SPIRITUAL PARENTING REFLECTIONS

Today I was reminded of something that ties beautifully to an earlier write-up on parenting — more specifically, spiritual parenting, or discipling our children in the Lord. I called it: “Don’t Be Like Your Parents” and you can read it here https://mapstage.blogspot.com/2025/02/dont-be-like-your-parents.html

This is a build up on that and the prompt came from a powerful moment in Joshua 1:16–17.

Then they answered Joshua, “Whatever you have commanded us we will do, and wherever you send us we will go. Just as we fully obeyed Moses, so we will obey you. Only may the Lord your God be with you as he was with Moses.”

When I read that part — “Just as we fully obeyed Moses…” — I paused. My first thought was, "did they really fully obey Moses?”

I remembered how often Moses was frustrated by their rebellion. The Book of Numbers reads like a record of arguments, complaints, and outright disobedience. So how could they say this?

Then it hit me. I was remembering the wrong generation and accusing the wrong crew.

The disobedient ones were their parents — the generation that left Egypt but perished in the wilderness because of unbelief. These speakers in Joshua were the children of that generation. They were the ones who grew up in the desert, witnessing both the faithfulness of God and the failure of their elders.

Think about that: being a child who WANTS TO walk in righteousness, honor leadership, and live in peace — but your guardians are doing the opposite. They murmur against Moses, resist authority, stir up trouble with their neighbors, and drag your name into generational messes. Aaaargh!😠😡

Yet somehow, through all that, this generation chose differently. They said: We’ll obey. We’ll go. Just like we obeyed Moses. Not like our parents did — but like we did when we finally had space to choose.

So here’s the charge for us today: Be the kind of spiritual parent your children won’t have to unlearn. Let your disciples grow up not in confusion, but in clarity. Let them see your life and say, “If this is what following Christ looks like, count me in.”

One guardian I'm close to recently mentioned that their daughter has realized her calling into the office of a prophet. Imagine that. Raising a prophet. What's your child's calling in Gods kingdom? Get ready to mentor and disciple them to fully serve God in their generation.

Mko na job, na tumewaombea mfaulu kwa hilo jukumu. 💪🏽🔥