I think it is getting harder and harder raising Godly sons and daughters these days.

In fact, it feels like it is more difficult than ever to live a life that reflects the glory of God myself these days. However, raising Godly sons is even more vital these days. It is just that much more important that we are intentional and purposeful in raising our sons to follow their Lord.

Jesus Is Lord

Did you notice that I said to follow their Lord? Not mine, not my husband’s – although He is our Lord – but we want Him to also be our son’s Lord. This is so important. If I could have only one prayer for my kids, it would be that Jesus is Lord of their lives.

We can have our kids be on the honour roll, be the MVP on a sports team, the fastest swimmer, get an award for charitable work…and more. BUT, if Jesus is not the Lord of their lives even now, then will He be in the later years? I don’t want to find out! I want my son to live a life that glorifies God now, not later.

And this is easier said than done, isn’t it fellow sisters? It is hard work raising Godly sons. Many things entice and attempt them to lose their focus.

But here is one of my best pieces of advice to help your precious boys grow into Godly men – other than having Jesus as Lord.

Lesson: How To Handle Sin

One of the main essential factors in raising Godly sons is training them how to handle sin in their lives. It is absolutely impossible for us to raise perfect children and have them develop into perfect adults…believe me; I have tried and tried many times! I’m not even perfect, so how on earth can I raise perfect children?

My children are going to fall into sin. It is inevitable.

My job, as their loving mother, is to demonstrate to them how to get out of that sin and how to deal with it in a healthy way. This means I need to be their example with this (YIKES!!). I have to keep on top of the sin in my life. That is a huge task in itself!

[bctt tweet=”My job is to teach my son how to get out of sin and how to handle it in a healthy way. #boymom @AimeeImbeau”]

So, what do I tell my children to do with their sin? First, we talk about how hidden sins will hold us in bondage, in the enemies grasp. When I word it that way, it brings a different perspective on what sin is and what it does to us. My children are more eager to confess and turn away from sin when they have this perspective.

My children understand that they have an enemy who is ruthless and he does not care that they are just children. He will try to lure them into his traps. And sometimes he will be successful. How successful will be up to them. I teach them that they have a choice and turning to God in prayer will always help them make the wise choice.

We pray and I have my child confess and repent of their sin – younger children may need help with the wording, but the goal is for my kids to do this themselves and to feel comfortable with confessing sin. Well, is confessing sin ever really comfortable? Probably not. But I am training them to go to God instead of hiding their sin.

[bctt tweet=”How to train your child to go to God instead of hiding their sin. #boymom @AimeeImbeau”]

Jesus wants our children to come to Him. He loves when they have a close relationship with Him and feel like He is their best friend (He longs for that kind of relationship with us as well). If you look at the passage in Matthew, it seems that He was much more interested in spending time with the children rather than the Pharisees who were pestering Him. He welcomed the children to come and be blessed by Him. After He spent time with the children, He got up and walked away instead of continuing to debate the Pharisees. I see this as Him wanting to end that time on a delightful memory.

When We Hold On To Our Sin

There is one aspect I think we tend to forget about. I will illustrate it with a story.

There was something my son did – I can’t remember what it was. It was some type of sin against one of his sisters, I think. He was being unkind in some way. So, we went through those first steps and he asked his sister for forgiveness. But I could tell there was still something ‘wrong’. He wasn’t his normal, silly self. I asked him if he still felt bad about what happened, about what he had done. He looked at me with tears in his eyes and said ‘yes’.

I asked him if he confessed and repented to God and if he was sincere. He said ‘yes’.

I asked him if he apologized to his sister and sought restoration in relationship with her. He said ‘yes’.

Then I reminded him that there was no condemnation for anyone who was in Christ Jesus.

I reminded him that his sin was on the bottom of the ocean floor.

That it has been removed from his as far as the East is from the West and not as far as the South is from the North.

I reminded him that he had left his sin with Jesus and he is to no longer carry it. That it was OK to not carry it anymore. It is a gift of mercy from our Saviour and this is what it means to be forgiven. It is the gospel message.

Those are the words my son needed to hear. He needed that reminder – and maybe you do, too. I could see that God’s peace washed over him. Would you allow His peace to come over you, too? Would you join me in speaking this truth over our sons? Over our children?

Aimee is a home educating support teacher who lives in the sunny Okanagan, BC. Aimee has been blissfully married for 17 years and still swoons at the sight of her tall, dark and handsome husband, Marcus. When she isn’t home educating her 3 kids, she enjoys sewing, quilting, scrapbooking and hanging out with her family. She blogs over at A Work of Grace. You can find her on Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest.