Kris Vallotton • January 8, 2018

Why Sheltering Our Kids is Causing More Harm Than Good

Do you shelter your kids from real-life challenges you may be facing? I think this is a natural instinct, since one of our calls as parents is to protect our children. However, when we shelter our kids too much, we’re not really setting them up for success in the world. When we hide the realities of life from them, we also hide the reality of a powerful God who wants to encounter them in every situation. I’m concerned that the church has stepped over the line of parental protection into a place of overprotection, and therefore even sheltered our kids from a supernatural God!

Let’s take a deeper look with today’s Monday Motivation video:

In a nutshell:

• Joseph changed Egypt because his great great great grandfather encountered a God of the supernatural, incorporated it into family life, and passed it down through their family lineage AT HOME.

• They grew up in a house of heroes where they knew and anticipated and expected a God of the impossible.

• What would happen if we stopped worrying about what the world is going to do to our kids, and rather taught our children how to move in wonders, signs and miracles , and raised up a generation who know the God of the impossible?

• I don’t want my grandchildren to only hear about miracles, but I want them to have their own testimonies.

• I took my kids to Heidi Baker’s ministry in the bush in Mozambique, and she was casting out demons and healing the deaf. The girls weren’t shocked because it was what we’d been teaching them. However, now they had their own testimonies to share!

• We’re so concerned with post-traumatic stress that we don’t give them anything dramatic.

• When we isolate our kids they miss out on the “test” of the “testimony”.

• We need to expose our kids to problems so that they know there’s a God of miracles.

• Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.”

• I propose this is the way they ought to go-—with a knowledge of their call to ministry ever since they were saved, and taught by their family to cast out demons , heal the sick, interpret dreams, etc. Imagine if they could grow up with an awareness that the God who transcends the laws of physics will show up in their lives.

ACTIVATION FOR THE WEEK

I know that many of you reading this may have tons of questions about the “how” on raising your kids in a supernatural home , and I want to tell you that’s totally okay. This week, let’s start with a powerful yet doable step—telling your kids about the God of the impossible. Start with a few testimonies of seeing Him show up in ways that transcend the laws of physics. What miracles can you recall that you can tell your children about? Then invite them in to pray with you for a miracle your family might need. I bet you’ll see their faith begin to move mountains!

Let’s be the kind of families who set the tone for God (instead of the world) to be the defining factor in our kids’ lives, where miracles become a part of our daily happenings, and the supernatural becomes our natural mode of operation! Imagine the way that society will begin to change because of our children, instead of the other way around! How do you plan to incorporate more of a supernatural lifestyle in your own home? Do you have any testimonies on this subject you could share? I’d love to hear from you in the comments!

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Character and Gifting: Favor with God and Favor with Man

By Kris Vallotton • March 5, 2025

Have you ever felt called to a spiritual role but struggled to find your place in it? Perhaps you've experienced a divine moment where God revealed a prophetic gift in your life, yet you found yourself wondering why others don't seem to recognize or acknowledge it. This tension between divine calling and human recognition can be one of the most challenging aspects of walking in prophetic ministry. I've spoken with countless individuals who believe God has called them to be prophets, yet they feel frustrated when church leadership doesn't immediately recognize their office. They often share powerful testimonies of divine encounters or prophetic words that confirmed their calling. But here's the beautiful truth I've discovered: authentic spiritual authority requires both divine appointment and human recognition. Scripture shows us that even Jesus "increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men" (Luke 2:52). 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Absalom, David's son, shows us the danger of winning people's hearts through flattery, false promises, and undermining leadership. He created a following by positioning himself as more accessible and understanding than the established authority. In today's social media age, the temptation toward self-promotion has never been stronger. We can easily build platforms that elevate our image above our character. But true prophetic authority doesn't come through marketing yourself as an expert – it comes through humble service, consistent character, and divine timing. James 4:6 reminds us that " God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. " When we push for recognition prematurely or through manipulation, we may gain a position but miss the protection that comes with proper promotion. Like Joseph, who shared his prophetic dreams prematurely with his brothers, our lack of wisdom can create a much more difficult path to our destiny than God intended. 3. 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My prayer for you is that you would find peace in God's timing for your prophetic journey. May you grow in both favor with God and with people, allowing the Lord to develop in you the character needed to carry His voice with integrity. Let me be clear- the path to your prophetic purpose isn't just about reaching a destination – it's about becoming the person who can faithfully steward the authority that comes with it.

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