Before writing my book A Shattered Life Restored, I always dreamed of having a son. I even gave him a name—David. I would often rub my hand over my stomach, declaring promises over his life and praying against any plans the enemy might try to bring against him.
But how many of us as parents think that far ahead? How often do we pray for our children, even before they enter the womb?
The truth is, God entrusts us with our children and holds us accountable for their spiritual growth and well-being. Every child is born with a divine purpose meant to glorify God and edify His people. None of us are here to simply exist.
So, what exactly is our spiritual role as parents? After much reflection, I believe it can be summed up into three major responsibilities:
Praying for Them
Teaching Them the Ways of the Lord
Leading by Example
When Do We Begin to Pray for Our Children?
Conception is a wonderful place to start, but we can take it even further back. If you’ve studied the Bible, you’ve seen how the enemy sought to destroy our Savior, even before He was born. That’s why I admire the example of Simeon and Anna in Luke 2:25-38, who prayed for Jesus’ safe arrival long before He entered the world.
In A Shattered Life Restored, Meg understood this responsibility. Throughout the book, she was constantly seen praying over her unborn son and declaring God’s promises for his life. She faced spiritual warfare for her son’s destiny, and prayer became her greatest weapon.
As parents, we may not always realize the miracle we’re carrying. But we must pray for the will of God to manifest in their lives and for a hedge of protection around them—even in the womb. The enemy can attack children from the moment of conception.
If the devil sought to destroy our Savior, knowing His purpose, do you think he won’t target your children, too? Every child is born with a role in God’s plan. That’s why it’s so important to speak life and blessings over your children, rather than allowing anger to lead you to speak negativity. Words have power, and they can bring either blessings or curses.
When Do We Begin to Teach Them the Ways of the Lord?
Proverbs 22:6 tells us: "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."
This means we should start as early as possible—ideally at the same age we send them to preschool or kindergarten. Jesus Himself set an example. In Luke 2:41-52, we see Him at a young age in the temple, listening, asking questions, and growing in wisdom and favor with God.
Why is this important? It’s not about shielding our children from the world’s temptations but equipping them to stand firm in their faith and be a light to others.
In A Shattered Life Restored, Meg’s son, David, like many children, wandered away from God during his teenage years. Despite being raised in the ways of the Lord, curiosity led him astray. However, his parents turned to fasting and prayer for his deliverance. When they finally talked with him, it was the Word of God they had instilled in him that reminded him of God’s promise in 1 John 1:9.
As parents, we must recognize there will be times when we’re not there to guide or pray for our children. They’ll need to rely on the spiritual foundation we’ve built in their lives.
God will also hold us accountable if we see our children doing wrong and fail to correct them.
How Do You Lead by Example?
The simplest way to lead is through your actions. Let everything you do reflect a life lived for Christ.
Invite your children to pray with you, even if they’re too young to participate fully. Let them hear your prayers.
If you say or do something in anger, demonstrate humility by apologizing—whether to another person or to God. Let them witness repentance.
Show them what it means to spend time in God’s presence through prayer, Bible study, and fellowship with other believers.
Your everyday actions leave a lasting impression. Children are always watching, and they learn more from what we do than from what we say.
Are You Fulfilling Your Spiritual Role?
As parents, our role is a high calling. Let’s commit to praying for our children, teaching them God’s ways, and leading by example so they can walk in their divine purpose.
To dive deeper into this topic and discover how Meg and her family navigated these challenges, check out my book, A Shattered Life Restored. In it, you’ll find faith-filled lessons on parenting, overcoming trials, and the power of prayer.
How are you fulfilling your spiritual role in your child’s life? Share your thoughts in the comments!
Check out this video snippet from the book where the parents are having a spiritual talk to their son after he fell into trouble.
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