Crafting Arrows (pt.1)

Psalm 127:3-5, “Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from Him.  Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth.  Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of arrows”. 

​The goal of every parent is to steward the arrows that the Father in heaven has given them.  There is a battle for our children's hearts.  We need to fight for their affections.  The enemy is after what they will love and where their affections will be placed.  This is why parents are called warriors!  We are in a battle. 

There are 4 parts to every arrow.

This blogpost is about the 1st part of the arrow: the shaft. Every other part of the arrow attaches to the shaft.  In the analogy of our children being arrows, the shaft of the arrow speaks to identity, destiny & purpose. 

Relationship with God is essential for a child to know who he or she is.  Moms & dads, grandparents, spiritual fathers & mothers~ ask the Father in heaven what He sees in your child; what His desire is for him/her, what does He say about who he/she is?  Invite others who are in your family or your friend circle to give you words about your child’s identity.  Prophetic words help to shape your child’s destiny. 

It is important to get with God to seek Him about each of your kids so you can speak to your child's spirit, not to their flesh.  Gain vision about who your sons & daughters are by asking God what His thoughts are about them. The vision sustains you in the moments and seasons when you child is not acting up to the identity that God has spoken about him/her. 

Speak destiny, identity, purpose to each of your children.  Here are a few examples:  "You are a leader to your generation"; "You are such a powerful person"; "You have been marked by the image of God"; "You are a change-maker in your generation"; "You are important”; “God knew you & loved you before He created you”; “You are blessed”! 

When you catch them doing something wrong, gently rebuke them and lovingly remind them, "that's not who you are". When you catch them doing something right, reinforce it. Fan into flame the gift of God that is in them.  

We shape the identity, destiny & purpose of our children.  It is this identity which all other parts of the arrow are attached.  Take some time to meet with God to hear what He says about your children (no matter what age they are).
 
Activation: Ask the Holy Spirit to begin to speak to you about your children, so you can speak what God says into their spirits.  Write out the words & Scriptures for each of your children to meditate on & recall what God says about them.  Paul spoke to Timothy, “Timothy, my son, I am giving you this command in keeping with the prophecies once made about you, so that by recalling them you may fight the battle well,” 1 Timothy 1:8.  Wage war with the prophetic words spoken over your children and as your children grow, they can use the words to fight the battle well.