101 Keys for Raising Today's Children

By Silesia V. Franklin

In this book, Silesia gives Christ-centered, practical guidelines to parents on how to raise godly children as they grow up in today's world. Her goal is to let parents know that their responsibilities go much deeper than providing their children with food, clothing, and shelter. Parents are to help them become ready for this world and the world

• Language: English
• Publisher: SILESIA V FRANKLIN
• Release date: Jan 16, 2023
• ISBN: 9798986588018

Book preview

INTRODUCTION

Prayer has been taken out of most of our schools. But has it also been taken out of our homes? Now that prayer is officially gone from most schools, school shootings are bombarding the headlines today! In light of these terrible headlines, what can parents do for their children from the youngest possible age to ensure that not one of them will grow up to be a menace to society nor receive its bad consequences?

Parents, the Word of God has alerted us to a very important responsibility we have to influence our children in the way of God, His Word, and His way. We do this by our godly lifestyle before them and what we teach them from the Word of God. God wants us, as parents, to diligently teach our children.

Look at Deuteronomy 6:5-7 KJV

5) And thou shalt love the LORD thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. 6) And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: 7) and thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

Parents, be aware that your children are watching, listening, and learning from both you and other influences on how to live. Always be a good example they can follow so they may then pass their learning on to their children. We should be generationally minded as we raise our children. We should realize that the things they see and hear from us will become instilled in them and that they will likely teach these things to their children. Then, their children will pass them on to their children, and so on. So understand that we are laying a foundation on which our children and their children will pass on as a way of life for their children and generations to come. Regularly hold conversations with your children and point out unacceptable behaviors they may see or hear. Tell them God will not be pleased with such behaviors.

When watching television, video games, cartoons, or other social media with your children, you should show great disdain and not enjoyment for any arguing, fighting, shooting, hatred, prejudice, bullying, etc., that is taking place. Show this disdain every time you see it and make a big deal over how terrible these actions are. Let your children know that you do not approve of anything that does not bring peace. One way to show disapproval is by forbidding your children to watch it. They can watch these things long enough to understand how people can act, but it should not become daily entertainment for them.

Let your children know that godly people should only want to be a part of things that are pleasing to God. Tell your children that because they belong to you and your family, they are expected to live for God at all times. Tell them living godly is a part of the customs and traditions of your family from now on.

An Example of How Customs and Traditions Can Be Passed Down from Generation to Generation Can Be Seen in the Story of the Recabites in Jeremiah 35:1-10 (NLT)

The Obedience of the Recabites

1) This is the message the Lord gave Jeremiah when Jehoiakim son of Josiah was king of Judah: 2) Go to the settlement where the families of the Recabites live, and invite them to the Lord's Temple. Take them into one of the inner rooms, and offer them some wine. 3) So I went to see Jaazaniah son of Jeremiah and grandson of Habazziniah and all his brothers and sons-representing all the Recabite families. 4) I took them to the Temple, and we went into the room assigned to the sons of Hanan son of Igdaliah, a man of God. This room was located next to the one used by the Temple officials, directly above the room of Maaseiah son of Shallum, the Temple gatekeeper. 5) I set cups and jugs of wine before them and invited them to have a drink, 6) but they refused. No, they said, "we don't drink wine, because our ancestor Jehonadab son of Recab gave us this command: 'You and your descendants must never drink wine. 7) And do not build houses or plant crops or vineyards, but always live in tents. If you follow these commands, you will live long, good lives in the land.' 8) So we have obeyed him in all these things. We have never had a drink of wine to this day, nor have our wives, our sons, or our daughters. 9) We haven't built houses or owned vineyards or farms or planted crops. 10) We have lived in tents and have fully obeyed all the commands of Jehonadab, our ancestor.

History lets us know that for 200 years, they had obeyed their ancestors’ vow to abstain from wine. God had Jeremiah tempt the Recabites with wine to demonstrate their commitment and dedication. God knew they wouldn’t break their vow.

Today our children can see us reading the Bible, hear us praying in our rooms, remember our testimonies and realize that we have a relationship with God. Seeing us in this way can whet their appetite for a relationship with God from a young age.

Proverbs 22:6 NLT

6) Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it.

We can look forward to our children directing their children on the right path because they have experienced us doing it.

Psalms 22:30-31 NLT

30) Our children will also serve him. Future generations will hear about the wonders of the Lord. 31) His righteous acts will be told to those not yet born. They will hear about everything he has done.

This will help our families to develop a love and appreciation for God. Whatever we do affects the present and future generations. Living a life that will cause your children to stumble or lose out with God is a serious thing.

Chapter One

Generational Blessings

Let’s talk about generational blessings. The principles we instill in our children as they grow up can become generational blessings in our families. When we live according to the principles of God, this creates generational blessings. We unlock more blessings when we do things naturally to set a tone for God to bless us generationally. Children hear the words we speak and see how we handle things. These things can become generational blessings.

God gave me a revelation on generational blessings by showing me how my parents prepared me to live for the Lord. In the natural, it sets a course for the spiritual to follow. I did not understand it then, but now I am aware of what was happening. This taught me the important lesson of being careful about how we prepare our children for life. I now see my children doing the same things