SOCIAL QUALITIES

1. To have a strong desire and ability to build relationships

a. To be able to trust and be trusted

b. To be good at communicating with others

to be able to express their emotions

to be able to communicate on many different type of topics

c. To have a deep respect (honour) for people

d. To be able to love deeply

2. To have the ability to withstand peer and social pressures

They should be able to stand firm on the values and morals they hold. It is important that they have strong convictions in life and become people of principles. They are living life from the inward principles rather from the outward pressure of peer relationships and social environment.

They should understand the way the world thinks and the philosophies of the world. The world no longer see truth as absolute - not even the command and values of the Bible. The world has come to accept a point of view based on relativism. Good is not necessarily opposite from bad, truth is not necessarily opposite from falsehood; opposites can both be true depending on your viewpoint. One thing can be wrong for a person but right for another; it all depends. All is relative to the perspective one chooses to adopt. Therefore, it is crucial that they know, understand and accept the absolutes of God as revealed to us in His Word.

By doing this, they will influence their peers rather than be influenced by them.

3. To have the heart of a servant

"For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many." (Mark 10:45)

They find real joy in giving their lives in loving service to others. They love to see others excel and be build up. Bringing out the best in others becomes a goal in their lives.

To do this, they will need to become unselfish people, not looking to their own interests alone but also to the interests of others. They would also need to be humble enough to become a servant of others.

4. To honour their parents

This honour is expressed in giving high regard to what parents say and to listen to their instructions. This obedience ought to be instant obedience rather than having their parents say things many times before they obey.

5. To be able to forgive others who wrong them

They do not hold grudges and are able to forgive others. In a world of grudges and revenge, they are able to let go of the bondages of the past by forgiving the people and starting afresh.

6. To be able to function well as a team person

God has meant for us to function within the bond of the body of Christ. Teamwork is a part of the plan of God. The Trinity is the best example of a team. Therefore, the children should be able to be good at working with others in a team, whether as a team member or as a leader.

SPIRITUAL QUALITIES

1. To trust God for their lives and livelihood - knowing that their lives are inseparably linked to Him

"For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory for ever! Amen." (Romans 11:36)

2. To have a deep sensitivity to their spirit and the voice of God

They are very well aware that they are spiritual beings and are very sensitive to their own spirits. They know that they are spirits. They are strong in the inner man and are constantly working at strengthening their inner man. They are spiritually sensitive.

They are constantly listening to their spirit as a habit of life. They are controlled by their spirit rather than by their fleshly desires and emotions.

3. To have an intimate relationship with God

God becomes very real to them. They experience God in their daily lives. God is very close to them to guide them, teach them, empower them, help them, give them wisdom, and heal them. And they have a sense and conviction that God loves them.

4. To pray in all things

It becomes natural for them to talk to God in their everyday life. Talking to God becomes as natural as breathing. God become very real to them. Their lives are twirled around God.

Life cannot exist apart from God. God becomes the environment in which they live.

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing." (John 15:5)

5. To bring others to God becomes a natural part of life

Because their lives are so much in God that it is impossible to talk to others without witnessing to the reality of God in their lives. This come natural because it is a sharing of a part of their lives.

Since man can never be truly satisfied and enjoy life apart from their Creator, the best we can do for a person is to bring that person to God. True love must involve bring others to God.

"We proclaim Him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end I labour, struggling with all His energy, which so powerfully works in me." (Colossians 1:28,29)

6. To be strong in the inner man

To do this, they should have a good understanding of the inner person of the heart. They are not living only on the outside, but are living life from the inside.

They know what is going on in their inner person and is sensitive to their heart. They are also building up their inner person - being strong in the inside.

7. To be people of faith - who are confident in God

They will take steps of faith, putting their trust in God rather than in their circumstances. They know that God is sovereign and He will do what He has promised. Their faith is not just based on their experience but based on the revelation of God.

"All things work out for good for those who love the Lord and are called according to His purpose." (Romans 8:28)

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." (Hebrews 11:1)

8. To live a life that is constantly in spiritual warfare

They need to know that spiritual reality is real and that we Christians are constantly engaging in spiritual warfare. Therefore, they need to be vigilant and know how to fight this war. They need to know what are the schemes of the devil. They need to know and use their spiritual authority that is given to them by God.

We are on the victorious side. There is no way we can lose if we trust in His strength. We will win. They need to be assured of this and have it as a conviction in their lives.

Social and Spiritual Qualities I want my Children to Have