Biblical Answer

Modeling a Heart of Obedience

As a parent, you are responsible to teach and train your children to fear the Lord and develop a godly character. This begins by modeling a heart of obedience yourself. Just as God is after your heart, so you are after the heart of your child. You need to partner with God to create in your child a heart that is teachable, or the teaching will fall on deaf ears. This requires being persistent and insistent on obedience, even when your child is strong-willed. Teach your child to rule their spirit and respond to your authority. This will help them develop a heart of obedience that is not perfect, but genuinely wants to obey.

Teaching Your Child to Obey

When teaching your child to obey, remember that the goal is not to achieve perfect compliance, but to create a heart of obedience. This means that you will not give up on your child, even when they resist or disobey. Instead, you will persist in teaching and training them, even when it is difficult. You will also seek God's wisdom and guidance in teaching your child, and not rely on your own strength and ability. By partnering with God, you can create in your child a heart that is teachable and responsive to your authority.

Raising Kids Who Love and Follow God

The best way to raise kids who genuinely love and follow God is to copy the way God disciplines and raises us as His children. This means that you will discipline your child in a way that is consistent with God's character, and teach them to fear the Lord. By doing so, you will help your child develop a heart of obedience that is not just a response to your authority, but a genuine desire to please God. This will give you the greatest joy as a parent, and help your child become a passionate follower of Jesus.