As parents, we face many decisions about how we will raise our kids, activities we will be involved with as a family, places we will go, how we will celebrate holidays, how we will spend our money, who our kids spend time with, and much more.

What or who is influencing those decisions in your family? What purpose drives your parenting?

Influences that Guide

None of the daily decisions we make that affect the trajectory of our family occur in a vacuum. We all have influences that are guiding those choices. We all have various backgrounds and presuppositions about how things are to be done that inform our actions. Have you thought recently about the reasons you have for the way you raise your kids? Spend your time? How you treat your spouse?

The world is busy seeking to guide our actions. Whether it is through Facebook, Twitter, neighbors, co-workers, family, or media personalities, we are inundated with reasons for why we should live a certain way. Even our own selfish desires are competing to drive us in a direction.

If you were asked, “Why are you parenting that way?” would you be able to articulate a thought-out answer? Would your spouse give a similar answer to the one you give?

The Stakes are High

There is too much at stake for our family to not be able to explain why we are doing what we do.  When our kids are in the toddler years they learn to obey us as their God-given authority without having to provide them with rationale for everything. However, as they grow into kids we need to be able to teach them diligently about why we are living in the manner we do. If we are to impart a Godly legacy to them we cannot continue to simply say, “Cause that’s the way we do it.” We need to give our kids Biblical reasons for our actions. We need to help them see how following Christ impacts our daily life; both small and big decisions. We need to show them how to follow Christ and call them to join us in that life.

Each day you are living by guidance and providing your kids with guidance. The question is “What kind of guidance is it?”

Biblical Guidance

As followers of Christ we have been given the Word of God and should not forsake it.

Romans 12:1-2 states,

I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

Are your decisions made out of conformity to the world or have they been made from a transformed and renewed mind that seeks to honor and glorify God in everything? If not, what needs to change for you?

Take time as a couple this week to talk about how and why you are living and parenting. Pray together and ask God for the wisdom  to discern His will and the strength to live it out. He is a loving and gracious Father who cares for us and desires to glorify Himself in our families.

Guidance in Community

As you evaluate your life and how you are parenting and living as a family, let me encourage you not to do so alone. Talk with other brothers and sisters in Christ about how they are parenting and the decisions they are making for their family. Look at God’s Word together and help one another follow Christ. Let us be purposeful in imparting a Godly Legacy.