Reverencing God: The Heart of God-Honouring Parenting

Reverencing God: The Heart of God-Honouring Parenting

Parenting is one of the greatest things we can do but it brings both joy and responsibility. All parents have some criteria for measuring whether their children are growing up well. Some may focus more on academics or independence, others may focus on whether their children are kind or respectful. As Christian parents, our number one desire should be to raise children who honour God in all they do. Granted, this can sometimes get lost in the day to day of parenting.

3 John 1:4 (ESV) expresses it this way:

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

The Apostle John was referring to his converts and other believers as his children. As parents we have been assigned to raise our children to walk in God's truth. We can find even more joy than the Apostle John when they do. Central to our assignment is the principle of reverence. Teaching our children to reverence God begins with living lives of reverence ourselves.

What Does It Mean to Reverence God?

Reverence for God, also known as the fear of the Lord, is a deep respect, love, and awe for Him that permeates every aspect of our lives. It is recognising His holiness, submitting to His authority, and seeking to glorify Him in all we do. Proverbs 9:10 (ESVUK) reminds us,

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.

This fear is not terror but a profound awareness of God’s majesty and our dependence on Him. It goes beyond knowing about God; it is based on revelations of God's nature.

Reverence for God shapes our decisions, attitudes, and interactions. It influences how we work, serve, and parent. In short, we become wiser as we properly position God in our hearts and minds. As our children observe this reverence in us, they learn what it means to honour God with their own lives.

We demonstrate reverence for God when we obey His commands, prioritise worship and humbly live dependent on Him.

The Blessings of Reverencing God

Because of who He is, God deserves our reverence, yet we are blessed when we give this reasonable response. As parents, these blessings have a profound impact on our personal walk with God and how we raise our children. Some of these blessings are wisdom, peace, stability and generational blessings.

When we Reverence God, He Blesses Us with Wisdom

As we have seen the fear of the Lord is the foundation of wisdom. It equips us to make decisions that honour God.

When we Reverence God, He Blesses Us with Peace

Reverence for God creates a sense of trust in God's sovereignty. Resting in God's ability to guide our lives and the assurance that He has a good plan for our lives and our children's lives reduces anxiety and cultivates peace. Isaiah 26:3 puts it this way:

You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you

When we Reverence God, He Blesses Us with Stability

External pressures and internal conflicts are less likely to shake a home built on reverence for God. Just look at Matthew 7:24-25:

Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock."

When we Reverence God, He Blesses Future Generations

Parents who reverence God provide a Godly example for their children to follow so they too can experience the blessings of reverencing God. The cycle will continue so that we leave behind a legacy of descendants walking with the Lord. Psalm 103:17 reminds us:

But the steadfast love of the Lord is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children's children.

How Reverencing God Benefits Parents

Reverencing God transforms our parenting journey in a range of ways. When we live reverencing God it clarifies our priorities, by helping us focus on eternal values rather than what the world may call success. Living in awe of God's greatness renews our strength for the parenting journey and deepens our dependence on Him. We give more of our concerns and burdens over to God because we trust Him, believing in His power to help us. My go to Scripture for reminding myself that God is more than big enough to help me in every need is Psalm 121:1-2:

 I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.

Reverence also brings healing and growth into our lives as we humbly allow God access to areas that need healing or transformation. This enables us to journey towards parenting from a place of wholeness.

Reverencing God positions us to hear His voice and follow His leading in raising our children.

The Impact of Reverence on Parenting

As we reverence God, we are transformed into parents who not only guide our children but also point them to the One who will guide them for eternity. Proverbs 14:26 reminds us:

“In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence, and his children will have a refuge.”

May we, as parents, live with a reverence for God that shapes our homes, blesses our children, and glorifies His name. Here are some ways reverencing God positively impacts our parenting:

Setting the Foundation for Faith

Children often learn about God first through their parents. When they see us prioritising prayer, worship, and obedience to God’s Word, they understand that faith is not just a Sunday ritual but a way of life. By modelling reverence, we demonstrate to our children that God deserves the highest place in our hearts and homes.

Cultivating Godly Character

Reverencing God helps us parent with integrity, humility, and wisdom. It reminds us to seek His guidance in decision-making, discipline, and nurturing our children’s spiritual growth. As we honour God in our parenting, we instil values such as honesty, kindness, and respect in our children.

