A Recipe for Successful Parenting

A Recipe for Successful Parenting

Proverbs 3:5 - 6

Parenting skills are learned first from the home in which we grew up.

A Christian parent can have a powerful positive influence on the future of children, and their grandchildren.

Ken Canfield’s book, The 7 Secrets of Effective Fathers summarize truths of which all parents and grandparents need.

I. Commitment

Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him to help you do it, and he will. Psalm 37:5 LB

Committed parents should be the norm.

II. Know Your Child

Unrealistic expectations set your child up for failure.

“Fathers, do not exasperate your children, that they may not lose heart.” Colossians 3:21 NASV

III. Consistency

Now you have closely observed and diligently followed my teaching, conduct, purpose in life, faith, patience, love, steadfastness, 2 Timothy 3:10 Amplified

Children need consistency in moods, in love, in promise keeping, in morality, and ethics.

IV. Protecting and Providing

But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.” 1 Timothy 5:8 KJV

Every privilege carries with it an equal amount of responsibility.

Effective parents instill security in their child by providing for the material needs of the family.

V. Loving their Spouse

Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it Ephesians 5:25, KJV.

Keep the home-fires burning doing things that show devotion to one another.

VI. Active Listening

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith… Revelation 2:7 KJV

Active listening extends the freedom to be honest without a lecture.

VII. Spiritual Equipping

Without me you can do nothing” Jn. 15:4 KJV

Your actions demonstrate that God is priority in your family.

VII. (Bonus) Allow For the Unknown

Always remember that your children have a will, they will make their own decisions.

Allow your children to see you making the effort to get past mistakes.

The effective parent helps the child to become an effective parent and sets them up for success instead of failure, blessing instead of curses, and happiness rather than misery.