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Intention

Parents have the power to break down or build up their children through the words they speak

Scripture

“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen” – Ephesians 4:29 (NIV)

“The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit” Proverbs 18:21 (NIV)

Reflection

Have you ever had someone speak words of life over you that made you feel 10 feet tall? Have you ever had someone speak words of destruction over you that made you feel 10 inches small?

We recently had some dear friends come to stay with us for a week. We have poached them as our kids’ extra set of grandparents, and they do an amazing job at spoiling them whenever we are together. One thing I observed was that they would always make a point to encourage our kids on their identity or call out the areas of their gifting.

‘Sean is such a deep thinker’ ‘Abi is so nurturing’ ‘Evan is so musical!’.

And you know what happened? Sean wanted to learn and share even more of his discoveries. Abi was even more motivated to care for her little brother. Evan would sing longer and louder than before.

Without them being able to recognize or articulate what was happening, they were being built up. They really made me question how often I do this for my children.

When someone becomes a parent, they become a builder. This is the privilege we are given.

For every day that I am a part of my children’s life, and even when I am long gone, my words over them will either be building a bridge or a barrier to how they see themselves and how they see God.

My job is to create a framework that speaks into their worthy and identity so that when they hear the words of love and invitation from their Heavenly Father, they can confidently step towards His love.

Some of us have been given the gift of a sturdy bridge that we have used to confidently walk towards the Father on.

Many of us have overcome the barriers between ourselves and how we view God that were laid for us by our earthly parents.

Some of us as adults are still in the process of knocking these walls down for ourselves whilst also trying to build a bridge for our children. Each generation gets the opportunity to build their part.

One of the easiest ways to get better at building this bridge is to think it AND say it. When you think about something you love or see in your child, don’t stop there, tell them about it.

The Lord has precious thoughts about you, so many that they would outnumber the grains of sand. May our children never question our love for them or their worth in Him.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank you for showing us what love is. I pray that as we seek to steward the gift of our children, we would recognize that our words hold the power of life and death. Help us to build our children up in every way, especially in how we speak to them.

Help us be the ones who would champion them. Would they never doubt our love for them, and in turn, your love for them. Would we never stop being amazed at their lives, their potential and their place in your Kingdom.

Thank you for your amazing grace for those times that we fall short and your Holy Spirit that leads us.

In Jesus’ precious name, Amen.

31 Days Prayer Points

1. Pray for the restoration of FAMILY, FATHERHOOD and MOTHERHOOD in our nation. Malachi 4:6
2. Pray for healing for MARRIAGES, protection for CHILDREN and restoration of the sanctity of LIFE. Isaiah 58:12
3. Pray for Revival, Renewal and Reformation for Australia, that our nation might return to God. 2 Chronicles 7:14

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