EquippedMama

“Fearing the Lord is the beginning of moral knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction. 8 Listen, my child, to the instruction from your father, and do not forsake the teaching from your mother. 9 For they will be like an elegant garland on your head, and like pendants around your neck.” Proverbs 1:7-9 NET

What does fearing the Lord have to do with parenting?

Perhaps when you first found out you going to be a parent, your initial thought was fear. Maybe you were afraid you were unable to handle the challenge, whether emotionally, physically, or financially. Perhaps you’ve been on the merry-go-round of parenting for some time now and the thought of starting over again with a newborn has washed your heart with anxiety. If your children are energetic and discipline hasn’t come naturally, perhaps you literally fear your children, or at least the ways that they act out.

Well, if any of these scenarios sound familiar, this is not the fear that the Bible encourages us to have. However, from a proper understanding of the type of fear commanded, we are better equipped to handle all the fears of mothering.

The Bible provides many guidelines relevant to walking this journey called mothering, but one particularly practical book for raising our little ones is the Proverbs. Written by the wisest man ever to live, (1 Kings 3:12) King Solomon’s book of Proverbs sheds godly insight on daily living.

In Proverbs the theme of fearing the Lord is repeated, often followed with a promise for those who practice this faithful reverence. Some of these benefits are as follows:

• It provides the beginning for moral knowledge (Proverbs 1:7)
• It prolongs life (Proverbs 10:27)
• It enables one to avoid evil (Proverbs 16:6)
• The reward for fearing the Lord is riches and honor and life (Proverbs 22:4)

As these are Proverbs, there is no direct promise that everyone who fears the Lord is rewarded with a long life and honor and wealth. However, living life in a righteous fear of the Lord does have benefits for this life, even if some of our rewards we do not receive immediately.

Throughout the law given to Moses, the Lord commanded Israel to honor people out of fear for the Lord. These commands included treating those with disabilities with respect, honoring the aged, and not mistreating others (Leviticus 19:14, 32, Leviticus 25:17). The Israelites, in condemnation for wicked actions, were encouraged to return to the Lord out of fear for him (Isaiah 8:13). People were also encouraged to not be afraid because of the Lord’s protection over them (Psalm 27:1, Psalm 112:7).

As a Mama, your fear of the Lord should bleed into every facet of your parenting. It should change your mindset as you respond to daily situations.

As you speak to your children, your tone and your words should reflect that you believe they are made in God’s image (Genesis 1:27).

As you fold their clothes, wash their hair, and make their crust-less PB&J (or perhaps prepare yet another bottle) you should be mindful that you are working for the Lord, rather that for your little one (Colossians 3:23).

When you despair that you might never get to go to the bathroom alone, or eat a hot meal uninterrupted, or sleep 8 consecutive hours, a fear of the Lord will remind you that children are a heritage that the Lord grants (Psalm 127:3)

Fearing the Lord can only influence our parenting if we are taking the time to learn to fear him.

So how does that happen?

We must return to the basics.

Prayer.

Time in the Word.

Worship.

If we want to see the Lord work in our parenting, we must invest the time in our relationship with him. We must present ourselves to him, mind, body, and spirit and ask for his help to learn to fear him and to see our minds renewed. In His Word, we see that God is a God to be feared. We learn his attributes and recognize that he is capable of answering our prayers. As we spend time in prayer, we experience the joy of bringing our heart to the Lord and seeing him work. As we worship, our hearts our changed, as we do the very thing for which we were created.

Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. Knowing the Lord is life. I recognize that for many, this season is busy. Perhaps you feel that you don’t have time to learn to fear the Lord. However, might I encourage you that your charge as a mother is too important to not learn to fear the Lord.

Make this high calling a priority in your life. Fear the Lord, rather than fearing mothering.