Raising A Generation That Honours God

I saw a headline on a friend’s WhatsApp status: “18-year-old Impregnates 10 Girls.” The person who shared it made a comment about the failure of fathers or something along those lines. As I read it, something stirred in me. And this was my response…

Do we even know if his father was reckless too—or if every male figure in his life failed him?

It’s so easy to look at someone’s actions and shake our heads, but I often wonder: what did they see growing up? Who taught them—or didn’t teach them—what love, responsibility, and honour look like?

We say, “It takes a village to raise a child,” but how often do we include ourselves in that village? Do we really see ourselves as part of the shaping? Because whether we realise it or not, we’re always planting something—through what we say, how we live, and even what we tolerate.

Let’s be honest—if I carry myself in a certain way, speak recklessly, or dress with no awareness of who’s watching, do I understand that a child, a teenager, someone younger, could be observing and silently taking notes? And not judging—but learning. Absorbing.

“Train up a child in the way they should go” (Proverbs 22:6) isn’t just a word for parents. It’s for all of us. Every adult in the life of a child is either guiding them toward God—or away from Him. That’s a heavy truth, but it’s also a powerful one.

Earlier this morning, I was on the treadmill and praying at the same time, and the Holy Spirit ministered Psalm 135 vs 13 GW
“O Lord, your name endures forever. O Lord, you will be remembered throughout every generation.” I prayed and asked God to put the fear of the Lord and love in the hearts of my seed and the next generation. I prayed that they would honour Him all the days of their lives. But at the time when I prayed I didn’t know why that prayer came so strong—but now I do. The Holy Spirit was preparing my heart for this.

We can’t just raise children. We need to raise a generation—one that won’t need healing from our silence or inconsistencies. A generation that loves God, honours Him, and walks in truth.

This stirred up a whole message in me this morning. A reminder. A wake-up call. A heart check. And honestly, raising the next holy generation starts with you and me.