The following is the first of a two part article written by Elizabeth Haslet (Darryl and Martha Rodman’s daughter) sharing some spiritual parenting lessons and insights she has gleaned since she became a mom January 8, 2007!

I want to be a good mom. No, let me be perfectly honest in my perfectionist way: I want to be a great mom. I want my child to change the world. Before he was even born my husband and I had dreams of the destiny of Jakin. At the same time I also battled huge mountains of fear: what if I screw up? We aren’t talking about a dinner, or a Sunday School lesson, or even a home improvement project. It is a person’s life. I am fashioning his memories. His outlook. His foundation. The full measure of fear hit me even before pregnancy: can I do this? Will we succeed in preparing Jakin for his future?

Jakin is now 9 months old. He is a bright, blessed, cute little boy. And the more I know him the more I truly want to be a great mom. Thankfully God has provided me with much wisdom on how to be a parent from my own parents.

Who should we look to for counsel in raising our children? Personally I look to those who were successful in parenting their children to adulthood and who are actively serving the Lord. (Please hear my heart: if you are a parent who is struggling with your child walking with the Lord, that does not mean you have failed as a parent. Each child will reach the age of accountability and make their own choices. Meantime our job is to keep praying for them and trusting the Lord.) In looking for good fruit I was blessed to look no further than my own parents.

My parents have three children. My mom became pregnant 2 weeks after her wedding and I was born nine months after my sister turned 1. My mom is adopted and her adopted mom didn’t really teach her much about being a good parent. While a brave woman to adopt triplets at 40, her own childhood was so broken she didn’t know how to parent. And at 40, she was tired. My dad came from an abusive childhood, and his parents divorced soon after he left home. So he didn’t exactly qualify for “well-trained parent” either. So early in the process mom turned to the best parent-trainer in the Universe: the Holy Spirit.

Lesson One: The Holy Spirit is my 24-7 Nanny 911

I remember stories from my mom (Some read here in Real Women) about how she would ask the Holy Spirit for help and He would answer with practical help and encouragement.

As I cried out to God in the car, soon after becoming pregnant I begged God, “Please let this child always follow you! Please don’t let me screw this up!” And I heard Him answer back, “He will not be moved. He will be a rock. He will stand firm in this generation.” The Holy Spirit met me even then, with a word for me to stand on. And after Jakin was born and we were learning to be parents I would pray: “What should I do Lord?” Hardly a day or night went by without my crying out to God, knowing he would answer and help me. Sometimes I didn’t even ask specifically and He was still there, helping and answering.

Lesson Two: Prayer, the Nuclear Weapon

I wish I prayed more for Jakin. I wish I prayed for Jakin as much as my parents pray for me. But this I know: I pray more for Jakin than I used to, and I want to pray even more for him tomorrow. I want to pray out loud, and I want to pray silently. I want God to give him favor, to move on his behalf, to protect him, to lead him and guide him, to give him good health and great friends. And I want daily, hourly wisdom on how to raise him and what to do when he has a meltdown. “Lord? Is he tired? Scared? Angry?”

My parents prayed for me to find a good husband, even when I wasn’t interested in getting married, much less praying for a husband. And I have the best husband in the world. We are almost seven years into this, and the more we look at it we see this is an arranged marriage. If God can answer that important prayer for someone else, then doesn’t that inspire you to pray more for your kids? That God hears you and will answer you?

Sometimes I pray the Psalms or specific scriptures, other times I just pray blessing during the night time feedings, and afternoon walks, using every opportunity to petition blessing and help for my son. “We wrestle not against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers, rulers of the darkness of this world.” If someone tried to come and take your child you would fight like a tigress to protect her. I challenge you to do the same in the spirit realm. Fight like a tigress on your knees.