Countless articles talk about raising emotionally healthy and smart kids and they certainly have merit. However, due to the many challenging factors arising in the world today you may wondering how to get there in practice. Screen and technology addiction, increasing pressures on schooling and job availability, moral decline, rapid technological development to mention a few, are all a recipe to push parenting to its limits.
However, there is a solid hope. The task of raising kids with a healthy EQ and IQ can be made easy. Firstly, God can help us reconnect with our kids so things can turn around. (Malachi chapter 4 verses 5-6). God’s goal is that we are connected in spirit too. This enables us to pass on a living faith and our rich life experience to our kids, so they prosper and become all they are meant to be. (2 Timothy chapter 1 verse 5).
A living faith enables kids to be empowered in their development
A living faith takes hold of God’s power. After my daughter accepted Jesus I laid hands on her and she has started to prophesy, with accuracy that brings tears to recipients. (Acts chapter 21 verse 9) She has personally grown to know God’s is real and exciting, because she sees the results of prophesying to adults and watching them receive in awe!
Recently, a friend told me of his struggle to have self-control as a believer, but was slowly overcoming. He needed encouragement. He shared he had a dream about where he saw a cake and wanted to eat it. But, he managed to say no. The following day as we were travelling in my car I asked my daughter to prophesy to him not knowing anything at all about his situation.
She closed her eyes and prayed and shared she saw a boy wanting a piece of nice cake but said no to it. “God is giving you self-control”, she shared with a smile. He was amazed, as it what he dreamt the night before! That’s a living faith! And I have noticed God’s presence also helps aid her EQ and IQ development; will share more below.
Will our kids become this way naturally, by attending church with us or having religious instruction? I feel it is important to take note of God’s pattern to raise kids and disciples with a living faith.
The Spirit of God wants to be upon us!
Firstly, I challenge us all consider the truth we see in Acts chapter 19 verses 1-6. Paul asked the believers he met if they had received the Holy Spirit when they believed. After committing to the living Christ he baptised them in water and laid hands for the filling of the spirit.
Then, that day they could all readily prophesy and were edified supernaturally! No long courses or lectures, just a move of the spirit and release. Wow! They all felt spiritually revived.
Seven sign of supernatural empowerment in our kid’s development
The good news is that we are meant to develop as Jesus did (Luke chapter 2 verse 52). But, we too must guard against the leaven of legalism and institutionalism. (Matthew Chapter 16 Verse 6) Just as a Windows operating system enables Microsoft Word to function, so too the new life in Christ provides the powerful spiritual foundation (John chapter 10 verse 10) for the development of healthy EQ and IQ in our kids.
The following qualities arise organically in our believing kids as we parent well as Christians and the spirit is at work in them:
-Heightened, organic sense of strong identity feeling loved by God as a son or daughter, which enables a terrific and robust self-esteem.
-Greater confidence to aspire to do great things and to dream, and with great resilience. (Genesis chapter 37, 39). Parents can help nurture them in their unique purpose and calling of God to make a difference.
-Able to better self-manage from young and take great initiatives, which naturally keeps ipad affinity under control. (Matthew chapter 25 verse 15, Exodus chapter 35 verses 30 - 35)
-Enabled to have a good night’s sleep knowing Jesus’ power shields them from nightmares. They wake up fresh each day. (Psalm chapter 3 verse 5)
-Wise beyond their years due to the internalising of God’s word and His superior wisdom. (Psalm chapter 119 verse 99)
-A zest grows to learn the bible purposely, and to learn about all things to be equipped for life. (Daniel chapter 1 verses 17-20)
-Most importantly, a respect for parental authority and others arises enabling them to readily learn from parents’ experiences and their knowledge of the faith. (Joshua chapter 24 verse 15)
So, less time or minimal time is spent cleaning messes with most time spent going forward, as we let God in. Jesus promised our burden will made light and easy provided we are yoked to him. (Matthew chapter 11 verse 28 - 30) The past is the past, let’s turn to him today. He has good plans for families! (Jeremiah chapter 29 verses 10 - 11)
Mark Rusic was born in Melbourne and studied engineering. He became a missionary to Asia for about six years. He has worked as a pastor over the past 16 years. Mark has also written two books which are a collection of his own paintings, photography and poetry. These include Iconic Melbourne of Australia and Iconic Animals of Australia with a voice to release your giant potential within. His passion is to help people find and release what they are born for. He has been included among some of Australia’s best-selling authors since 2014 and is a public speaker. Mark is married with his life-long partner Susan and has a six year old and twins born in 2017.
Mark Rusic was born in Melbourne and has a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering. He became a missionary to many, suffering hardship and poverty on Madura Island in Indonesia, in 1990 for about four years. He worked as a pastor-life coach with Hope International Ministries from 2002 to May 2023, playing a key role in raising up leaders and elders for the local Melbourne Hope church, which lead today. Mark has also been active in conducting yearly trips to remote Indigenous communities, bringing teams for training and outreach, which he initiated from 2015. He also established a salt and light ministry to empower saints of influence in the marketplace from 2017.
Mark is also an artist and an author and has written two books which are both a collection of his own paintings, photography, and poetry. These include ‘Iconic Melbourne of Australia’ and ‘Iconic Animals of Australia- With a voice to release your giant potential within,’ which are available now on booktopia.com.au and at leading book retailers. He has been counted among some of Australia’s best authors on several occasions through Dymocks since 2014 and continues to be a motivational speaker in various community groups, organisations, and churches.
He is currently pioneering his itinerant ministry to bless Indigenous people and empower the body of Christ, while working as an artist, author and speaker.
