HOPEFUL PARENTING

“May the Lord give you increase more and more, You and your children” – Psalm 115:14

David Jeremiah’s HOPEFUL PARENTING reframes parenting as a blessed, sacred privilege rather than a burden: “May the Lord give you increase more and more, You and your children” (Psa.115:14). Hope holds for all grounds: “Be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart, all you who HOPE in the LORD” (Psa.31:24). ‘Hopeful Parenting: Encouragement for Raising Kids Who Love God,’ draws on Dr. Jeremiah’s experiences as a father to offer biblical wisdom for raising children.

First, is this Word of Grace: “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things...” (2Cor.9:8). All grace. Always! All sufficiency in all things – including parenting! Despite cultural pressures, believers can build solid, loving Christian homes fragrant with the aroma of Christ. The book is structured into ten chapters, namely:

A Privilege and a Challenge: Our children are too precious and their time with us too short for us to neglect the unspeakable privilege we have in loving, nurturing, shaping, and preparing them to step out into the wide world. Every parent is granted the high privilege of raising a child for God! It’s a privilege to be guarded but also a daunting challenge to overcome (2Tim.3:2).

Children: God’s Great Gift. Parents are stewards, not owners (Psa.127:3-5; Pro.23:24-25). A child is a precious gift, to be prioritized above other pursuits (Eze.18:4). Saying "no" to other obligations to say "yes" to our children is a valued investment. Let’s prioritize being available and present, seizing teachable moments: Establish boundaries for them; enjoy them; expose your humanness; explain the ‘whys’ behind your decisions; exchange ideas; encourage and inspire them to aspire higher.

Building on a Solid Foundation: “Through wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; by knowledge the rooms are filled...” (Pro.24:3-4). God’s Word is the first foundation stone (2Tim.3:16-17). Allowing Him to build, is the first step (Psa.127:1). Positive discipline is the key strategy (Pro.22:6). Prayer is the second  foundation stone!

Benefits of a Christian Home: Healthy faith produces healthy, successful homes and lives (Psa.1:1-3; 128:5-6; Eph.6: 1-3).

Raising Courageous Daniels: Marked by power of choice, conviction, and consistency (1Chr.22:6-13; Dan.1:8; 10:12,19).

Rearing Faith-filled Esthers: Selfless, responsible, and submissive to preparation and mentoring (Est.4:15-16)

Pride and Joy: A Two-way Street: “Children’s children are the crown of old men, and the glory of children is their father” (Pro.17:6); “The father of a righteous will greatly rejoice, and he who begets a wise child will delight in him” (Pro.23:24).

A Home on a Hill: Ours can be a home on a hill, shining in the dark across generations (Psa.78:5-7; Mt.5;13-17; 2Tim.1:5); characterized by convincing, consistent, contagious, confident, and transgenerational faith.

When Strings Turn to Wings: “Children are the living messages we send to a time we will not see” (Neil Postman) (Gen.2:24).

It Really is Worth It! – Creating Legacies of Faith!