Building a Christ-Centred Home

A home centred on reverence for God is marked by peace, love, and purpose. When we intentionally make God the focus of our family life - through prayer, Bible study, and worship - our children are more likely to develop their own personal relationship with Him.

Practical Steps to Model Reverence

Reverencing God in parenting is not about perfection but about intentionality. Here are some ways to model reverence in your daily life:

Make Time for God

Show your children that spending time with God is a priority. Set aside time each day for personal devotions, family prayer, and Bible reading. Let them see you seeking God’s wisdom for decisions and challenges.

Honour God with Your Speech

Your words have a powerful impact on your children. Speak about God with respect and gratitude. Avoid using His name flippantly and instead, use your words to glorify Him and encourage your children.

Obey God’s Word

Children are quick to notice inconsistencies between what we say and what we do. Determine to live in obedience to God’s Word, even when it is difficult. Your actions will speak louder than your words. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal areas you struggle with obedience and why. Repent and allow Him to work on this with you. Where appropriate, be willing to admit your mistakes to your children and seek their forgiveness as well as God's.

Create an Atmosphere of Worship at Home

Incorporate worship into your family’s daily life. This could include playing worship music, singing hymns or choruses, or expressing gratitude to God during mealtimes. Worship is a powerful way to keep our focus on God and maintain an awareness of His grandeur.

Share Testimonies of God’s Faithfulness

Talk about how God has worked in your life and answered prayers. Sharing personal stories of His faithfulness helps children understand that He is real and actively involved in our lives.

Addressing Challenges to Reverencing God

Living a life of reverence is not without challenges. The busyness of parenting, distractions of daily life, and spiritual battles can all threaten to pull our focus away from God. Here are some ways to overcome these common obstacles:

1. Busyness

Parenting is demanding, and it is easy to let our relationship with God take a backseat so prioritise time with Him by building it into your routine. Even short moments of prayer, Bible reading or worship through song or dance can make a difference. I remember rushing between children and duties during a particularly busy period as a mother of three. As I hurried down the stairs I prayed, "Help me, Lord" and I immediately felt His peace. Three words from a sincere heart were all I had time to offer that morning and God heard and answered me.

2. Distractions

Technology, work, and entertainment can easily consume our time and attention. Be intentional about setting boundaries and choosing activities that honour God. Notice when you use distractions to avoid facing up to things. True reverence trusts God with our problems, worries and flaws.

3. Spiritual Fatigue

It is normal to feel weary or distant from God at times. During these seasons, ask for His strength and guidance. Surround yourself with a supportive community of believers who can encourage you in your walk with Him. Feeling depleted or distant could be a sign we have moved away from trusting God or something else is out of kilter in our walk with Him. God is always available to help us identify issues and refocus on Him. Our reverence for God helps keep our humanity in perspective and catches us when we are trying to do it all. We have not been called to be superhuman, but we have been blessed with access to God's supernatural empowerment. It can take practice to draw on this but perseverance will pay off.

Sometimes, parenting is just tiring. In these times, meditating on Psalm 23 has been a source of strength for me. Write or print it our and keep it around your home. Memorise it, so that you can calmly recite it with slow deep breaths and find God's refreshing.

Reverence Begins with Receiving

Before we can teach our children to reverence God, we must cultivate tjis reverence in our own hearts. As we reflect on God's goodness, mercy, love and holiness, our awe and love for Him increase. When we focus on His greatness and surrender our lives to Him, reverence comes naturally.

Take time to evaluate your own heart. Are there areas where you struggle to fully honour God? Are there priorities, fears, or habits that need to be surrendered to Him? Invite the Holy Spirit to reveal these areas and to guide you in living a life that glorifies God.

Think-Pray-Pause

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight. (Proverbs 9:10 ESVUK)

Read the Scripture then think about it, use it to pray, and pause to listen to what the Holy Spirit has to say. Do this in any order or configuration that you like.

Here's an example:

1. Think: Consider how your actions, attitudes, and priorities demonstrate reverence for God. What changes can you make to model this for your children?

2. Pray: Ask God to help you grow in reverence for Him and to guide you in leading your children to honour Him.

3. Pause: Listen for the Holy Spirit’s promptings about areas in your life or family where reverence can be strengthened.

   
   

Reverence for God is the foundation of godly parenting. As we grow in awe and love for Him, we are equipped to disciple our children into a deeper relationship with their Creator. Let us commit to making reverence for God a cornerstone of our families, knowing that He will guide us every step of the way.

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