4 Secrets to Strengthen Your Family
Drenda Keesee • April 6, 2020
Good parenting is all about being intentional.
Here are a few secrets to strengthen your family and help you make the most of your time as a parent!
1. Trust yourself.
Parents today are bombarded with worry and criticism, and it can be easy to start doubting:
Stop! Read these words carefully, so they sink in:
You are doing a great job.
Don’t let things like approval seeking or people pleasing stand between your family and its purpose.
Proverbs 3:6 tells us, “In all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
The enemy uses distraction to get us away from the truth and knock us off our purpose.
Don’t let that happen! Your children are counting on you to give them security, and there is no real security apart from God!
3. Know and pursue God’s purpose for your family.
Part of providing your children with security is having a vision for your family. The vision should be the compass for all of the decisions you and your spouse make.
Gary and I raised our children to know God, to be secure in His love for them, and to have faith in His purpose and assignment for their lives. Of course, we still made our share of mistakes, but we always taught them that their security, and their identities, are safe in Christ.
Go HERE for my full YouTube teaching on how to build your life and family right.
The culture is raising scared kids—kids who don’t believe there is a purpose for them, kids who feel lost and hopeless and angry because they are getting fed lies.
I want to encourage you to get clear on God’s vision for your family, so you can truly enjoy each step along the way.
You can’t be present in the moment unless you are trusting the outcome.
Trust God. Allow the Holy Spirit to move spontaneously through your day, and you will see amazing results.
4. Never pass up an opportunity to laugh.
I have so many amazing memories of sitting around the table and just laughing with my kids. I mean sides-hurting, tears-streaming-down-cheeks—mascara-stained tears/please don’t post that picture on Instagram—laughing.
Laughter solves a myriad of problems. Did you know that when you laugh, it releases feel-good endorphins in your brain?
There was one night my kids and I, who are all grown now, started talking about what we had learned over the years, and we just laughed and laughed! I went to bed feeling so happy.
God is so good!
Ecclesiastes 3:4 reminds us that there is “a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance.”
So today, put down your list of to-dos or expectations for the perfect frameable photo and let go! Show your children your silly side. I guarantee your family will experience amazing joy and, hopefully, some belly laughter of your own!
Never miss the chance to enjoy those moments; they are memories in the making.
5. Be an example.
You can preach to your children every day about what they should or shouldn’t do, but…
The greatest influence on your children’s lives won’t be what they hear you SAY—it will be what they see you DO!
Build your family right by being an example.
If we want our children to have a relationship with God that extends beyond church on Sunday, then we need to model a relationship with God that extends beyond Sunday in our lives.
Now, this doesn’t mean that you have to be a perfect parent. Your children can learn from your mistakes as well! If you lost your temper, take accountability.
Admitting to your family that you're not perfect is a good thing: it’s an opportunity to show your children that we all need God’s grace.
There are always going to be tough seasons as parents. I want you to know I am praying for you, and God is more powerful than any circumstance!
Leave the mistakes in the past, where they belong.
Be present today and every day.
Be the example of joy to those around you.
Here are a few secrets to strengthen your family and help you make the most of your time as a parent!
1. Trust yourself.
Our culture is filled with distractions, opinions, offenses, and debates. It’s exhausting!
Parents today are bombarded with worry and criticism, and it can be easy to start doubting:
Am I choosing the right school?
Am I doing enough to further their faith?
Am I buying and preparing the right foods? Organic? GMO? Gluten-free? ?
Stop! Read these words carefully, so they sink in:
You. Are. Enough.
You are doing a great job.
Don’t let things like approval seeking or people pleasing stand between your family and its purpose.
2. Tune in to God.
Tune out the voices and demands of the culture, and tune into God’s voice. Go to His Word to seek clarity. His Word always produces returns! Get in His presence with any concerns about your children, and He will provide answers.
Proverbs 3:6 tells us, “In all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”
The enemy uses distraction to get us away from the truth and knock us off our purpose.
Don’t let that happen! Your children are counting on you to give them security, and there is no real security apart from God!
