Today, we’re honored to have a precious sister who has become dear to me very quickly. Her heart for God, to minister to women, and to be bold for Christ has been obvious from the moment I met her and I’m so glad she is sharing these words of wisdom about wisdom with us today!
Welcome Dawn Wilson, sweet moms!
Ask parents, “Do you want a wise child?” and they’ll likely all say, “Yes!” But how do we cultivate that wisdom? It doesn’t just happen.
When my two sons were in high school, people often asked me, “How did your sons get to be so wise?” I’d never stopped to think about it, but in retrospect, I realized my husband and I did have a God-centered strategy.
You can help children make wise choices in more ways than you might think.
1. Give Children a Heart for God
All children develop a heart hunger for something. Pray for your child’s salvation, and do everything possible to help cultivate a heart for God.
Proverbs 9:10 says, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is insight.” Foolish people “despise” wisdom and instruction (Proverbs 1:7b); they refuse to be taught. But when a person cultivates love and respect for God and His Word, this is the foundation for true wisdom.
Pray for godly wisdom for and with your child. Encourage asking God for wisdom about His truth and ways (Psalm 25:4-5).
2. Teach Children to Think Biblically
From the earliest years, help your child develop a biblical worldview (Deuteronomy 11:19). While there are wisdom principles throughout scripture, many passages in Proverbs encourage biblical thinking.
As a young woman, I was encouraged to categorize the themes in Proverbs—finances, relationships, truth-telling, etc.—into a notebook. This project later helped me make wise choices, because my mind and heart were framed by right thinking.
Years later, I added truth principles from other scriptures, but I regret I didn’t start that notebook in my elementary years. Parents, this project can become a valuable resource for your children.
3. Train Children with “Dress Rehearsals”
Take every opportunity to help your child apply wisdom principles to situations as they arise (Proverbs 2:2). These teachable moments are “dress rehearsals.” We allow children to “wear” wisdom on a smaller scale and see how it fits into life’s circumstances.
As I applied God’s truth in many small choices, He prepared me to make tougher decisions in my 20s. For example, I understood the importance of seeking a godly mate because, when I was much younger, I had already walked through the benefits of good character and the pitfalls of bad character.
4. Give Children Godly Role Models
Our children receive an abundance of foolish examples from popular culture. While we can use this to our advantage by explaining or showing where some celebrities’ foolish choices lead, we also need to search out godly role models and point them out to our children.
Jesus is the ultimate role model, but look to the Body of Christ too (1 Corinthians 11:1), and don’t forget your local church body. Help your child rub shoulders with them in positive ways. You might, for example, invite wise role models to dinner. In your child’s presence, ask questions. How did these “saints” learned to walk with God and make wise choices?
Also, hold up strong biblical models—like Daniel and his faithfulness, or Esther and her courage. Focus on children’s books and videos that highlight Bible characters’ choices for God and His Word.
5. Model Wise Choices Yourself
Wisdom is better “caught” than taught. Unfortunately, some parents’ actions are so “loud,” children can’t hear what their parents say.
I knew a mother who didn’t tell the cashier she’d been significantly undercharged for an item. When her daughter saw the wrong amount, she started to protest, but the mother “shushed” her. In spite of the mom’s constant teachings about honesty, her foolish action taught her daughter it’s OK to cheat if you don’t get caught.
It’s crucial. Be proactive and faithful to teach and model (Proverbs 22:6) wisdom at every opportunity.
Which of these five points could God use right now to help your child develop true wisdom?
Dawn Wilson, founder and President of Heart Choices Ministries, blogs at Heart Choices Today, LOL with God, and Upgrade with Dawn. She is the President of the San Diego chapter of Network of Evangelical Women in Ministry. She co-authored the devotional LOL with God, and wrote about God’s blessings in It’s a God Thing. Dawn and her husband Bob—married 40 years—have two grown, married sons and three granddaughters.
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