Heavenly Parents Need Faith- Day 23

"For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 20 He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. 21 Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God." 1 Peter 1:18-21

 I have studied parenting as long as I have been a mother and tried hard to be a godly parent. Although I acknowledge that I have made many mistakes, my reliance on my own wisdom came to a crashing halt through this event and it's repercussions. 

Even when we have done all that we can possibly do, there may be times that are dark. We may deal with a child who is really struggling to find their way. There may be times where we want to give up, because it seems like all our efforts are unfruitful. 

This is when we need faith. Faith that our identity is safe in Christ. Faith that even if people do judge us for the success or failure of our children, God sees us through the blood of His son, who he judged in our place. Faith that God is in control and will work things out for our good and His glory.

Although having a child struggle was the worst thing I had gone through as a mother, the understanding of grace that it opened for us has transformed our lives. No longer do we live in fear of judgement, and this life of freedom has brought a depth of joy and peace to our lives that is greater than we could ever have imagined.

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Heavenly Homes Are Led By The Spirit

                         

"But if ye be led of the spirit, ye are not under the law." Galatians 5:18

For most of my early years as a mother I did not really understand the gospel. I did not understand that when I receive Christ as my Savior, I put on his righteousness. In theory, I knew that it is through grace we are saved, but in practice I still thought that I needed to do everything right to show that I was a Christian. My verse for our homeschool was, "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven." Matthew 5:16. I did not realize that the light I was supposed to shine, was the light of the Holy Spirit living inside of me.

Although my motives were good, this pressure to perform was felt by my children. My mistaken view of the gospel also distorted my view about my own behavior. When I did well, I was proud and looked down on others who weren't performing up to par, and when I failed I was overcome with despair.

When I finally realized that my life was hid in Christ, and that my old man was crucified with Him, I had a radical shift in my thinking. Suddenly, the pressure to perform was lifted,  and I am now free to love God and others. No person can judge me because Jesus was judged in my place, and since I was given the perfection of Christ, despite my unworthiness, I am free to offer mercy to others, including my children, because God has shown me mercy.

Does this mean that I start living like a pagan? "God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?" (Romans 6:2) When we realize all that God has done for us, our response is love and when we are in love, we want to please our lover. It isn't that we live in fear, but we live in love, and our love dictates our behavior.

How has this changed my parenting? Now, instead of living by a set of rules, many of them extra biblical, we seek to be led by the Holy Spirit. This isn't some mystical waiting for guidance, but rather, the more we spend time worshipping God and loving Him, the more our thoughts and desires align with His. God might lead me to do something that looks strange (imagine what people thought of John the baptist) or he might lead me to do something that is very normal (think Jesus, hanging out with the tax collectors). His direction will never contradict His written word, and those who are led by Him have access to all the joy and peace we need to parent the children that He gives us.

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