As Christian parents it would be wise to plan ahead of time, the purpose for having children, something very few of us probably considered?

Birthing children is a huge responsibility and as Jesus so wisely put it in Luke 14, we should count the cost. Having children is costly and this has very little reference to money.

Many us who grew up and married in the 60’s, known as the Baby Boomer era, had little or no idea of the importance of planning our families. We did so because it was the right thing to do? You marry and very soon you have children, then spend years raising them based upon the empirical formula; “this is how our parents did it.”

Well, this experiential journey has its merits, only to find out later that we could have done better. This is where we need to turn to the Lord for advice. To help us, but especially all those newly-weds, or those still to wed, God set a pattern within the new birth that, if we had known better, we could have improved this most challenging yet most beautiful adventure called parenting.

Within the mystery of God is the person of love. I am sure all reasonable parents deeply love their children, yet somehow there is as Paul stated; “a better way.” God birthed each human being with purpose and it is His intention that we live out our bent, shape or gifting to the glory of God. But what is this thing so often quoted, the glory of God?

The word glory has to do the life force, the power, the character and dignity of the person and this is something we can impart to our children if we really had the understanding. Jesus had a life assignment, a very real sense of purpose and a destiny to fulfil based on His understanding of the will of the Father. Empower those you came to redeem with something greater than man can conceive in order to live a transcendent life in God. This is the kingdom life Jesus came to propagate when in His humanity He told others about “the new and living way.”

Children are so very close to the heart of God and if we can cultivate a righteous attitude within them it will so empower them along their journey to live out their righteousness within the framework of Gods plan.

By Lynn Fulford