Proverbs 22:1-6 New American Standard Bible 1995
On Life and Conduct
22 A good name is to be more desired than great wealth,
Favor is better than silver and gold.
2 The rich and the poor [a]have a common bond,
The Lord is the maker of them all.
3 The prudent sees the evil and hides himself,
But the [b]naïve go on, and are punished for it.
4 The reward of humility and the [c]fear of the Lord
Are riches, honor and life.
5 Thorns and snares are in the way of the perverse;
He who guards himself will be far from them.
6 Train up a child [d]in the way he should go,
Even when he is old he will not depart from it.
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
Parents, Tell Your Children, Teach Your Children
Proverbs 22:1-6 The Message
The Cure Comes Through Discipline
22 A sterling reputation is better than striking it rich;
a gracious spirit is better than money in the bank.
2 The rich and the poor shake hands as equals—
God made them both!
3 A prudent person sees trouble coming and ducks;
a simpleton walks in blindly and is clobbered.
4 The payoff for meekness and Fear-of-God
is plenty and honor and a satisfying life.
5 The perverse travel a dangerous road, potholed and mud-slick;
if you know what’s good for you, stay clear of it.
6 Point your kids in the right direction—
when they’re old they won’t be lost.
Well, Memorial Day weekend is here and summer is right around the corner.
Soon children will be out of school – some will be graduating high school, and some will be graduating from college and still others will be getting ready for the next grade level and some will just be getting old enough for kindergarten.
Summer time and summer vacations, now parents will too often face a moral dilemma in the lines at the admission gates of theme parks and sporting events.
If a child is in a more expensive age bracket but looks young enough to pass for a cheaper rate, the parents are probably tempted just a wee bit to lie about the child’s age, tell the child to be quiet, thinking it might be better to save money.
22 A sterling reputation is better than striking it rich;
a gracious spirit is better than money in the bank.
2 The rich and the poor shake hands as equals—
God made them both!
Character, Character, Character!
Integrity, Integrity, Integrity!
Honesty, Honesty, Honesty!
Fairness, Fairness, Fairness!
Because if we let one “wee little innocent” sin in the door, others follow.
A parent’s lie at the admission gate amounts to stealing from the company.
It suggests to a child who is watching that it’s no big deal to lie to Mom or Dad or to steal from them or others.
And if a lying, stealing parent tries to use discipline on a lying, stealing child, that only drives a wedge between the generations.
“Do as I say, not as I do” does not meet God’s standard for raising children being; “6 Train up a child [d]in the way he should go, Even when he is old he will not depart from it.” “6Point your kids in the right direction—when they’re old they won’t be lost.”
Children’s lives, regardless of how old they are can mirror their parents’ lives in frightfully convicting ways—or, conversely, truly wonderfully affirming ways.
Forgiveness from God is the only way forward.
Parents prove each day that they are sinners, and their admitting this to their children clears the air and points them to Jesus. It’s never too late to apologize.
What a fine Christian Parent witness it is when parents, regardless of their age, readily admit even their need for God`s grace! The way to God is the way to go.
Regardless of their Age, Please Teach Your Children a just Few Powerful Prayers to Fill Them with Wisdom.
James 1:5-8 The Message
5-8 If you don’t know what you’re doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You’ll get his help, and won’t be condescended to when you ask for it. Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought. People who “worry their prayers” are like wind-whipped waves. Don’t think you’re going to get anything from the Master that way, adrift at sea, keeping all your options open.
Wisdom can be defined as the quality of having experience, knowledge, and good judgment. Some forms of wisdom come naturally as our kids grow up and experience more of life. Other forms can be taught. My prayer is for my children to be open to wisdom, recognize it for what it is, and learn to love living it out.
The book of Proverbs is full of simple, profound wisdom for living. In fact, I’ve read and prayed through the Proverbs many times, for many different reasons.
I’ve used it to pray for my marriage.
I’ve used it to pray for friends and family, and as I read it each time, I almost always found myself pausing to pray specific verses for my children. The older I get and the older they get, the more convinced I am wisdom and understanding, and knowledge are some of the most treasured, valuable gifts I can give them.
In my present state of age and God’s grace I have found that there are basically only two types of people—the foolish and the wise.
The foolish man says in his heart, “there is no God,” (Psalm 14:1, 53:1) and does as exactly as he pleases all his days. The wise man so fears the Lord, and follows Him (Proverbs 1:7), keeps his character, integrity and honor front and at center.
Choose which do you want your child to be—foolish or wise?
The older they get, the more I desire for my children to have wisdom, and the Proverbs are where I turn most often.
They serve as a guide, helping us know how to make decisions, which paths to take, and how to understand the life God has called us to live as believers.
