“What is your secret to raising kids?” That was the question a young man asked me last month. I quickly answered, “It’s all the Holy Spirit.” He smiled and nodded in agreement.

My daughter immediately pointed out that I had a major part in it, too. I grinned and agreed that I prayed a lot for help. The topic stopped suddenly when the young man’s newborn started fussing and his daughter and son wanted his attention at the same time.

But that question got me thinking and thanking God for the wonderful blessings of having two grown children who are great to be around. I’m so glad God didn’t agree with my prayers to not have any kids.

Raising children is not easy. I had help mentioned in my previous post, “Parenting Manual.” I’m thankful that I had good friends who had children close in age to my kids. We also attended a church that had a great children’s ministry. 

We chose to live in a small town that was big enough to not know everybody and all teenagers in town could fit in one high school. We were grateful that most of our kids’ public school teachers were believers or just wanted the best for their students.

There was no cable or satellite TV at our home and we were selective about what our kids could watch. Back then it seemed a lot of kid shows had siblings fighting or arguing all the time, so we didn’t want them to think that was normal. 

Our kids didn’t have a cell phone when most of their friends had one. We offered to let them use our old flip phones but they refused. 

When our kids turned three, they entered Awana Club to learn about the Gospel and have fun with other adults and kids. They memorized scriptures and played gym activities. They continued going until middle school.

I remember writing down prayers in a book when my kids were little. I forgot all about it until this time. After searching our bookshelf several times and going through our moving boxes that haven’t been emptied, I finally found the book with the help of Scott turning the light on so I can see better the titles of books on the shelf.

Lord, Bless My Child by William & Nancie Carmichael is ‘a keepsake prayer journal to pray for the character of God in my child’, according to the book jacket. There were 52 attributes to pray over my son and then my daughter got added when she was born. 

I believe these prayers helped shape the way I parent and the way my kids turned out. The secret to raising kids will look different in each family but for believers, will always include the Holy Spirit and a lot of prayers.

 Prayer 

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for giving us the Holy Spirit and Your Word. Help us to steward the children You brought into our lives. May we be good examples for the next generation to follow so that You are glorified.

In Your Son’s precious name, Amen.

Verses 

Proverbs 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go

John 14:26 The Helper, the Holy Spirit, will teach you everything

Philippians 4:6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done

Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart; don’t depend on your own understanding

James 1:5 If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, He will give it without rebuke

Proverbs 27:17 As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend

Deuteronomy 6:7 Teach them to your children and speak of them as you sit in your house, as you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up

Philippians 4:8 Fill your minds with those things that are good and deserve praise: whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and honorable

 Song 

“A Mother’s Prayer” by Rachel Aldous is a song every parent should pray over their child. 

 Call to action 

If you have already prayed, looked up the verses in your Bible, and listened to the suggested song, then pray for your children no matter how old they are. If you don’t have kids, then pray for those that God will bring into your life.