HOW TO TRAIN UP YOUR CHILD IN THE WAY OF THE LORD

“Train up your child in the way he should go” Training up your child in the way of the Lord is more practical than theoretical. 

The question of how indicates that there is a way and pattern it should be done. 

As a result, parents should know that you have a huge role to play in training up your child in the way of the Lord. 

Have you ever wondered why there seems to be a missing link in children turning out well?

Training up children in the way of the Lord is a true proof of accurate discipleship.

Because just as the scripture says, they will not depart from it all things being equal.

HOW TO TRAIN UP YOUR CHILD IN THE WAY OF THE LORD EXPLAINED 

Basically, children are wired to follow, especially at their tender age, what you set for them as a template.

Meaning you don’t really lead by what you say but by what they see you doing including adults too. 

I personally started fasting not necessarily because my parents forced me,

of course there were times while we were growing they insisted we fast.

How to train up a child is intentional and demands labour.

It became an intentional adventure for me when I saw people around in my family model it not fake it or coerce it.

Consequently, If so be it then that Christianity is organic then training up your child in God’s way is organic too.

Like my father Apostle Edu would say “ if it is something borne of the Spirit, the Spirit will bear witness”

People often wondered why we turned out well in my family, when I mean well I mean literally.

Now this is not something that happened by chance or what my parents stumbled upon.

It was a deliberate and intentional investment both physically and spiritually.

You are merely building castles in the air when you only invest in your children physically and expect them to turn out well spiritually.

Even if they do turn out well spiritually, that labour can never be traced to you as the parent,

God weaves it around someone else as a proof of His mercy on that life.

Furthermore, It is not a hidden knowledge that in this age and time, satan is seeking by all means to have the souls of even the little ones.

Let it be known to you that the battle of seeds is a long war, 

satan is not planning to give up prepare for him as well as a Christian parent.

God is counting on you to raise and give Him godly seeds, this is how you ensure God’s purposes being fulfilled.

This blog article explores the things godly parents need to do to train up their children in the way of the Lord.

1. Live an exemplary life

The scripture typifies Christ as our pattern man, the life of example is the one conforming to Christ daily.

Moreover, a spiritual person can discern when you are all talk and no life, the same with children.

They can know that what daddy or mummy is saying is not living. 

That’s why I come to the cross daily, it’s painful I know, sometimes you have alot to say I know.

But there is no other way for life to come out, 

Also, if so be it that you keep beholding as a parent, you might not have arrived to God’s end

But your children can taste the love for Jesus palpable, 

not something you feigned or because you hope to get something.

Even as an adult, and from observation, 

I noticed that people who are discerning follow those who do than say unless you were beguiled.

Is saying bad, no, but it seems the strength and punch of your saying comes from a living first.

‭Acts 1:1 “The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach”

Therefore, the onus is on us as parents both present and intending ones to model Christ to our children. 

PS: Take note, You cannot model who you are not. That’s why God needs to help us.

2. Engage them in spiritual activities

No child is actually too small per say, 

if we don’t rise up as parents we will have children raised by the internet in a “supposed” godly home.

How to train a child is not leaving them to themselves, they need close supervision and monitoring. 

Some us, until we encountered Christ for ourselves it was the good and godly home training that held us.

Ensure you create a time where you pray together with them, study the bible together with them, and fast together with them. 

I remember while growing up, if I can remember clearly twice every month my mum does what she calls “ praising night”

Throughout the night one after the other each person took turns to sing at least 20 songs, 

Sometimes, we didn’t feel like it, sometimes I was like mummy, let us rest small now abegg !!

I don’t want to even mention the morning devotions where we each took turns to pray, teach and take the morning charge!!

You dare not come back from Sunday school with an empty head or play around in church no matter how small.

It felt somehow then, but we look back now and are very grateful as these were the building blocks of our walk with God.

Drill them, there is training that yields peaceful results that is sweet ab initio.

At the end, it becomes an integrated part of their life, even God can find a material to work with.

3. Entertain their questions

Inquisitiveness is the character of a child, 

as parents, we need to be very observant about the questions our Child is asking. 

To train a child also, you have to check the utterances or songs coming from their mouth, the things we permit them to do in the name of love.

By all means love your children ooo, they are part of your earthly reward and heavenly reward if you train them well.

But love demands that you tell them no sometimes and stand by it, they might not understand now

Heaven will not fall, your children are part of the things you will give account for as a steward, stop giving excuses, rise up and labour.

Also, your child could be at the verge of losing his or her faith, and your response to his or her question at that point in time matters a lot.

Furthermore, you must learn to overlook things as parents, when they make mistakes guide them back.

Don’t make it seem as if they’ve committed an unpardonable sin, correct and invest in intercession on their heads.

Sometimes, complaining doesn’t change anything, 

but if it is intercession be sure that you will get the results whether now or in the future.

I remember while growing up even up  until now my mum clocks from 12am -5am everyday.

Whether she is sad, my dad got her angry, she is not seeing what she wants, she is on her prayer mat. 

So someone sees us now and says wow she is lucky, no, the same way Jesus groaned us out in Gethsemane,

I watched her groan all of us out in the place of Intercession.

Be not deceived, if we sow prayerlessness, the day that a demand will come, we will have nothing in our prayer bank.

Lastly, allow them ask questions and guide them correctly, be patient with them 

Even the scripture says that Christ the bridegroom with patience waits for His bride, thousands of years later He is still grooming her.

Be patient and train them, the result is very rewarding.

4. Don’t spare the rod

Discipline can never and will never be overemphasized, the rod of correction drives away foolishness.

‭Proverbs 22:15 “Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; But the rod of correction shall drive it far from him”

Discipline is very important in training up your child. 

Littered in the book of Psalms are scriptures that talk about disciplining a child. 

Proverbs  23:13  Withhold not correction from the Child: for if thou beatest him with the rod, he shall not die.

Please when the scripture says rod, it is beyond physical flogging with cane

Flog if it is necessary, I was flogged and my head aligned but then sometimes it is not flogging alone.

Sometimes, fasting is a rod ooo besides when you’ve done your intercession job flogging works ooo.

If you do not, you will raise children with thick skin, they become accustomed to flogging and you lose at the end.

Sometimes, my mum doesn’t even flog us literally.

She just waits for you to sleep then at night she is going round touching everyone with tongues of fire on her lips.

Infact she begins to literally uproot those stuffs, because sometimes certain misbehaviours are not normal.

Woe betide you when you address a spiritual matter canally, okpari ooo

If you treat it normal, then you become a complaining parent, 

I’ve seen the hardest of people bend under intercession, wake up!!

However, ensure that they understand the reason why they are being disciplined. 

Use discipline as an opportunity to teach your child about God’s love, forgiveness, chastisement and importance of making right choices. 

Lastly and most importantly, be careful of the words you speak, you can’t take them back even if you want to.

CONCLUSION 

Conclusively, leading a life worthy of emulation, engaging in spiritual activities with your child, monitoring their activities and so on.

To train a child is demanding but God supplies us with grace, there are also many other godly ways not covered in this blog but I trust God to explain further.

Remember, God has entrusted you with this precious task, stop giving excuses and get to work!!

May the wisdom and grace needed for us to successfully train up our children 

in the way of the Lord be released upon us in Jesus name. Amen. 

You can check the article biblical perspective on matters 

REFERENCES 

The Bible

How to train up a child in a Godly way