Doesn’t that sound exactly like what you want God to accomplish in your child’s heart? But, just how do we ensure that our children will choose God’s wisdom?
I invite you to start the process with prayer.
Prayer is one of the most important parts of Christian parenting today.
Unfortunately, it’s also one of the most overlooked and underutilized and under developed, under taught, under emphasized lessons parents teach the children.
God has assured us that when we need wisdom, He’ll give it (James 1:5).
I suggest praying God’s Word for your children (and yourself).
Reason being it’s, “living and active…able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12), and because despite all circumstances, it will do exactly what God purposes for it to do in the heart of your child (Isaiah 55:8-11).
Prayer is a partnership between you, your child and the God Who loves your child more than you do. He will use your prayers in the life of your child, and in your own heart to give you His place of comfort and direction in times of need.
With that in mind, here are three scriptures to pray for your child to have wisdom:
1. A Prayer for Our Children to Walk in Awe of the Lord
“The proverbs of Solomon son of David, king of Israel: For learning wisdom and discipline; for understanding insightful sayings; for receiving prudent instruction in righteousness, justice, and integrity; for teaching shrewdness to the inexperienced, knowledge and discretion to a young man…The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and discipline.” – Proverbs 1:1-4 & 7
A Prayer for Our Children to Walk in Awe of the Lord
Father, help my child to learn Your wisdom and discipline, and make them open to patience, self control, understanding insight. May they have deep reverential fear of You, Lord, so they can receive wisdom, truly begin to have knowledge.
2. A Prayer for Our Children to Listen to the Lord
“My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, listening closely to wisdom and directing your heart to understanding; furthermore, if you call out to insight and lift your voice to understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it like hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and discover the knowledge of God. For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.” – Proverbs 2:1-6
A Prayer for Our Children to Listen to the Lord
Father, help my child accept your words and commit your commands to heart. Help them to keep their mouth shut, listen closely to wisdom and direct their heart to understanding. May they seek Your wisdom like it’s a precious jewel.
3. A Prayer for Our Children to Trust God
“Never let loyalty and faithfulness leave you. Tie them around your neck; write them on the tablet of your heart. Then you will find favor and high regard with God and people. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; in all your ways know him, and he will make your paths straight. Don’t be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your body And refreshment to your bones.” – Proverbs 3:3-8
A Prayer for Our Children to Trust God
Father, make my child, children, loyal and faithful, finding favor and highest regard with God and others. Help them to implicitly trust in You with all their heart and not lean on his own understanding. May they acknowledge You in all his ways, may they then be healed And as he do, God makes their paths straight.
Learning to Pray for Our Children
If your child needs God’s wisdom (and who doesn’t?), begin praying right away.
Look to God’s Word to show you what to pray, and bring your petitions to the Lord on their behalf night and day.
You might not always know what to do, but you can always know what to pray.
If you need help learning to pray God’s Word, download a free copy of the how-to guide, How to Pray God’s Word for Your Children.
And don’t forget to pray for yourself.
Ask God to give you compassion for what your children are going through, for strength to follow Him faithfully in your own life, for wisdom for the next step.
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
Psalm 119:1-16 The Message
119 1-8 You’re blessed when you stay on course,
walking steadily on the road revealed by God.
You’re blessed when you follow his directions,
doing your best to find him.
That’s right—you don’t go off on your own;
you walk straight along the road he set.
You, God, prescribed the right way to live;
now you expect us to live it.
Oh, that my steps might be steady,
keeping to the course you set;
Then I’d never have any regrets
in comparing my life with your counsel.
I thank you for speaking straight from your heart;
I learn the pattern of your righteous ways.
I’m going to do what you tell me to do;
don’t ever walk off and leave me.
* * *
9-16 How can a young person live a clean life?
By carefully reading the map of your Word.
I’m single-minded in pursuit of you;
don’t let me miss the road signs you’ve posted.
I’ve banked your promises in the vault of my heart
so I won’t sin myself bankrupt.
Be blessed, God;
train me in your ways of wise living.
I’ll transfer to my lips
all the counsel that comes from your mouth;
I delight far more in what you tell me about living
than in gathering a pile of riches.
I ponder every morsel of wisdom from you,
I attentively watch how you’ve done it.
I relish everything you’ve told me of life,
I won’t forget a word of it.
* * *
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
Loving God, Living God, Loving Hope, Living Hope, Loving Living Life His Way! "Many things are possible for the person who has hope. Even more is possible for the person who has faith. And still more is possible for the person who knows how to love. But everything is possible for the person who practices all three virtues." - Brother Lawrence (1605-1691), Practicing the Presence of God (1692). 