3. Know and pursue God’s purpose for your family.
Part of providing your children with security is having a vision for your family. The vision should be the compass for all of the decisions you and your spouse make.
Gary and I raised our children to know God, to be secure in His love for them, and to have faith in His purpose and assignment for their lives. Of course, we still made our share of mistakes, but we always taught them that their security, and their identities, are safe in Christ.
Go HERE for my full YouTube teaching on how to build your life and family right.
The culture is raising scared kids—kids who don’t believe there is a purpose for them, kids who feel lost and hopeless and angry because they are getting fed lies.
I want to encourage you to get clear on God’s vision for your family, so you can truly enjoy each step along the way.
You can’t be present in the moment unless you are trusting the outcome.
Trust God. Allow the Holy Spirit to move spontaneously through your day, and you will see amazing results.
4. Never pass up an opportunity to laugh.
I have so many amazing memories of sitting around the table and just laughing with my kids. I mean sides-hurting, tears-streaming-down-cheeks—mascara-stained tears/please don’t post that picture on Instagram—laughing.
Laughter solves a myriad of problems. Did you know that when you laugh, it releases feel-good endorphins in your brain?
There was one night my kids and I, who are all grown now, started talking about what we had learned over the years, and we just laughed and laughed! I went to bed feeling so happy.
God is so good!
Ecclesiastes 3:4 reminds us that there is “a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance.”
So today, put down your list of to-dos or expectations for the perfect frameable photo and let go! Show your children your silly side. I guarantee your family will experience amazing joy and, hopefully, some belly laughter of your own!
Never miss the chance to enjoy those moments; they are memories in the making.
5. Be an example.
You can preach to your children every day about what they should or shouldn’t do, but…
The greatest influence on your children’s lives won’t be what they hear you SAY—it will be what they see you DO!
Build your family right by being an example.
If we want our children to have a relationship with God that extends beyond church on Sunday, then we need to model a relationship with God that extends beyond Sunday in our lives.
Now, this doesn’t mean that you have to be a perfect parent. Your children can learn from your mistakes as well! If you lost your temper, take accountability.
Admitting to your family that you're not perfect is a good thing: it’s an opportunity to show your children that we all need God’s grace.
There are always going to be tough seasons as parents. I want you to know I am praying for you, and God is more powerful than any circumstance!
Leave the mistakes in the past, where they belong.
Be present today and every day.
Be the example of joy to those around you.
Reading Time 2 mins 56 secs – Take a moment and think about this: faith isn’t just for the mountaintop moments. It’s for Mondays. It’s for traffic jams, unexpected bills, and the times when you’re just trying to get through the week. God never designed faith to be complicated or out of reach. He designed it to be your everyday operating system. Faith Is for Today Sometimes, we picture faith as something we have to “muster up” for significant challenges, like praying for healing, believing for a miracle, or asking for a breakthrough in a crisis. And while faith absolutely applies to those moments, it’s also for the little ones. Faith is choosing to trust God with your attitude in a tough conversation. Faith is deciding to believe He’ll provide, even when your budget looks thin. Faith is remembering you’re never alone, even when you feel overlooked. Second Corinthians 5:7 (NIV) says, “ For we live by faith, not by sight. ” Notice it doesn’t say “visit by faith” or “use faith once in a while.” It says live. Faith was always meant to be your way of life. Small Steps, Strong Roots Faith doesn’t usually grow in leaps; it grows in steps. Little, steady decisions that put your trust in God day after day. Opening your Bible instead of scrolling on your phone first thing in the morning Speaking truth over yourself when your feelings want to run the show Praying before making a decision instead of relying only on logic These may not seem dramatic, but they lay a strong foundation. And just like a tree with deep roots, your faith will keep you standing strong when storms come. God Is Faithful, Even When Life Isn’t Here’s the best part: your faith doesn’t rest on your ability to figure everything out. It rests on God’s ability to be faithful. And He is. Always. When you feel shaky, remember this: God is steady. When you feel uncertain, remember this: His promises are sure. When you feel small, remember this: