ISEEIT:

ISEEIT: by Jerry Wells

2 Peter 3:11
11 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness…NKJV

I see fathers and mothers that are not seeking to be Godly parents.  To be Godly means to be like God in your attitudes and behavior. 

• A Godly parent sets clear Godly boundaries for their children’s attitudes and behavior with predictable consequences to each boundary.
• A Godly parent is consistent in applying discipline when their child crosses those boundaries rather than being erratic and unpredictable. 
• A Godly parent does not lose control of their temper when it is time to discipline their child, for they know that the wrath of man does not accomplish the righteousness of God. 
• A Godly parent does not speak evil words to their children when it is time to discipline their child because they know that the tongue is a fire and a deadly poison that can destroy the souls of their children and set their nature on a deadly course. 
• A Godly parent does not make their child feel unloved when it is time to discipline their child but always holds them and speaks comforting words to them as if the pain the discipline creates was caused by an unexpected fall. 
• A Godly parent does not recall the last offense when it is time to discipline their child but treats each offense as if it is the first time their child has ever committed that offense. 
• A Godly parent reminds their child that they are created to glorify God and if they will cooperate with God to be Godly, God will use them to accomplish His purpose through them in the evil world in which we live. 
• A Godly parent will go to their child and confess they were wrong every time the Holy Spirit makes them aware that they failed to treat their child in a Godly way. 
• A Godly parent is Godly because they love and fear God rather than being Godly in order to gain a certain outcome in the lives of their children. 
• A Godly parent believes that their children are born sinners by nature with a free will and that their evil nature will determine the course of their life unless they come to saving faith in Jesus Christ. 
• A Godly parent shares the gospel with their children and takes them to church to hear the gospel preached and to reinforce what their child is being taught at home. 

I was not raised by a Godly parent, so I did not have a Godly example to follow when I became a father.  I learned some valuable lessons from my father, but I did not learn any of these truths from him.  When my first child was born, I was a disciple of Jesus, but I was overwhelmed by the responsibility of being a Godly father. 

I felt so insecure and inadequate with regards to being a Godly father.  I remember being anxious about even bringing our child home from the hospital.  When our second child was born five years later, I had grown in my understanding of what it meant to be a Godly father.  My understanding grew because I studied to learn what God said in His Word and because I connected myself to some Godly men that I respected for the Godly way they raised their children. 

What I learned in addition to what I said above is that a Godly father works hard to provide for the material needs of his wife and children and a Godly father is first and foremost a Godly husband to his wife, loving her as Christ loves the church.  I learned that loving her this way meant honoring her by studying her to understand her, by always handling her with gentleness, and by listening to her advice as a fellow heir in God’s kingdom.

As I said in my first blog on ISEEIT, there are a few things I wish I would have done differently in raising my children and I have talked with all my adult children about those things.  But seeking to have a biblical worldview in parenting is one of the best choices that I have made for my life.  I do not believe I would have the relationship I enjoy with my children right now without seeking to be a Godly parent with a biblical worldview.  I hope that you will give my words some serious consideration. 

(If you have any questions or comments, feel free to email me at jerrywellsfam@gmail.com –  I do not respond to comments with comments about my ISEEIT posts on Facebook because I do not believe it is wise or profitable for me to do so, but I would love to communicate with you privately.)

(This is a personal blog by Jerry Wells.  I created ISEEIT so I could publish my thoughts on issues that ISEE that are important to me and may be important to you.  I try to base all my thoughts on issues on a biblical world view.  The examples I share from my personal decisions are decisions I made during my life based on a biblical worldview.  My understanding of the bible is not inerrant and I consider my personal opinions on the issues I write about to be worthless.)