At the Well - Family Visions

The topic for today over At the Well is about Family Visions. Some questions to ponder are:

• Do you have a family vision?
• Why does having a family vision matter?
• If you have not considered having a family vision, what are some steps you can take towards it?
  

A family vision is a focus, goal or place the entire family has committed to and is moving toward. While my family does not have a formal "vision", we are a Christian family and as parents, our goal is to raise our children to grow into men of integrity who love the Lord and seek to follow the plan He has for their lives. Working toward that goal involves every day training, teaching and setting a good example.

Woodrow Wilson said “No man that does not see visions will ever realize any high hope or undertake any high enterprise.” Having a vision matters. If there is nothing that we aim for, we aim and achieve - nothing. As parents there is a common desire for our children to do good and to be successful. We instinctively want what is best for them. It is also our responsibility to lead them in that direction. Proverbs 22:6 tells us to "Train up a child in the way he should go...". Knowing that God's ways are best, His way is true and that He will lead us down the paths of righteousness, we can fully trust Him for the good of our family and follow Him in all our ways.

While I said that our family does not have a specific vision, there is a paper I keep entitled "A Wise Son" that has qualities taken from the book of Proverbs to equip sons/daughters to be wise and successful in all that they do. I use this to pray for my sons that they will be filled with godly qualities.

A Wise Son

• Hears and obeys parents.
• Increases in knowledge and in wisdom.
• Profits by example and profits by rebuke.
• Is diligent in business.
• Welcomes commandments.
• Lays up knowledge.
• Controls lips and tongue.
• Rules well.
• Is successful soul-winner.
• Loves the company of wise men.
• Builds for the future.
• Departs from evil and chooses good.
• Utters knowledge rightly.
• Seeks wisdom and knowledge.
• Lives in soberness.
• Solves the problems of men - a peace maker.
• Increases in strength.
• Keeps the law.
• Turns away from contention.
• Controls self in strife.

Prayer is the best beginning and most powerful tool a parent has toward raising godly children. Knowing what you believe, practicing it in the home daily and keeping the desire to raise men and women of God up are some great stepping stones to fulfill a family vision.

Ephesians 1:15-18 "...making mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling..."