faith the size of a mustard seed can move mountains. You don’t need giant faith for God to move. You just need real faith in a giant God. Faith That Shows Up in Action Faith isn’t just belief in your heart; it’s trust that shows up in your choices. James 2:17 says, faith without works is dead, which means faith comes alive when you act on it. That could look like forgiving when it’s hard, giving when it feels impossible, or stepping into an opportunity that scares you, but you know God is calling you to. Every time you take action in faith, you’re making a declaration: “God, I trust You more than my feelings, more than my circumstances, and more than what I see.” That kind of faith not only changes your life, but it also inspires others to believe. A Simple Prayer to Start With “Lord, thank You that faith isn’t complicated. Teach me to live by faith in the small things and the big things. I trust You with my today, my tomorrow, and every detail of my life. Strengthen my heart and remind me that You are faithful. In Jesus’s name, amen.” Take This with You Faith isn’t a moment. It’s a mindset. It’s not about pretending life is easy. It’s about trusting God, no matter what life looks like. Friend, you don’t need to wait for a crisis to practice faith. You can start today, right where you are, with whatever you’re carrying. Take a step. Speak His Word. Trust His heart. Because faith isn’t just for the extraordinary, it’s for the everyday. And your everyday is exactly where God loves to show up.
Reading Time 2 mins 49 secs – Okay, let’s take a breath. Not everything has to be heavy, and healing doesn’t have to feel impossible or mysterious. Sometimes, we just need to be reminded that God actually wants us to feel better. Yes, you included. God Cares About How You Feel We can get so used to pushing through that we forget God never designed us to live burned out, worn out, or always dealing with pain. Third John (NIV) 1:2b says, “ I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well .” God’s heart is not just that we survive life. His heart is that we thrive—spirit, soul, and body. That includes your sleep. That includes your energy. That includes your mind and your moods. Healing Isn’t Just for Emergencies Most of us wait to think about healing until something significant goes wrong. A diagnosis. A surgery. A crisis. However, healing is an integral part of your daily life as a believer. You don’t have to wait for something to fall apart to lean into God’s promises. It’s kind of like drinking water; your body needs it regularly, not just when you're dehydrated. The Word is the same. It brings strength, clarity, and peace to your health before the storm hits. You’re allowed to believe in a life where you’re not constantly recovering—you’re well. Small Shifts, Big Results Maybe you’ve been dealing with something for a while—nothing catastrophic, just something that lingers. A chronic ache. Fatigue. Brain fog. A stress habit that’s hard to shake. Can I encourage you? You don’t have to settle for “just getting by.” Start speaking life over your body. Make simple changes in faith; walk a little more, drink more water, eat a bit better, get quiet with God. Healing isn’t always dramatic. Sometimes, it happens gently. Daily. Gradually. The power of God isn’t always loud, but it’s always effective. The Best Kind of Doctor He doesn’t rush your appointment. He’s never stumped by your symptoms. And He doesn’t hand you a bill at the end. He simply says, “Come to Me.” Come tired. Come unsure. Come with your questions. And He’ll give you rest (Matthew 11:28). Yes, He heals in big, miraculous ways—but He also heals in little moments of laughter, sunlight, worship, and truth. Let’s Make This Simple Healing isn’t about performance. It’s about proximity—staying close to the Healer. So, take the pressure off today. You’re not failing if you’re still waiting. You’re not disqualified if you’ve had some doubts. You’re growing. You’re learning. And most of all, you’re loved. Let healing be a conversation you have with God, not a crisis you fear. Let it be part of your everyday life with Him, not just a 911 prayer when things feel scary. A Simple Prayer to Start With “Lord, thank You that You care about every part of me. You know when I’m tired, hurting, anxious, or overwhelmed. Thank You for being my Healer, not just in emergencies but in the everyday. I receive Your peace and Your promises. I speak life over my body and my mind today, in Jesus’s name. Amen.” Take This with You Healing doesn’t have to feel far away or hard to reach. It’s not reserved for the super spiritual or the desperate. It’s available, it’s real, and it’s for right now. You don’t have to make it complicated. Just take one step. Open the Word, talk to God, speak life over yourself, and trust that He’s working behind the scenes. You don’t have to live in survival mode. You were made for wholeness. And friend? You’re allowed to feel better.
