guided by scripture parenting challenge: zealous & fervent.

A lot of us have bought the lie that parenting is about surviving. Maintaining. Just getting through the hard in hopes of a better tomorrow.

But even in the midst of trying seasons, our hearts should not give way to the lie of the enemy:
"Jesus came that THEY should have life and have it abundantly... maybe I'll have that once...
... our baby lets me sleep through the night.
... our toddler is out of this stage of being out of control.
... our teen is out of this stage of being out of control.
... we're empty nesters.

John 10:10 is a clear, zealous, fervent declaration: 
The thief comes only to steal, slaughter, and destroy. I have come that they might have life, and have it abundantly!

To give us life abundantly - that's why He came. That's why He suffered and died on the cross. That's why He rose again, conquered death and darkness, and ascended to the right hand of the Father. That's why He is making intercession for us - not storming the gates of heaven, but fully present there and pleading our case.

He didn't come to give us an easy life, or a comfortable life. But He did come to give us abundant life - and it's out of that abundance that we live - and parent! - with zeal and fervor.

the word.

Do not be lagging in zeal; be fervent in spirit. Keep serving the Lord,

Romans 12:11 TLV

Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.

Romans 12:11 NIV

not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;

Romans 12:11 NKJV

zealous.

​Don't confuse the fervent in this definition with our next focus. This is not fervent in spirit, but rather fervor for a person - an eager desire to love our children with enthusiastic diligence. 

That's right, we exchange our drudgery for enthusiastic diligence! It may not come easily, but we can maintain fervor (a sense of warmth or earnestness) towards our children.

Since we parents are simply humans, this will require coming boldly before the throne of grace in our time of need! Thankfully, we know our Heavenly Father is fervent towards us - and He is constantly pursuing us with enthusiastic diligence. It's out of an overflow of recognizing His zealous, outrageous, radical love for us that we can parent our children with zeal!

fervent in spirit.

To be fervent in spirit, is to allow our spirit to be on fire for God. It is pursuing Him with our whole selves. It is not squelching the Holy Spirit, but allowing Him to fan in to flame a passion for God, Himself.

What does this have to do with parenting? Everything. All the self help books, how-to articles, good intentions, and parenting courses in the world cannot compare to the power of a parent being fervent in spirit. 

We are not merely raising children to become responsible adults: we are discipling spirits to know the truth and love of an Almighty God who is deserving of nothing less than our all. 

This isn't about preaching to our children about being on fire for God --- it isn't about shaming them into behaving in a way that looks radical --- this is about having an authentic, personal relationship with our Lord and Savior. It's about letting our children see us worship Him in spirit and truth; allowing them to hear us speak passionately about who God is and all He has done for us; and creating an atmosphere where every member of the family is encouraged to seek Him and use their gifts to honor Him and serve others!

Guided by Scripture Parenting Challenge!

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to parents of kiddos from hard places.

I know what it is to parent from the trenches of grief and loss. To have seasons where we are literally focused on keeping our people alive, and as well as we possibly can.

Oh how I wish I could reassure that these seasons pass quickly, or within a certain time frame... but I cannot. Trauma can be triggered and send our kiddos spiraling without warning. Depending on the magnitude of their grief, and dynamics of the family, that spiraling can have a ripple effect. And we have lived through literal years with one crisis situation following another. It is exhausting. 

But, if we can embrace the truth of the Word of God - that Jesus came for US and for our kids to give us ABUNDANT life; if we can press in to Him when it's all we can do to survive; if we can ask Him to restore our zeal and fervency - they may be the very attributes needed to continue to fight for the hearts and spirits of our children!

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