us of the importance of correction:
“Discipline your son, for there is hope; do not set your heart on putting him to death” (Proverbs 19:18).
Discipline, when done in love, helps children understand the consequences of their actions and guides them toward righteousness. However, discipline must always be paired with grace. As Yeshua modeled grace and truth, so should we as parents.
5. Creating a Legacy of Blessing
When you pray for your children, teach them God’s ways, and live as a godly example, you set the stage for a legacy of blessing. As God promised Abraham in Genesis 18:19:
“For I have chosen him, that he may command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing righteousness and justice, so that the Lord may bring to Abraham what He has promised him.”
Your faithful parenting today will impact generations to come, ensuring that the curses of the past are replaced with God’s blessings.
Conclusion: Building Strong Foundations
Raising children in the ways of God is not always easy, but it is a calling of eternal significance. Through prayer, teaching, and a godly example, you can equip your children to walk in freedom, faith, and righteousness. Trust that God, who is faithful to His promises, will guide you in this holy work.
As Yeshua declared in Matthew 7:24-25:
“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.”
Build your family’s foundation on the solid rock of God’s Word and watch as He establishes a legacy of freedom and blessing.