Reading Time 3 mins 46 secs – Picture this. You’re standing at the edge of a foggy path that winds through a forest. You’ve never walked this path before. You can’t see more than a few feet ahead. There are no signs. No map. No flashlight. Just a still, quiet voice inside telling you to start walking. Would you? Most people wouldn’t. They’d wait until the fog clears. Until the way is visible. Until they feel “sure.” But that’s not how the Kingdom works. Friend, faith walks before it sees. Hebrews 11:1 (NIV) tells us this plainly: Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Not what we can see. Not what we understand. Not what’s guaranteed. Faith is walking when it feels like you’re walking blind, but you’re actually walking guided. Let’s talk about Abraham for a second. God said to him, “...Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you” (Genesis 12:1, NIV). God didn’t show Abraham the land first. He didn’t explain all the details. He didn’t promise a step-by-step plan. God simply said, “ Go, ” and Abraham went. He didn’t argue. He didn’t delay. He didn’t ask for the weather report or route details. He trusted the voice. He walked before he saw. And because of that one step, a generational promise was unlocked. Now, let’s fast forward to the New Testament, to the story found in Matthew 14. Jesus came walking on water in the middle of the night, and Peter saw Him. Peter said, “Lord, if it’s really You, tell me to come.” And Jesus said, “Come.” What did Peter do? He stepped out of the boat and onto the water. Pause and think about that. Peter walked on water—not because he had magic in his feet but because he trusted the One who called him forward. Peter walked before he saw. Yes, he started to sink when he looked at the waves, but before that, he did what no other human besides Jesus had done: he walked on water by faith. Friend, your boat might feel safer. It might feel familiar. But if God is calling you out of it, staying there is more dangerous than stepping forward. Let’s get real for a second. There are seasons when God will not show you the full picture, on purpose. Why? Because if He showed you everything, you’d try to control it instead of trusting Him with it. Faith is trusting His character when you can’t see His hand. It’s saying yes without having every answer. It’s building the ark before the rain comes. It’s marching around Jericho before the walls fall. It’s digging a ditch before there’s a drop of rain. That’s the Kingdom. Here’s what the Bible says: “For we live by faith, not by sight,” (2 Corinthians 5:7, NIV). That’s not a metaphor. That’s a lifestyle. You don’t wait until all your fear is gone to obey. You don’t wait until you’re certain to trust. It means you don’t wait until your finances line up perfectly to give. You walk before you see. Let’s look at one more example. In Acts 9, Saul, who later became Paul, was traveling to Damascus while persecuting Christians when, suddenly, a blinding light stopped him. Jesus spoke directly to him, and Saul was blinded. God then instructed a man named Ananias to go and pray for Saul and restore his sight. Ananias was hesitant because he knew Saul’s reputation for harming believers. Despite his doubts and without any guarantees, Ananias obeyed and went to Saul. He stepped out in faith before knowing the outcome. That single act of obedience set the stage for Paul’s powerful ministry and the writing of much of the New Testament. So, let me ask you… Where is God asking you to walk, before you see? To step into a calling that scares you? To give up something you’ve leaned on for security? To trust Him with your finances? To forgive someone you haven’t gotten an apology from? Whatever it is, I want you to hear this. You don’t have to see the outcome to take the next step. You don’t have to understand the entire path to move forward in obedience. Faith walks before it sees. That’s where the miracles are. That’s where the provision is. That’s where peace is waiting. Your comfort zone won’t get you there. But your obedience will. God doesn’t need your full understanding. He needs your full surrender. So today, let this be your reminder… You don’t have to feel brave. You just have to follow. Even in the fog. Even in the unknown. Even when it doesn’t make sense. Because God is already in the place He’s calling you to. He’s gone ahead. He’s prepared the way. He’s waiting at your next step. So, take it. Because faith? It always walks before it sees.