Many of us are still stuck in our parent’s basement. Not literally, but mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Whether our parents are still alive or whether they’ve passed away, some of us are trapped needing their approval, their input, their opinion. None of these things are actually bad, but sometimes these good things become "ultimate" things.

I mentioned the commandment, “Honor your father and mother,” in my sermon, Honoring the Generations. But what happens to this commandment when we become adults? How does "honor your father and mother" coincide with a verse like Genesis 2:24, which says, “A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.” 

I want to give you three keys to honor and leave your parents. Perhaps they'll unlock flourishing in your adult life: 

Key #1: Place your ultimate dependency on the Lord, not your parents.

"Leave your father and mother” and “honor your father and mother” didn't negate one another in the ancient world. They coexisted. There is a mental, emotional, and spiritual shift when we shift our dependency on our parents and place our dependency on the Lord. For approval, for input, for opinions. Trust me, He can handle abundantly more than any two parents ever could. 

Key #2: Your parents are not intended to be everything to you or for you. God is. 

If God is not "your everything," then something else–or in this case, someone else–is. If you’re looking for a parent to be an all-encompassing counselor, defender, friend, guide, comforter, etc., you won't find it in them. I promise you. If you try, you’ll become frustrated when they cannot fulfill those expectations. That frustration will be great soil for resentment and, ultimately, dishonor. 

Key #3: Live in God's "house," not your parent's. 

Seek the counsel of your parents, respect their input, but don't make it the ultimate thing. If you do, you're essentially "living in your parent's basement" spiritually. Pack your bags, it's move-out day! Ask God to use His Scriptures to reveal places in your life where you long too much for a parent's approval. Allow Him to search your heart, your past, and your present. When He highlights something, ask Him to help you leave it behind. In doing so, it will be easier to honor your parents for who God made them to be, rather than who you want them to be. You will also honor your Heavenly Father.