Lately, as we are in the season of rearing young children in the fear of the Lord, the Father has been reminding me how important "beholding" is. We become that which we behold. Beholding HIM is the ONLY way to become the person He created you to be.

We are all such uniquely designed individuals, created in the very image of God to carry His glory in the earth. So often we hear how we should become less individual and decrease so God can increase within us, but what if we were designed so uniquely so those character qualities, those personalities could be surrendered to Him as we are filled with His Spirit. Wouldn't that bring God even more glory? He absolutely sanctifies us to look more like Him, but He isn't limited to looking one way!

John the Baptist was the one who stated that he must decrease so Jesus could increase. He was speaking of a change of the times. Jesus came to give us something even better than what John the Baptist had. Jesus came as the sacrifice for us. He came to baptize us in not just water, but also in the Holy Spirit with fire!

Every part of you was designed as a picture of a part of His very character. Sometimes, we allow the world to be reflected through us when we haven't surrendered those things to the Father.

For example, I was always very dramatic and that wasn't a good thing! Every time I acted in accordance with that label, I was confirming to myself that this just must have been the way that God made me. As I grew in maturity in the Word and my faith though, the Father began asking me to surrender every part of myself. He asked me to let Him show me what He really created me to be like.

The drama has left my life and in its place is passionate expression that draws people to Him when I tell them about my great Father. When we are operating out of our flesh, we aren't representing the Father to the best of our ability. When we surrender every part of ourselves to the Father and ask Him to refine us even down to what we believe is our personality, He will help us become the best version of ourselves.

The best version of ourselves isn't us becoming self-worshippers. The very best version of us is found when we surrender every part of ourselves to the Holy Spirit and allow Him to fill us and live through us. The more we see ourselves filled with His Spirit, the purer we become. We become more and more like Jesus! He calls us His righteousness!

Let's come back around to why this is so important as it pertains to parenting. As parents we have the joy and privilege of helping our children navigate who they are becoming. This is such a powerful and profound season in life. We have the opportunity each day to point them to behold Jesus within them. We can help them as they navigate surrendering to Jesus from a young age. Imagine a generation of children stepping into adulthood fully confident of their identity in Christ.

We can teach them how to walk through the refining fire of Jesus from a young age. As Bill Johnson loves to say, "There is no junior Holy Spirit." It is so true. When I began to experience the sanctification of the Lord in my own life it opened my eyes to how essential it is to train our children in the fear of the Lord.

Often the things that are frustrating to me as a parent is an area that my child is called to. The enemy loves to try to pervert the gifts and callings God has placed within us. Recognizing that any area where there is a struggle is potentially one of the areas where we are called is eye-opening. It creates an invitation into the refining fire and the table of battle plans.

If you are seeing your child be bossy, they are probably called to leadership in the future. If they are disobedient, they are called to a life that will require radical obedience to the Father. If they are angry, they are called to carry joy in a special way. Anything negative you can think of has the opposite holy counterpart. It is our joy to get to speak life into the purity of what we see.

When our children are telling lies, we don't call them liars. That may be what they are struggling with, but it's not who God designed them to be. Instead we call them up into the truth. They were designed to speak truth. Their mouths are created to praise the Lord and share testimony of His goodness.

Something we ask ourselves and our children very often is "Who are we partnering with right now?" Truly it's one or the other: the Holy Spirit or the devil. There is no in between. When we are out of alignment, it's as simple as reminding ourselves of the truth of our identity in Him. We behold Him and realign with who we are called to become. We invite the Holy Spirit to return and move on in truth. Some days this feels harder than others.

It can be easy to just see what's happening and agree with it. Honestly sometimes that IS easier. It's harder to be intentional in discipleship day in and day out, but it's so worth it. Feasting on the fruit of these seasons is worth every moment of perceived hardship. In the long run, it would be much harder to yield to the plans of the enemy than it would be to just keep intentionally addressing anything that tries to come against the plan of God for their lives.

I want to encourage you today to spend time each day beholding Jesus. Look at Him and invite Him to keep releasing His life within you. Lead your children in these questions too. Ask Him how you can partner with Him to see yourself and your family living with joy in the fear of the Lord. Surrender yourself totally to Him. Behold Him and become the best version of yourself filled with His Holy Spirit.

You were created to do great things for the Kingdom of God, beloved! But you can't do it without Him! Be being filled and sanctified by His Spirit. Watch and see what He will do!

Jenny Johnson

9.11.26