CURRENT THEME: New hope for 2013 (Share your feedback with us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or share your testimony at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)

DAY 21: NEW HOPE ... WITH A STRONGER FAMILY

By Benescke Janse van Rensburg

Suppose you walk into your dream house tomorrow, accompanied by a real estate agent. On the inside everything seems perfect – the layout, the decor and even the size of the house. Then, to your surprise, the agent hands you the key with the words: “Here, it’s yours!” As he leaves, you hear the roaring thunder in the distance. You look up to the sky and it hits you: there is no roof over your house! With the dark clouds already hanging over your house you realize that nothing will prevent the storm from causing havoc in your new home!

When we fail to pray for protection of our families or neglect to follow God’s principles for an effective household, we become as vulnerable to the enemy’s attacks as the house is to the storm, due to the absence of the roof.

God is a God of order and He therefore gave clear principles in His Word for families to function effectively. What is the right order for a household? If we draw a pyramid, God will be at the top, then the husband, then the wife, followed by the children and at the bottom the animals in the home. If any of the groups move out of their rank (for example, a family does not put God first, a husband does not take his responsibility as leader of the home but leaves it to the wife, or the wife undermines her husbands’ authority and tries to rule, or children rebel against their parents), it causes confusion and conflict in the family. The house suddenly is without a roof and the enemy has full access to cause havoc in the family.

Here are more practical principles from God’s Word with regards to families:

How should husbands treat their wives?

• Colossians 3:19: “Husbands, love your wives and never treat them harshly.”
• Ephesians 5:21, 25: “... submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. . . For husbands, this means love your wives, just as Christ loved the church. He gave up his life for her.”
• 1 Peter 3:7: “. . .husbands must give honor to your wives. Treat your wife with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker than you are, but she is your equal partner in God’s gift of new life. Treat her as you should so your prayers will not be hindered.”

When a husband loves and cherishes his wife, she (and the children) experiences a sense of safety and security. Because of this, the children will treat their mother with more respect and at the same time a positive example is established in their lives that they probably will duplicate in their own marriages one day.

How should wives treat their husbands?

• Ephesians 5:21-24: “For wives, this means submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For a husband is the head of his wife as Christ is the head of the church. He is the Savior of his body, the church. As the church submits to Christ, so you wives should submit to your husbands in everything.”

A husband’s love and respect for his wife, causes her to want to honor and respect him. Submission to her husband then becomes a privilege as she moves in underneath him in order to lift him higher with her support and encouragement, helping him to become all God created him to be.

How should parents treat their children?

·         Ephesians 6:4: ". . . do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.”

·         Colossians 3:21: ^“ . . . do not aggravate your children, or they will become discouraged.”

·         Proverbs 29:17: “Discipline your children and they will give you peace of mind and will make your heart glad.”

Parents can give their children wings to reach high altitudes or they can clip their wings by the words they use to build their children up or break them down. Let’s pray for wisdom to raise our children in God's ways.

How should children treat their parents?

·         Ephesians 6:1-3: “Children, obey your parents because you belong to the Lord, for this is the right thing to do.  ‘Honor your father and mother.’ This is the first commandment with a promise:  If you honor your father and mother, ‘things will go well for you, and you will have a long life on the earth.’”

Do you honor your parents by treating them with respect – even if you disagree with the way they conduct their lives or the decisions they make?

Is there a roof above your family today? Remember, even if you are a single parent, God listens to your prayers and He will lead you with wisdom to raise your children in His ways. Put Him first in your lives and you will experience peace and tranquility as He places a new roof over your home! God bless.

Father God, thank you for the guidance I receive from your Word. Strengthen me and guide me with wisdom to build a strong family. I ask this in the Name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

** Benescke Janse van Rensburg is a radio DJ, freelance journalist and author of the books, Ontdek God in die stories van mense, Wysheid-oordenkings uit Spreuke and Hoop in tye van nood-oordenkings uit Psalms. Visit website: www.benescke.co.za for more information