Jul 34 min read

Parenting With Holy Spirit

But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.

John 16:13

Parenting with Holy Spirit began as I cried out to God, overwhelmed with the task in front of me. We had gone from newly married to 3 kids in the span of two years. Many days I would cry and pray as I did the dishes over and over again, hoping for some reprieve from the consistent selflessness motherhood seemed to bring.

It was in these moments, however, where I found the most beautiful and surprising thing happening in my heart. Holy Spirit was becoming my best Friend. He would talk with me as I sought His heart for how to love my children, how to handle their conflicts or tantrums, and how to not complain over the seemingly endless changing of diapers.

Well, let's be real. I did complain. He would just encourage me to not partner with the shame that would be thrown at me in these vulnerable moments.

This dependency on Holy Spirit’s counsel would only increase as we welcomed host children from other countries, foster children, migrant foster children, and more biological children into our home over the next decade. The dependency that grew as I worshiped and talked with Holy Spirit as I did the dishes with 3 littles, would be the foundation laid for the utter dependency that would grow when we adopted three children with special needs from another country, two of which were non- verbal.

Throughout our parenting journey, we have had as many as 11 children under our roof at one time, both in our hosting and fostering journeys.

That sweet young mama completely overwhelmed at the selflessness that motherhood brought early on, would have probably freaked out if she knew the journey God had for her family. However, God in His incredible kindness, didn't always give me the full picture. He was, however, faithful to train up my heart in it all.

Did He make me more courageous? Sure. Did He grow my patience? Absolutely. Did He teach me that selflessness is a gift and not a burden? He has grown me in this area so much. But, the greatest gift He has given me is to show me my need for Holy Spirit.

Galatians 2:20 says, “My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” In my desperation to get motherhood right, He showed me that He had already given me the best co-parent. He lived within me.

Friends, parenting with Holy Spirit is the most important tool God has given me in my child raising journey. I've learned that He has the solution I need for every problem. If I will stop and ask, Holy Spirit will remind me of His Word, or whisper an idea that I truly would never have thought or chosen right away. For example, I was once disciplining my son for a very bad attitude he was having. I was about to walk in his room, but stopped in the doorway and looked to Heaven and said out loud, “Holy Spirit, what should I do?” Quietly in my heart, I heard, “Give him a hug”. I knew this was Holy Spirit, because my anger towards my son’s attitude immediately justified why I should choose a different consequence. But, I knew Holy Spirit’s voice, and I yielded to His way. I went in, explained to my son what Holy Spirit said, and he melted into the hug I gave him and wept. Holy Spirit was right. He truly is the best Parent. Often we are taught that Holy Spirit wants to help us with other things: leading people to Jesus; ministering in our small groups; helping us forgive. All of these are true. But Holy Spirit is available for so much more. He is God’s Spirit of truth, and He leads us into all truth, including the truth we need every day to parent well. I pray this week you will ask Holy Spirit to show you how much He wants to parent alongside you, and that you will yield to His counsel every step of the way.

Your Fellow Able Mom,

Monica

God, I thank you for giving me the Spirit of truth! Holy Spirit, I want to know You. I need You in every single aspect of my life, including my parenting. I believe that You truly desire to parent with me, and have every answer that I need. Thank you for teaching me to be dependent on you daily. And thank You for the fruit that it will bear in my own life and family. We love you! In Jesus name, Amen

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Email: monica@abidetolove.org