DATE WRITTEN: Saturday, 2021-05-29
WRITTEN AT: Lake Wales, FL

SCRIPTURE FROM: Proverbs 6:20-22
TRANSLATION: Contemporary English Version (CEV)

BIBLE TEXT: ²⁰ Obey the teaching
    of your parents—
²¹     always keep it in mind
    and never forget it.
²² Their teaching will guide you
    when you walk,
protect you when you sleep,
    and talk to you
    when you are awake.

APPLICATION: I believe that Solomon gave us awesome advice in these verses, but I see advice here for parents, and for their children. It seems like our family structure has suffered greatly over recent years, so regardless of your religious beliefs, I believe it is worth meditating with me on this today.
FOR PARENTS: We have the joy and privilege of honoring God in not only populating the earth, but ensuring that we provide responsible, respectful and loving individuals to bless others that they come into contact with. This requires teaching our children right from wrong, and in many cases, to correct the areas of life that we feel like we could have done better. But this is a daily task, and it requires our consistent guidance and/or correction. Notice that our little ones who look up to us morning, noon and evening will someday depend on what we taught them as they begin to decide for themselves what pleases God, and what is most acceptable to others. Because of this, it is important that we be strong enough, and big enough, to apologize if necessary and correct any bad advice or action that we realize we gave in error. Our children will soon conclude that we don’t live in a perfect world, but rather one that is very dependent on God and His wisdom.
FOR CHILDREN: It is so sad to hear an adult say that they have bad, or hateful memories of their parents, for that is obviously not what God intended when He created the world and its inhabitants. From our earliest recollection, we will remember how loving and forgiving our parents were, and as we make decisions and approach daily chores, we will often be reminded of how important certain processes were to our parents. I believe these principles become very real when others look at us and say how much we remind them of one of our parents, based on certain actions we take! Mannerisms are continued because of things taught in our homes – good and bad manners! I have a nephew who is constantly complimented on his good manners, and I attribute that to all that was taught to his mom and dad from their parents.
God knew what He was doing when He created the family structure. It’s up to us to trust Him that He is all-knowing; filled with wisdom, and that He created us in His image, for His glory. This is the basis for a perfect world, if only we will do our part as parents and/or children, in recognizing the Creator and His awesome plan for us!

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Children are a gift from God, but I believe that good and faithful parents are also an awesome gift of God to their children!

PRAYER: Thank You Lord for daily reminders that You are in control of our lives and of our circumstances. Thank You for providing great parents who tried very hard to make sure that we would be the best student, best companion, best worker and best friend to those that we come into contact with. I am eternally grateful for my parents, and I pray for all my readers that they too may be enjoying success and blessings as a result of all that their parents conveyed to them, and practiced in their home. Oh that we may recognize Your goodness to us and practice it daily, so that the world might know that Jesus lives, because they see You living in and through us. AMEN!

FOOTNOTE: There are two more pages on my blog that will provide you with additional information, one of them being ‘To Know Jesus’. If you have been challenged to make a decision today after reading this devotional, please click on the above page, or speak with a local Bible Teaching Pastor, or contact me at NuggetsFromGodsWord@outlook.com. Please allow someone to pray with you and give you help and/or encouragement as you begin, or continue your walk with Jesus. Words underlined in my blog might indicate a link to a song that came to mind as I wrote the devotional. Feel free to click on the link and listen as you continue to read or pray. If this devotional was forwarded to you and you would like to see more, please go to Nuggets From God’s Word and read more, or you may freely subscribe for a daily email conveniently containing each day’s devotional. You may also visit me on Spotify and listen to Nuggets while you’re out and about. I would encourage you to find a church home near by your home, and attend as frequently as you could. Get to know God, and allow His people to encourage and strengthen you in your Christian walk, while making every effort to be a blessing to them. God is at work among His people! Please consider growing in your faith, as you worship with fellow believers!