Being a parent is both a blessing and a sacred duty. In the Bible, children are considered a blessing and raising them up is a responsibility that God gives to all married couples. As such, it's enjoyable and fulfilling to have kids growing up in the Lord.

Did you know that as parents, married couples also get the opportunity to know God's Fatherly love and reflect it? As a dad raises his son, he begins to get a glimpse of God's love and patience, His relentless love that never sleeps and never takes a break - He is always looking at us and is continually singing over us.

That said, every married Christian couple should be excited to become parents. It's not a responsibility we should be afraid of, at the same time it's not a responsibility we must not be ready for. We must be prepared for it.

Preparations

As such, here are some things every Christian couple needs to do in preparation for parenthood. Couples who are planning to have kids, or are already expecting kids real soon, will do well to do these things.

1) Spend time praying and seeking God's will

First, both the husband and the wife should get down on their knees to seek God for His guidance in raising children, from pregnancy to adulthood. This should be done by both the man and the woman - it's not something that only mothers should do.

Parents should always seek to do God's will as they raise children. Their main goal is to raise up children who will honor the Lord and obey Him. This is the way to go - that our children will be a people who love God and fear Him.

Proverbs 22:6 tells us to "train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it."

2) Talk to each other and make expectations and roles clear

The Bible tells us that fathers and mothers have roles in raising children up. Husbands are given the responsibility to lead, protect, and provide for their wives, and these roles spill over through fatherhood. Wives are told to respect their husbands and submit to them, and these also continue through motherhood.

Dads need to lead the home in every aspect, be it material or spiritual. They are to protect the family and keep them disciplined and away from sin. They should also work hard to provide for their families.

Moms are called to support their husbands in this. They may be the more skilled or wiser but they are required to work together with their husbands to raise their children. Thus, teamwork is key.

Teamwork can only happen with couples talk to each other. Men, lead the way by asking your wives to talk with you, and discuss your plans in parenthood.

3) Prepare resources

Lastly, couples will need to prepare resources for their children's needs. Whether it be food, shelter, clothing, or love, it has to be ready.

In raising children, parents don't need to be extravagant. What they need is to be present, and to be able to meet their children's needs. Some parents make up for their absence by giving their children gifts, and thus raise up children who suffer from an orphan spirit.

Prepare resources. Work hard and earn enough for the family's needs. Grow in the love of God so you'll be able to love your children the way He wants you to.