The Forever Proverbs Challenge
Scripture Focus:
“Dedicate your children to God and point them in the way that they should go, and the values they’ve learned from you will be with them for life.”
Proverbs 22:6 TPT
Devotional Thought:
Parenting is one of the most sacred assignments God entrusts to us. Proverbs 22:6 reminds us that our role is not just to raise children to behave well, but to train them in the ways of God — to set their feet on a path that leads to life, purpose, and lasting fruit.
Training, however, is consistent, intentional work. It’s not a one-time conversation or a single lesson. It’s the steady, daily planting of truth, love, discipline, and grace into the soil of a child’s heart. It’s walking with them, guiding them, teaching them how to live according to God’s ways — even when it’s inconvenient, exhausting, or feels like they’re not listening.
True training is not about punishment — it’s about correction.
Punishment focuses on making a child pay for what they did wrong.
Correction focuses on teaching a child what is right and leading them back to it with love and clarity.
Correction is patient. Correction explains, models, and instructs. It doesn’t just say, "Don’t do that." It says, "Here’s why God's way is better, and here’s how you can walk in it."
When we correct with love, we aren’t just addressing behavior — we’re shaping hearts, character, and destiny.
When we dedicate our children to God, we’re saying,
"Lord, they are Yours first. Help me lead them well."
And the seeds we plant — the values, the wisdom, the prayers, the example we live before them — will go with them into adulthood, carrying the fragrance of God's presence long after they leave our hands.
Even when they stray, the path we've pointed them toward will never fully leave them. God’s promises endure, and what is sown in love and truth will bear fruit in His time.
Reflection Questions:
- Am I approaching my children’s training with consistency or just reacting in the moment?
- Do I focus more on punishment or true correction that instructs and builds up?
- How can I model the heart of God for my children more clearly this week?
Prayer:
Lord, thank You for entrusting me with the precious lives of the children You’ve placed in my care. Help me to train them consistently, patiently, and lovingly. Teach me to correct in a way that instructs and restores, not punishes or wounds. Let the values I sow be rooted in Your truth and love. Strengthen me to model Your heart every day, knowing that the seeds planted today will bear fruit in their future. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Action Step:
Today, choose one area where your child (or a child you influence) needs correction. Approach it intentionally — not with harshness, but with loving instruction. Explain, guide, and pray with them. Remember, correction is an opportunity to lead their heart closer to God, not just to fix their behavior.
Join us for the FOREVER PROVERBS CHALLENGE!
