The Peaceful Fruit of Righteousness

4 Chapter Study with Video Lessons, English and Spanish Scripture Writing and Copywork

Introduction: “Do you want to find out how sinful you are? How impatient you can be? How selfish? Become a mother!” Add the title of “homeschool” to the title of “mom,” and you can double your sanctification portion. Am I right? If you’re laughing to yourself right now, you’re in good company. Raising children is sanctifying. As we shepherd our children, we learn much about the condition of our own hearts, don’t we?

I’ve been a mother now for over thirty years—and do you know what? Like the apostle Paul, I’m still learning how to follow Jesus so that my kids can, “Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 11:1 NIV)

Parenting in today’s upside-down world is not for the faint of heart—especially right now. Everywhere we look, it seems there are forces at play who are aiming their arrows right at the hearts of the next generation. Our kids need parents who know God’s Word and can gently steer their children along the paths of righteousness. As the culture becomes increasingly confused and secularized, a generation of godly parents can bring stability and wisdom to their children by listening to God and living out the timeless truths of Scripture.

Christian parents do not need to be confused and fearful regarding their children, because God’s Word offers hope and direction for parents in every stage of parenting.

If you’re wondering whether or not you can handle all that’s coming at you and your children right now, I have good news for you. God’s Word hasn’t changed. The principles that we have been given to us in the Bible are as relevant now as they were when they were written. Yes, culture has changed, but the underlying root causes of every challenge we are confronted with remain the same. The remedy for our battle-weary hearts is to lean in and listen carefully to the One who never changes.

This month, that’s exactly what we’re going to do. We’ll be looking at parenting through the lens of the Bible. Whether you are a new mom who is just trying to figure out how to reach the heart of your young child, a mom with a challenging teen, or a grandmother who wants to influence the rising generation, this study has been written with you in mind.

As we study how to influence and shape the hearts of our children, we’ll also be looking at our responsibility as parents. God has given us a tremendous task in raising children. It must not be taken lightly, and we dare not grow weary and become disengaged. There is simply too much at stake.

God pleads with us to honor His Word above all else. The consequences for our own disobedience or ambivalence toward reaching the heart of our children can leave a parent broken-hearted and a child on a path of self-destruction.

We have but a short season to sow godly principles into the hearts of our children and to teach them “what is good, and what the Lord requires” of them. (Micah 6:8) Soon, the time to sow ends, and a time to harvest begins. I pray that as we study together, our hearts are soft and malleable so that the Holy Spirit can highlight areas of weakness and strengthen us by the power of God at work in our lives through the washing of His Word over our lives.

Thank goodness—God’s not looking for perfection in our parenting. He’s looking for a heart that truly desires to surrender to His ways and walk in them above all else.

May this be true of us as we shepherd His kids,
Heidi